Ph.d. and postdoc projects at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
We host projects whose main focus is the development of the individual artistic practice. In an artistic research project, the research takes place in and through artistic practice, which is both the methodological engine of the research and where new knowledge and insights arise Therefore, the finished project will contain both important practice elements such as artworks, performances, and exhibitions, as well as a written reflection (a dissertation).
As a Ph.d. or postdoc at the academy, you become part of a professional environment based on mutual knowledge-building, knowledge-exchange, collegiality and individual initiative. We offer teaching experience, as well as professional and pedagogical development, and we expect you in exchange to actively contribute to a professional research environment.
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts' (RDAFA) PhD and postdoctoral projects are funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF). The projects are housed at the RDAFA, while the Ph.d. degree is awarded by a Danish university. This means that Ph.d. candidates work at the Academy of Fine Arts while the university supports the academic process including a main supervisor. It is recommended to have a co-supervisor at the Academy of Fine Arts.
2025 Application Round
If you wish to apply for a PhD or postdoctoral position funded by the NNF, you must first apply for a housing agreement from the RDAFA.
A housing agreement means that the Academy's KUV and Research Committee assesses the research project as academically solid and relevant, original, feasible, and evaluates that the project can be professionally anchored in and enrichen the Academy's research and teaching. With the hosting commitment, the RDAFA confirms that the researcher can be employed at the institution, that we offer a workplace and that the candidate, if funding is granted, must assist with teaching at one of the Academy's departments.
We are particularly interested in applications for hosting PhD and postdoctoral projects that will make use of and contribute to the Academy's core areas: teaching, artistic practice, and a series of highly qualified professional workshops. You should therefore address, how your project will benefit from and contribute to the RDAFA within these areas.
Applicants who receive a housing agreement will be given further sparring on the application and assistance with the further application process until the submission of the final application to NNF in January. PhD and postdoctoral researchers can utilize the laboratories of the Academy of Fine Arts for their research project, and it should therefore be stated in the application for housing commitments how the candidate wishes to use this.
For further information about the application process, contact
or phone +4524252376
PROCEDURE FOR PH.D APPLICATIONS
Applications for a housing agreement for PhD scholarships must contain:
• Project description (max. 2 pages of 2400 characters per page including spaces and characters)
• CV (1 page, font size 12) that illustrates the applicant's qualifications through exhibitions, teaching, and any participation in research activities.
• 1-page statement of how your research can be connected to the RDAFA through teaching or public program (max. 2000 characters including spaces and characters)
• 1-page project schedule (max. 2000 characters including spaces and characters)
• 3-page visual portfolio documenting significant artistic practice that supports the proposed project.
Applications exceeding these page numbers will not be considered. Please indicate if you have used AI in the writing of your text, and how.
The application will be assessed on:
• the quality and originality of the proposed project
• the relevance of the proposed project for the Academy’s teaching and research
• the feasibility of the project
We expect that an applicant has:
• Professional visual artistic practice at the highest level
• Extensive documented artistic work
It is a condition for your housing commitment and your future employment that you are actively present at the RDAFA during working hours and contribute to the development of the institution's research environment, excluding periods of relevant research travel and academic exchange. If you are not resident in Denmark, you must enclose a plan for how you plan to organize your project so that you can be actively present at the Academy of Fine Arts at least 60% of the time.
The Academy views all areas of artistic practice as potentially relevant for an artistic research project and all qualified applications will be considered. Hovewer, Ph.d. and postdoctoral researchers teach at one of the Academy's departments. Since we have not yet had a project researcher teaching at the School of Painting and Pictorial Practices, we are especially curious to receive applications in this field in 2025.
The RDAFA also looks positively at applications where the artist is firmly rooted in their own practice and therefore encourages visual artists who are further along in their career to apply.
All interested applicants, regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ethnic affiliation, are encouraged to apply.
Applicants who are not EU citizens should investigate relevant tax and employment conditions before beginning the application process, as we can only provide limited guidance on this.
The RDAFA assesses whether housing agreements can be issued to PhD applicants. If a housing agreement is granted, the candidate will participate in a professional sparring session with the Academy.
The RDAFA requires that applicants for a practice-based artistic PhD project have an MFA in artistic practice/free art/studio practice/visual art or similar from an art academy, art university or equivalent. If you proceed further in the process, you will soon be asked to document education at MFA level.
PROCEDURE FOR POSTDOC APPLICATIONS
Applications for housing agreements for postdoc scholarships must include:
• Project description (max. 2 pages of 2400 characters per page including spaces and characters)
• CV (1 page, font size 12) that clarifies the applicant's qualifications through exhibitions, teaching, and any participation in research activities.
• 1-page statement of how your research can be connected to the Academy of Fine Arts through teaching or public program (max. 2000 characters including spaces and characters)
• 1-page project schedule (max. 2000 characters including spaces and characters)
• 3-page visual portfolio documenting a significant artistic practice that supports the proposed project.
Applications exceeding these page numbers will not be considered.
The application will be assessed on:
• the quality and originality of the proposed project
• the relevance of the proposed project to the Academy of Fine Arts' teaching and research
• the feasibility of the project
We also assume that an applicant has:
• Professional artistic practice at the highest level
• Extensive documented artistic activity
• PhD degree or proof of qualifications at PhD level.
It is a condition of your housing commitment and your future employment that you are actively present at the Academy during working hours and contribute to developing the institution's research environment, excluding periods of planned research travel and stays abroad. If you are not resident in Denmark, you must enclose a plan for how you plan to organize your project so that you can be actively present at the RDAFA at least 60% of the time.
The Academy views all areas of artistic practice as potentially relevant for an artistic research project and all qualified applications will be considered. However, Ph.d. and postdoctoral researchers teach at one of the Academy's departments. Since we have not yet had a project researcher teaching at the School of Painting and Pictorial Practices, we are especially curious to receive applications in this field in 2025.
The Academy of Fine Arts looks favorably on applications where the artist is firmly rooted in their own practice and therefore particularly encourages visual artists who are further along in their careers to apply.
All interested parties, regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ethnicity, are encouraged to apply.
Applicants who are not EU citizens should investigate relevant tax and employment conditions before beginning the application process, as we can only provide limited guidance on this.
The Academy of Fine Arts assesses whether housing commitments can be issued to postdoc applicants. If housing commitments are granted, the candidate will participate in professional sparring with the Academy of Fine Arts.
• Project description (max. 2 pages of 2400 characters per page including spaces and characters)
• CV (1 page, font size 12) that clarifies the applicant's qualifications through exhibitions, teaching, and any participation in research activities.
• 1-page statement of how your research can be connected to the Academy of Fine Arts through teaching or public program (max. 2000 characters including spaces and characters)
• 1-page project schedule (max. 2000 characters including spaces and characters)
• 3-page visual portfolio documenting a significant artistic practice that supports the proposed project.
Applications exceeding these page numbers will not be considered.
The application will be assessed on:
• the quality and originality of the proposed project
• the relevance of the proposed project to the Academy of Fine Arts' teaching and research
• the feasibility of the project
We also assume that an applicant has:
• Professional artistic practice at the highest level
• Extensive documented artistic activity
• PhD degree or proof of qualifications at PhD level.
It is a condition of your housing commitment and your future employment that you are actively present at the Academy during working hours and contribute to developing the institution's research environment, excluding periods of planned research travel and stays abroad. If you are not resident in Denmark, you must enclose a plan for how you plan to organize your project so that you can be actively present at the RDAFA at least 60% of the time.
The Academy views all areas of artistic practice as potentially relevant for an artistic research project and all qualified applications will be considered. However, Ph.d. and postdoctoral researchers teach at one of the Academy's departments. Since we have not yet had a project researcher teaching at the School of Painting and Pictorial Practices, we are especially curious to receive applications in this field in 2025.
The Academy of Fine Arts looks favorably on applications where the artist is firmly rooted in their own practice and therefore particularly encourages visual artists who are further along in their careers to apply.
All interested parties, regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ethnicity, are encouraged to apply.
Applicants who are not EU citizens should investigate relevant tax and employment conditions before beginning the application process, as we can only provide limited guidance on this.
The Academy of Fine Arts assesses whether housing commitments can be issued to postdoc applicants. If housing commitments are granted, the candidate will participate in professional sparring with the Academy of Fine Arts.
IMPORTANT DATES 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025: Online information meeting. This is an opportunity for applicants to ask general questions about the application process. The meeting will be held by Associate Professor Maibritt Borgen, head of the Laboratory for Arts Research.
Date: June 16, 2025 at 16:00 to 17:30
https://kunstakademiet.zoom.us/j/65469208287?pwd=1eumqwMdCX2F35WSwMt2XqK...
Wednesday 18 June 2025: Online information meeting. This is an opportunity for applicants to get answers to general questions about the application process. The meeting will be hosted by Associate Professor Maibritt Borgen, Head of the Laboratory for Art Research.
Date: 18.6. 2024 at 12:00 to 13:30
https://kunstakademiet.zoom.us/j/66970775022?pwd=IloYHPbGR4bFxwPvmMU6M9B...
September 1, 2025 at 12:00: Deadline for submitting applications for housing commitments at the Academy of Fine Arts
Due to transition to a new IT system for submitting applications, the online application link will be available in August. For questions about this please contact .
Applicants can expect a decision mid-October
For further questions, contact or phone +4524252376
Date: June 16, 2025 at 16:00 to 17:30
https://kunstakademiet.zoom.us/j/65469208287?pwd=1eumqwMdCX2F35WSwMt2XqK...
Wednesday 18 June 2025: Online information meeting. This is an opportunity for applicants to get answers to general questions about the application process. The meeting will be hosted by Associate Professor Maibritt Borgen, Head of the Laboratory for Art Research.
Date: 18.6. 2024 at 12:00 to 13:30
https://kunstakademiet.zoom.us/j/66970775022?pwd=IloYHPbGR4bFxwPvmMU6M9B...
September 1, 2025 at 12:00: Deadline for submitting applications for housing commitments at the Academy of Fine Arts
Due to transition to a new IT system for submitting applications, the online application link will be available in August. For questions about this please contact .
Applicants can expect a decision mid-October
For further questions, contact or phone +4524252376