About the Programme
The Doctoral programme in Landscape and Urban Studies at the Department of Architecture’s Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies addresses contemporary issues of urban and environmental transformation. Research spans the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, territorial planning and social sciences. Focusing on the production of landscape, territory and human settlements through a range of different scales, from the local to the global, this may include studies in landscape and designed ecologies, design strategies, energy and food production, material stocks and flows, health and socio-economic development.
The doctoral programme seeks to promote a critical discourse, qualitatively and quantitatively addressing pressing environmental and social challenges, and aspires to cultivate independent, inventive, and proactive research that engages with processes of environmental change within their broader cultural, economic, political, social, historical and theoretical context.
The programme is structured as an ongoing collective research, no two semesters are alike and it is recommended that candidates participate in at least two consecutive semesters (starting in the autumn semester, and the following spring semester). Acknowledging that landscapes are integrating socio-economic, infrastructural and ecological aspects, the autumn semester addresses an analytical perspective, which emphasizes social sciences, territorial planning, infrastructure and technology, while the spring semester introduces a design-oriented perspective, emphasizing dialogical, participatory and ecological practices.
Participating Chairs
- Chair of History and Theory of Urban Design, Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete
- Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Teresa Galí-Izard
- Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Christophe Girot
- Chair of Architecture and Urban Design, Prof. Hubert Klumpner
- Chair of Architecture and Urban Transformation, Prof. Freek Persyn
- Chair of Sociology, Prof. Dr. Christian Schmid
- Chair of Architecture and Territorial Planning, Prof. Milica Topalovic
- Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Günther Vogt
While an overall alignment with the respective chairs’ research agendas and expertise is desirable, the programme is open to candidates who apply with their own research topic. Please do not contact professors directly. Applications have to be addressed at the whole participating faculty and are solely evaluated regarding content.
Qualifications, Employment, and other Criteria
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree acquired at university level (equivalent to the FHEQ-Level 7) in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning or related fields at the date of the submission deadline.
The programme provides funding for three years, successful applicants will be employed 100%, and will receive a doctoral student contract at ETH Zurich with monthly salaries according to the ‘standard rate’. For a detailed calculation of salaries please refer here.
Residency in Zurich during the scholarship is required and adequate proficiency in English is mandatory (spoken and written).
The call for the positions in 2021 has closed. Please return to this space in mid-December 2021 for details on how to apply for next call (start in October 2022).
Further Information (see FAQ page 2)
For further questions please contact Evelyne Gordon (administration) or Seppe De Blust (content) after looking at the FAQ (page 2).