Doctor Artium Program

The artistic doctorate (Doctor Artium Program) is dedicated to innovative artistic work. It leads to the production of new knowledge and serves as an independent contribution towards the development and opening up of the arts. It assumes a diversity of forms of knowledge and understanding. The program enables its graduates to generate independent artistic research work which corresponds to international standards.

Curriculum (PDF)

Curriculum Download (English, only for information)

Curriculum (PDF, in german)

In case of doubt only the german version is legally valid.

Curriculum in German

Statute §36a, rules of studies (PDF, german only)

Satzungsteil, Studienrecht Download

Information about application and admission examination

Timeline

starting from 2nd July 2020, open now!

Registration for admission exam

at online.mdw.ac.at

Admission application
Type of studies: "Doctoral Programme"
Degree program: "Doctor Artium Programme"

15th August 2020

Deadline for registration for the admission exam

Sending in the documents for the first part of the admission exam

30th September 2020

Hearings at mdw (2nd part of the admission exam)

Guidance regarding dissertation projects, related disciplines and possible supervisors

In general, the artistic doctorate program of mdw is open to any kind of music or performing arts discipline as listed below, also connected in transdisciplinary approaches with – on one hand – other art forms, and – on the other hand – scholarly research and science, (like musicology, ethnomusicology, music therapy, music sociology, cultural studies, gender studies, acoustics, e.g.) available at mdw:

  • Composition
  • Electroacoustics
  • Experimental Music
  • Music Theory
  • Conducting
  • Tonmeister Education
  • Keyboard Instruments
  • Bowed Instruments and Other Stringed Instruments
  • Wind and Percussion Instruments
  • Chamber Music & Contemporary Music
  • Historical Performance Practice
  • Church Music
  • Voice and Musical Theatre Direction
  • Music Therapy
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Theater
  • Film & Television

Please contact ar_center@mdw.ac.at for more detailed information.

Application Process

For application please turn to http://online.mdw.ac.at

Unless you are already a student of mdw, you need to create an Applicant-Account (Bewerber/innen-Account), before you can register your application. The artistic doctorate (in German „künstlerisches Doktorat“) can be found in the category „Doctoral Programme“, in German: “Doktoratsstudium“.

Applications are handled only though the mdw Study Center (StudienCenter). 

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact StudienCenter, Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1, 1030 Wien, Telefone: +43-1-711 55-6900 to 6922, Email: studiencenter@mdw.ac.at

Documents for the first part of the admission examination, which have to be submitted in English in electronic form:

a) Evidence of a recognised artistic career:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Documentation of previous artistic accomplishments

b) The presentation of samples of artistic work and, if necessary, additional material from which an ability in analytical and independent thinking and reflection are recognisable:

  • audio/video material in the form of online links
  • links to websites, online documentation
  • texts/publications

c) A written description of the dissertation project:

  • general description of the dissertation project / overview
  • project goal(s), artistic research issues, their context and (international) relevance
  • intended methods
  • the weighting in percentages of the artistic and/or academic sub-disciplines which are relevant for the project
  • forms of documentation and dissemination which might be suitable
  • the position of your own project
    • in relation to society and social relevance
    • the potential effect of the project
    • possibly: national and international networking
  • other content-related aspects, ethical questions, added value (optional)

What should I know about artistic research?

We recommend to have a look at our collection of literature and projects of artistic research in order to get some orientation about the following questions:

  • What is / or could be artistic research?
  • What is / was / could be  artistic research at mdw?
  • How would I position my dissertation project in this context?

This should help you to develop a good application for your dissertation.