The Royal Institute of Art conducts doctoral education in collaboration with the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts, Lund University, which holds the right of degree conferral. The Royal Institute of Art currently has two doctoral students. These candidates work towards a PhD in Visual Art, which results from a documented artistic research project (doctoral thesis)(180 credits).
The doctoral student works under the guidance of a main supervisor, who is a professor at the Royal Institute of Art, as well as an external co-supervisor. Twice a year, the doctoral student, together with their main supervisor, draws up an individual study plan in which their course of study is mapped and documented. The programme contains both compulsory and elective courses (2 x 30 credits), sub-tutorials and a final public defence.
The doctoral programme is regarded as a four-year term of employment at the Royal Institute of Art. The appointment includes institutional work of up to 20 percent (of full-time) for the school, including teaching on mainly the five-year programme in fine art. Teaching time is added to the duration of the employment contract.