Admissions – doctoral studies

Admissions Requirements and Course of the Admissions Process for Doctoral Programs starting in 2025/2026

Who can submit an application for a doctoral program
When to submit applications for a doctoral program
Important dates and deadlines
How to submit applications for a doctoral program
Fee
Admissions date and interview
Admissions process
Doctoral dissertation topics

1. Who can submit an application for a doctoral program

An applicant for a doctoral program at AFAD can become a student of the chosen study program only by succeeding in the admissions process. If the applicant has completed a master´s program i.e. second level study program, they can enrol in the admissions at AFAD following the required process and apply for one of the proposed dissertation topics.

In case the admissions to AFAD are conducted prior to completing the master´s program, the applicant is admitted conditionally for the doctoral program. The final admission to study is conditioned by the successful completion of the second level study program. The applicant will submit a proof of completion of the second level study program no later than the date of enrolment for study i.e. in September 2025 they must prove that they have completed the first level of the study by submitting a verified copy of a masters degree and diploma supplement.

All foreign applicants (with the exception of the Czech ones) must have a command of the Slovak language at the B1 level before starting their studies.

Foreign applicants, who have studied abroad, are admitted, only if they provide a decision on the recognition of the diploma issued abroad no later than the deadline for the enrolment (September 2025).

If the university issues diplomas after the enrolment date (after September) we do not recommend students that they submit an application, instead we recommend submitting it in the next academic year.

Check the following links for more information:

www.minedu.sk/akademicke-uznavanie-dokladov-o-vzdelani-a-stupna-vzdelania/

www.slovensko.sk/sk/vyhladavanie?mod=search&q=uznanie+dokladu+o+vzdelani

2. When to submit applications for a doctoral program

In the period from March 15, 2025, to May 15, 2025 an applicant for a doctoral program at AFAD will fill out and sent an electronic application which will be posted on the AFAD web page.

After submitting the electronic application in the period from May 26, 2025, at 1:00 PM to May 29, 2025, at 1:00 PM the applicant shall insert a portfolio and further documents for admissions to doctoral programs via the web page:

https://ulozisko.vsvu.sk/
username, password and instructions will be sent to the applicant´s email address stated in the application on May 26, 2025, until 1:00 PM.

3. Important dates and deadlines

March 15, 2025 – May 15, 2025 – application submission
By May 15, 2025 – fee payment deadline
May 26, 2025, from 1:00 PM – May 29, 2025, until 1:00 PM – files must be inserted in the storage
June 3 – June 5, 2025 – First round: Online entrance exams for ArtD / PhD studies
June 25 – June 27, 2025 – Second round: Admission interviews for ArtD / PhD studies

4. How to submit applications for a doctoral program

An applicant for a doctoral program at AFAD is allowed to submit an application for a maximum of two study programs applying for one of the proposed dissertation topics (choosing either full-time or external form of study if offered) in the chosen study program. During the admissions process the applicant can apply for dissertation topics which will be posted by the AFAD Rector no later than two months prior to the date for the submission of applications for a doctoral program.

The applicant may submit an application for both of following study programs:

Fine Arts specialization: Fine Arts, Design, Architecture and Art Conservation and Restoration)
History and Theory of Fine Arts and Architecture

PRODURE:

STEP 1:

Electronic application can be found:

For current students of the AFAD in AIS (in the left in the offer –Applicant´s Applications)
for students from other schools and our alumni on the AFAD web page https://www.vsvu.sk/sk/prijimacie-pohovory/elektronicka-prihlaska/?v=LRJ8jJO2
An applicant´s CV must be directly inserted in the electronic application

STEP 2:

Use the following email address kozakova@vsvu.sk for sending the following attachments:

A proof of payment of the fee for the admissions process (e.g. statement of payment from internet banking) - the fee must be paid by May 15, 2025, when paying, it is necessary to state a variable symbol, specific symbol and as a Message or Additional data – NAME and SURNAME of the applicant, otherwise the payment will not be matched.

STEP 3:

In the period from May 26, 2025, 1:00 PM, to May 29, 2025, 1:00 PM an applicant shall insert a portfolio (applicants for Fine Arts programs) and further documents for an admissions process for a doctoral program via web page:

https://ulozisko.vsvu.sk/

in the PDF format max. up to 100 MB:

Documents to be uploaded to the repository:

CV (structured resume including copies of diploma*)
Doctoral dissertation project
Visual arts: portfolio of works and exhibitions / History and theory of visual arts and architecture: publication outputs, workshops, and exhibitions
Structure of the doctoral dissertation project – includes:

4.1/ Objectives
- a/ Visual arts: if the focus of the work is artistic creation, then preliminary objectives of artistic representation of the topic. Specify them. If the focus of the work is artistic research, then preliminary objectives of artistic research. Specify them.
- b/ History and theory of visual arts and architecture: preliminary objectives
4.2/ Timetable
- Preliminary timetable for the doctoral dissertation and interim outputs
  - First year
    - Timetable:
    - Outputs:
  - Second year
    - Timetable:
    - Outputs:
  - Third year
    - Timetable:
    - Outputs:
4.3/ Expected final outputs

*copy of diploma from the second level of studies; in case the diploma was issued abroad, an official translation into Slovak (except for Czech universities)
copy of the diploma supplement or transcript of completed subjects with calculated weighted study average, which will be additionally confirmed by the study department of the respective university before the enrollment deadline; in case the document was issued abroad, also with an official translation into Slovak no later than the enrollment deadline.
foreign applicants who studied abroad, if accepted into the study, shall submit a decision recognizing the document of education issued abroad no later than the enrollment for the study.
documents proving completed language exams (if the applicant has taken them)

For more information check the following link:
https://www.minedu.sk/23276-sk/akademicke-uznavanie-dokladov-o-vzdelani-a-stupna-vzdelania/

5. Fee

A fee of € 40 must be paid via bank transfer using the following:

IBAN: SK42 8180 0000 0070 0007 2516
SWIFT: SPSRSKBAXXX
Variable symbol: 648 003
Specific symbol: six-digit number starting with 25 and followed by a four-digit number consisting of the application filing number, before which zeroes must be added. Example: application filing number is 345, so specific symbol will be 250345
Additional information: applicant’s name and surname
Account owner: Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Hviezdoslavo nám. 18, 81437 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Bank: ŠTÁTNA POKLADNICA (STATE TREASURY), Radlinského 32, 810 05 Bratislava, Slovakia

Applicants from Ukraine are exempted from paying admissions fees.

6. Admissions date and interview

The admission process will take place in the following periods:

June 3 - June 5, 2025 – Round I, online entrance exams for doctoral studies

The admission committee will evaluate the portfolio (application for artistic programs) and other documents for the admission process to doctoral studies, which applicants must upload by May 29, 2025, at 1:00 PM to https://ulozisko.vsvu.sk

June 25 to June 27, 2025 – Round II, admission interviews for doctoral studies

Interviews with applicants will be held with the admission committee (in person; in justified cases, online - only for international applicants who request it).

7. Admissions process

The admission process will assess the individual abilities and potential of the applicant to independently and creatively meet the requirements of the doctoral program at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (AFAD / VŠVU). The admission process for doctoral studies at AFAD takes place in two rounds.

Round I

In the first round, the admission committee will evaluate and score all parts of the electronic application, including written assessments from the mentors of the applicants' projects. The committee will consider the dissertation project, as well as the scope and quality of the applicant's artistic or professional activity (e.g., results in competitions, student, artistic, scientific, and professional works, etc.).

In the first round, each member of the admission committee will score 1/ the dissertation project, 2/ the portfolio and activities related to the study programs, and take into account 3/ the assessment from the mentors.

Round II

In the second round, the admission interview will take place in person before the admission committee. The applicant will present (using PowerPoint or another presentation program) primarily:

A. the dissertation project,
B. the proposed timeline (3 years) for working on the project, and
C. the expected intermediate and final outcomes of the project.

Based on the discussion during the interview, the individual abilities and potential of the applicant to independently and creatively meet the requirements of the doctoral program at AFAD will be assessed.

In the second round, the committee members will score 1/ the presentation of the doctoral dissertation project and 2/ the discussion, taking into account 3/ the mentors' statements.

Results of the evaluation and the ranking of applicants will be submitted by the admission committee to the rector of AFAD, who will decide on the admission to the study program conducted by AFAD. The admission decision will be communicated to the applicant in accordance with the law and AFAD regulations.

The conditions for admission and the course of the admission process for doctoral studies are regulated in detail by the Internal Regulation on the Admission Process at AFAD.