Doctoral student in Architecture leading to a degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts

Description of the workplace

The Department of Architecture and Built Environment pursues internationally renowned research, teaching, and collaboration, with a focus on the design, planning, and production of built environments. It has a stimulating, international environment with PhD students, postdocs and teachers from around the world. Here, research and education take place in an open and progressive climate, with partnerships across academia and industry, at national and international levels. The work environment is characterized by commitment, collaboration, creativity and personal responsibility.

The Department of Architecture and Built Environment has a strong tradition of integrating both scientific and artistic approaches in architectural education and research and is the first Department in Sweden authorized to award an artistic doctorate in Architecture.

Article about LTH being the first in Sweden with an artistic doctorate in architecture - on lth.se (in Swedish).

An artistic doctorate emphasizes design-driven processes and artistic exploration as methods of inquiry, bridging academic research and the professional practice of architecture. Research within this framework may follow a Research by Design approach, where designed artefacts generate new insights. Alternatively, the research may draw on the candidate’s own professional experiences, using long-term case studies, or contribute directly to the design process by developing new methods, tools, techniques, or reflecting critically on design methodologies.

The Department admits doctoral students within four research education subjects:

• Environmental Psychology
• Construction and Architecture
• Architecture
• Architecture leading to a PhD in Fine Arts

This position will adhere to the subject of Architecture leading to a PhD in Fine Arts. 

Being a doctoral student 

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. You will primarily devote yourself to your studies at the third-cycle programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third-cycle courses, seminars and conferences. The third-cycle studies ends with a documented artistic research project and the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts in Architecture.

As a doctoral student in artistic research, you will be trained in both an artistic and a scientific approach. In short, this means that you get practice in thinking critically and reflectively, and that you develop independence and the ability to formulate qualified questions, and to analyse and practically process problems using artistically relevant research methodology. As a doctoral student, you will work on a documented artistic research project within a limited time frame. In addition, you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your third-cycle studies, you will be guided by supervisors.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se.

Subject and project description

Many contemporary challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss or social and environmental justice are complex and dynamic with inherent conflicts between different perspectives and stakeholders – human as well as other life forms. This requires new ways of registering, reflecting, and communicating specific contextual problems and processes in the multiple scales that encompass the urban. At the same time, we experience how well-known concepts and long-established dichotomies – such as urban/rural, nature/culture, private/public, and real/virtual – dissolve, and thus evolve into new spatial constructs and hybrid environments. It is increasingly urgent for architects and landscape architects to reimagine the processes of urban design and construction.

Spatial design is key to the generative aspects of sustainable urban development. Architectural imagination and artistic experiments become methods and tools for rethinking the criteria of urban life and form. New practices and transdisciplinary action are fundamental in order to represent and realize proposals and projects. As the urban perception evolves and transforms, this doctoral student position will entail a particular focus on urban design to operate at the intersection of historical investigation, design experiment, discipline, and innovative representation to galvanize progressive prospects for future urban architectures.

Work duties

The main tasks for the doctoral student will include both independent research and participation in third-cycle courses with focus on conducting a documented artistic research project for the degree of PhD in Fine Arts in Architecture. The teaching and service rate will be maximum 20%.

Qualifications 

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or 
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or 
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Architecture leading to a PhD in Fine Arts if the applicant has: 

• at least 180 credits in architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, urban design or other equivalent studies that cover spatial design, of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle
• documented artistic skills and suitability for studies in the subject area 
• necessary language skills in English to be able to benefit from the programme

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required: 

• solid knowledge in the subject area of architecture and urban design
• familiarity with artistic research methodologies and the ability to apply them in an artistic research project
• ability to conduct independent work, to formulate and process creative design experimentation, and to elaborate disciplinary connotations
• strong writing skills 
• effective communication skills for visualized and oral presentation of work 
• competence as regards self-motivation, initiative-taking, as well as commitment to discipline and practice
• good co-operation and collaboration skills 

Other qualifications

For the third-cycle programme in question, the following are considered as desirable qualifications: 

• relevant academic and professional experiences in artistic research
• relevant professional experience in architectural, landscape and/or urban design projects
• knowledge of digital design tools, mapping software, or other relevant technical skills
• international experiences are meritorious

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. At the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, we offer a thriving working environment 

More about working at Lund University on lu.se.

About the employment 

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting date as agreed. Third-cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly, but for a maximum of 5 years (i.e. a maximum of 20%). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages. 

The academic title of this position is Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts in Architecture.

Application Process

The application opens on June 17, 2025 and closes on September 30, 2025. The applications will be assessed throughout October 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews and tests during November 2025.

How to apply

The application should be written in English language. The application must contain:

1. CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. 
2. To confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements, you should submit issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates, and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)
3. A Preliminary Project Description, with a tentative research question and a plan describing your intended doctoral project (3-5 pages). The project proposal must clearly present a strong connection to artistic and design-driven practice and/or to interdisciplinary approaches to artistic experimentation with focus on urban design. 
4. A portfolio showcasing previous research and practice-based work, including relevant projects, designs, publications, thesis or other creative/academic outputs. This will serve as a basis for assessing your knowledge of the subject area, ability to work independently, to formulate subject-relevant issues and to address these using artistic methodology.

The applicant should compile all relevant documents for each of the four application components into one (1) PDF file. The upload limit is 40 Mb. Any links to websites (e.g., publications, videos, or other forms of media) should be properly contextualized within the respective application document.

We welcome your application.