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Admission Criteria
What are the qualifications and academic requirements to apply for admission?
Learn more our eligibility criteria here. Mandatory basic requirements are at least 17 years of formal education or more and a Master's degree.
What does “17 years of education” mean?
This span includes your entire formal education, including graduate/master's degree and postgraduate studies.
Is a professional with a diploma from a private design institution eligible to apply for admission?
Information on this can be found in the NID PhD Handbook. If you have any further questions, please contact the NID PhD Coordination.
Application
How many PhD candidates do you accept?
We accept two or three PhD candidates per year.
How many times a year do you accept applicants?
Once a year. The call is published annually, around February/March (subject to change). Check our website for the latest updates.
Can I apply if I have not yet completed my master’s programme?
This is not possible. A completed Master's degree in design is required.
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Cooperation between the HSLU and the NID
Do you expect the PhD proposals and research topics to reflect the collaboration between the two institutions, i.e., their countries and cultures?
The basic requirement for admission to the PhD programme is a research topic that fits in with one of the research foci of either one of the partner universities. It is the only way to ensure adequate supervision at the NID and at the HSLU, and the integration of PhD students into the research groups of the Lucerne School of Art and Design.
Is it possible to conduct the research involved anywhere or is it limited to India and Switzerland?
In principle, it is possible to conduct your research in any country. However, to be accepted to the programme, your research topic needs to fit in with one of the partner universities’ research foci. It is the only way to ensure adequate supervision at the NID and at the HSLU, and the integration of PhD students into the research groups of the Lucerne School of Art and Design.
How do you hope to manage the challenges of working with people with diverse cultural perspectives that might clash sometimes (especially online)?
The HSLU and the NID have been teaching and conducting research together for many years. A fundamental aspect of this cooperation is the fostering of a shared culture of inclusion. Continuous, critical reflection on, and engagement with, diversity is deeply rooted in the programme, especially in terms of intercultural exchange, which manifests for example in the joint supervision of the PhD students and our joint course offerings. We consider integrating different perspectives to be an important part of the learning and teaching experience.
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Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC)
What does the supervision look like in this programme?
All PhD students are supported and supervised by the so-called “DAC”. The committee consists of the guide (first supervision, provided by the NID), the co-guide (second supervision, provided by the HSLU) and a third external specialist from industry or academia, that is, from outside this cooperation. The chairperson of the DAC is the guide. The PhD students submit a report to the DAC every six months, presenting the status of their work.
Duration of Studies
What is the difference between part-time and full-time studies?
PhD students can study part-time (five years) or full-time (three years). Studying full-time means they devote five working days per week to their doctorate. By comparison, PhD students studying part-time devote about 2.5 working days per week to their doctorate.
Both part-time and full-time studies may be extended by a maximum of two years in justified cases (such as illness, parenthood, military service, etc.).
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Exchange Semester
Is it possible for PhD students to attend exchange semesters at the NID or at the HSLU?
Yes, that is possible. In consultation with their guides and co-guides, PhD students enrolled in the PhD programme from both the NID and the HSLU can attend courses offered by either university. For more information, consult the respective websites of the HSLU and the NID. However, longer stays must be financed by the students themselves. The HSLU may cover a limited part of the travel costs.
Is it possible to join the programme as an exchange student from a different university?
The courses offered in the framework of the PhD programme at the Lucerne School of Art and Design are open to interested PhD students from other universities. For more information contact the programme coordination.
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Funding
What are the requirements for a partially or fully funded doctorate?
Unfortunately, there are no scholarships available at present. However, HSLU provides the infrastructure and can assist with scholarship applications. Financial support for travel is also possible.
What is the cost of part-time participation in the programme?
Part-time studies last five years. The tuition fee for the PhD programme at the NID is USD 2,000 per year. In addition, there are living and study costs for materials such as books, etc. as well as travel costs. The HSLU may cover a limited part of the travel costs.
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Proposal
Are candidates expected to include a budget and timeline in the proposal?
A timeline must be submitted as part of the proposal. If it makes sense for your project, you may include a budget, though it is not mandatory. Check the admission process for the information to be included in the proposal.
Is it possible to include a portfolio in the proposal?
Yes, if it makes sense for your proposal, you may enclose a portfolio in addition to the documents required.
Place of Study
Where is the place of study? How often do I have to be present in person at the HSLU or the NID?
Students are expected to travel to the NID at least twice during their studies (module attendance, defence of the dissertation). Participation in the Doctoral Colloquium at the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art (HSLU) once per semester is encouraged.
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Research Stay
If research in India or Switzerland is part of the proposal, is it possible to stay on campus for the duration? How long can I stay there?
Yes, you can stay/work on the NID or HSLU campus to conduct the research required for your doctoral studies. The duration of your stay depends on your project and will be determined in consultation with your guide and co-guide.
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Supervision
Is there a list of potential supervisors to get an idea of the faculty involved?
Yes, click here.
If I would like to be assigned a specific supervisor, should I mention it in the proposal?
There is no requirement to do so, but if you already have a specific guide in mind, you can of course mention it, and we will see whether the person is available.
Sustainability
Can you elaborate on your definition of sustainability?
We understand sustainability, in all its dimensions, as defined in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Having said that, in the programme, our focus is on social and environmental innovations rather than technical innovations.
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Topics
How can I find out whether my topic might be of interest?
Find information about the relevant research topics at both universities. In case of the HSLU, it specifically pays to read up on the four research groups of the Lucerne School of Art and Design.
What if a topic is so ground-breaking that there is only very little existing research? (i.e., design fiction, speculative design, a radical reframing)?
Excellent! The aim of doctoral studies is precisely to close research gaps.
