Aristotelis Antoniou (TU Wien, Research Unit of Monument Preservation and Building within Existing Structures)

Tatjana Bergmeister (TU Wien, Research Unit of Housing and Design)

Antonio Couto Nunes (Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Arquitectura e Urbanismo e de Design) 

Antonio Faria (TU Wien,  Research Unit of Housing and Design)

Yichuan Guo (Politecnico di Milano, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies)

Kerstin Pluch (TU Wien, Research Unit of Local Planning)

Christine Sattler (TU Wien, Institute of Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning)

Beatriz Stambuk ( TU Wien, Research Unit Urban and Regional Research)

Benedikt Straňák (London School of Economics, Department of Sociology)

Constanza Zeni (TU Wien, Research Unit of Housing and Design)

Delilah Wallbank (London School of Economics, Department of Sociology)

We are excited to announce an open call for applications to the New Social Housing Research School for Doctoral Candidates at TU Wien. We invite highly motivated doctoral students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds (in architecture, spatial planning, social sciences, and beyond) to contribute to this evolving field and engage in cross-disciplinary research and collaboration. Join us in advancing the future of housing studies, policy, and practice and build your international research network!

Highly dynamic political, social, ecological, and political transitions bring a number of challenges to the provision of housing today. As a complex research field, housing includes the design of buildings, housing as a form of practice, and housing regimes and policies but, also, an ideological and epistemological component. Housing studies at the intersection of basic and applied research require new transdisciplinary methodological approaches and perspectives across positions of Global North and South. To pursue these challenges and requirements, this international and interdisciplinary programme for doctoral candidates (starting Summer Semester March 2027) seeks to establish an ‘open-minded dialogue across scales and positions’ (Powell & Simone, 2022) on the topic of New Social Housing.

The thematic focus of the programme will be social housing in its broad definition as common good and transdisciplinary methodological approaches in housing studies. In particular with regard to the Sustainable Development Goal 11 'Sustainable Cities and Communities' with SDG 11.1 'Safe and Affordable Housing', we will develop new formats for knowledge transfer and cooperation, available for all programme participants. The proposed programme brings added value through the inter/transdisciplinary approach and peer-supervision & learning. The didactical approach of the programme – with cross-disciplinary workshops focussed on problem-based-learning and collaborative research settings – seeks to develop a peer-culture in doctoral education. During the programme, you will be part of an interdisciplinary doctoral group at TU Wien and engage in transdisciplinary exchange with international scholars, partner universities and housing practitioners.

The call at a glance

Who can apply?

The call is open to doctoral students at TU Wien and to future doctoral students at TU Wien. Applicants from all disciplines are welcome – architecture, spatial planning, social sciences, engineering and beyond. You are eligible if you meet both of the following conditions:

• Enrolment: You are already enrolled in a doctoral curriculum at TU Wien, or you will enrol at TU Wien by Summer Term 2027 at the latest. You do not need to be enrolled at the time of your application.
• Supervision: You already have a supervisor at TU Wien, or a professor at TU Wien confirms in writing that they will take over the supervision of your dissertation as soon as you are enrolled at TU Wien.

Programme structure

The programme offers courses (webinar series) for the doctoral curriculum of TU Wien. It is to be considered as additional support for the doctoral students’ research career and complements – but does not replace – your doctoral studies and your supervision. Complementary teaching activities, courses and scientific exchange (in English language) include:

• Research-led teaching: The webinars (2-4 ECTS) are offered as a course to doctoral students to advance in housing research, methodologies in housing studies etc. by international scholars and housing practitioners, additional courses in connection with international research projects (starting in Summer Term in March 2027 and continuing in Winter Term in October 2027/28)
• Vienna International Summer School on New Social Housing: In the framework of the Vienna International Summer School on New Social Housing doctoral students are invited to present their research progress to a broader research community with other participants of the summer school. Through field trips offered by the Summer School, the participants get insights into the Viennese housing system and establish contact to institutions and practitioners. (September 2027)
• On-site meeting and workshop: Symposium with lectures by international scholars. The on-site workshop is dedicated for an internal, interdisciplinary exchange in classroom sessions amongst the doctoral programme participants and invited scholars (peer-learning). A subsequent writing retreat only for the doctoral students allows immediate implementation of review comments (foreseen in February/March 2028 at TU Wien or international partner universities in Milan, London and Sao Paulo)

How the three years work: The programme runs in two phases.

Responsibilities and expectations

In the first year, participants / doctoral students will:

• participate in all activities (webinar series, summer school, on-site symposium and writing retreat) – participation is binding,
• present work progress and get multi-disciplinary feedback from renowned scholars,
• co-organize peer-learning sessions and acquire new transferable skills,
• submit a paper for the summer school.

In the follow-up year, participants will take part in the exchange events every six months and report on the progress of their doctoral research.

Costs and funding

For selected doctoral students, participation in the programme is free of charge. The programme covers the costs of all programme activities: the webinar series and courses, the symposium and writing retreat, and participation in the Vienna International Summer School on New Social Housing. Travel and accommodation for on-site meetings at international partner universities (Milan, London, Sao Paulo) are partially covered by the programme.

Please note: The programme is not a scholarship or a doctoral position. It does not provide a salary, stipend or any other funding for your dissertation or your living costs. The funding of your doctoral research has to be secured independently (e.g. through employment at the university, a research project or a scholarship).

How to apply

Submission requirements (combined in one single PDF document):

• Motivation letter also stating the current stage of the doctoral research (max. 1 page)
• Confirmation of supervision (max. 1 page): either a statement of your TU Wien supervisor supporting your participation in the programme, or – if you are not yet enrolled – a letter from a TU Wien professor confirming that they will supervise your dissertation once you are enrolled at TU Wien and supporting your participation in the programme
• Exposé stating the context, aim, leading questions and methodology of the research (max. 3 pages)

Deadline: 30 November 2026 via email to newsocialhousing@tuwien.ac.at (one single PDF document)

Selection procedure

The applications are assessed by the programme coordinators Dr. Bernadette Krejs and Dr. Judith M. Lehner together with an external jury. The selection for the New Social Housing doctoral programme aims at maintaining a balance between students from different disciplines, ensuring a diverse cohort that reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the programme. All applicants will be informed about the decision by 15 December 2026.

Online info session

Do you have questions about the programme or about your eligibility? Join our online info session on 4 November 2026, 13:00–13:30 CET via Zoom. Register via newsocialhousing@tuwien.ac.at  

Coordinators:

• Dr. Bernadette Krejs, Research Unit Housing and Design, Institute for Architecture and Design, E253-02
• Dr. Judith M. Lehner, Research Center for New Social Housing, future.lab RC E285-01

Contact:  newsocialhousing@tuwien.ac.at

Frequently asked questions

Do I already have to be enrolled as a doctoral student?
No. You can also apply if you will enrol in a doctoral programme at TU Wien by Summer Term 2027 at the latest. In this case, a TU Wien professor needs to confirm in writing that they will supervise your dissertation once you are enrolled.

Where do I get information on the doctoral curriculum?https://ar.tuwien.ac.at/en/Studies/doctoral-studies

I am a doctoral student at another university. Can I apply?
Not in this call. This year, the programme is open only to current and future doctoral students at TU Wien.

Does the programme finance my doctorate?
No. Participation is free of charge and the programme pays for its activities, but it does not provide a salary, stipend or other funding for your dissertation.

How much time do I need to commit?
The first year is intensive: participation in the monthly webinars, the summer school, the symposium and the writing retreat is mandatory. In years 2 and 3, you take part in exchange events every six months.

Who decides on the admission, and when will I know?
The programme coordinators and an external jury select the participants. You will be informed about the decision by 15 December 2026.

AIMS
To pursue these challenges and requirements, the international and interdisciplinary programme seeks to establish an ‘open-minded dialogue across scales and positions’ (Powell & Simone, 2022) on the topic of New Social Housing. The thematic focus of the programme will be social housing in its definition as common good (Güntner, Hauser, Lehner & Reinprecht 2023) and transdisciplinary methodological approaches in housing studies. Beyond the (1) aim of promoting excellent doctoral training, the programme additionally seeks to (2) extent the network of international housing studies and consolidate or establish international collaborations. Additionally, our goal in the advancement of housing research is to (3) qualify early-stage researchers for competitive funding, and to (4) increase visibility of research through public events and publications.

The programme in the framework of the TUW faculty’s focus “Social Infrastructure: Health/Education/Housing” aims to complement and further develop teaching in doctoral settings aligned with the faculty’s research school structure and TU Wien’s doctoral school. The programme brings added value through the inter/transdisciplinary approach and innovative peer-learning. The didactical approach of the programme – with cross-disciplinary workshops focussed on problem-based-learning and collaborative interdisciplinary research settings – seeks to develop a peer-culture in doctoral education. Additionally, the programme allows for international networking and advancing the excellency in housing research/design through the inclusion of highly renown international scientists of international universities, practitioners and housing actors as collaborators for transdisciplinary exchange and the output of public keynote events and publications.

Being situated in Vienna, a city with a refined system of social housing and proficient housing expertise in city administration, practice, social organizations and universities, the programme therefore offers doctoral students not only a scientific career development in an international setting, but also the opportunity of engaging with a field of competence in applied practice. In particular with regard to Sustainable Development Goal 11 'Sustainable Cities and Communities' with SDG 11.1 'Safe and Affordable Housing', the programme organizers and partners are developing new formats for knowledge transfer and cooperation networks, available/accessible for all participants and beyond.

METHODOLOGY and PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The doctoral programme consists of various actors participating and supporting the programme structure. The Research Center for New Social Housing functions as an organisational body. The cohort of doctoral students is entails students of TU Wien, Viennese other international universities from different disciplinary fields. The programme is conducted in English.

Complementary teaching activities, courses and scientific exchange (in English language) include:

• Research-led teaching: The webinars are offered as a course to doctoral students to advance in housing research, methodologies in housing studies etc. by international scholars and housing practitioners, additional courses in connection with international research projects (Starting every Summer Term in March and continuing in the Winter Term in October)
• Vienna International Summer School on New Social Housing: In the framework of the Vienna International Summer School on New Social Housing doctoral students are invited to present their research progress to a broader research community with other participants of the summer school. Through field trips offered by the Summer School, the participants get insights into the Viennese housing system and establish contact to institutions and practitioners. (September)
• On-site meeting: Public symposium with lectures by international scholars. The on-site workshop is dedicated for an internal, interdisciplinary exchange in classroom sessions amongst the doctoral programme participants and invited scholars (peer-learning). A subsequent writing retreat only for the doctoral students allows immediate implementation of review comments. (foreseen in February/March at TU Wien or international partner universities)

The programme is structured as an intensive first part in the year 1 (with monthly webinars and courses during the summer and winter term) and a subsequent second part along year 2 and 3 with half-year activities (symposium and progress report workshops).

Programme organisers and international cooperation partners

Heads of Programme: 

Dr. Judith M. Lehner, Research Center for New Social Housing, future.lab, E285-01, TU Wien
Dr. Bernadette Krejs, Research Unit Housing and Design, E253-2, TU Wien

Cooperation Partners: 

Prof. Dr. Massimo Bricocoli, Politecnico Milano, Dipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani
Assoc. Prof. Dr. David Madden, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Sociology
Prof. Dr. Raquel Rolnik, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo

Former programme group 2024/25

Coordinators:
Dr. Judith M. Lehner, Research Center for New Social Housing, future.lab, TU Wien
Dr. Bernadette Krejs, Research Unit Housing and Design, TU Wien
Dr. Selim Banabak, Research Unit Urban and Regional Research, TU Wien

Advisors and cooperation partners:
Prof. Michael Obrist, Research Unit Housing and Design, TU Wien
Assoc. Prof. Angelika Psenner, Research Unit of Urban Design, TU Wien
Prof. Franziska Sielker, Research Unit Urban and Regional Research, TU Wien
Prof. Dragana Damjanovic, Fakultät für Rechtswissenschaften, Universität Wien
Prof. Simon Güntner, HAW Hamburg
Prof. Dr. Massimo Bricocoli, Politecnico Milano, Dipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani
Prof. Dr. Raquel Rolnik, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo
Assoc. Prof. Dr. David Madden, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Sociology
Prof. Dr. Amita Bhide, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, School of Habitat Studies
City of Vienna, MA 50, Referat für Stategische Projekte und Internationales

Barbara Caetano Damasceno  (University of São Paulo, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism)        

Charlotte Damböck  (TU Wien, Research Unit of Law)        

Julia Dorner  (TU Wien, Research Unit of Urban and Regional Research)        

Silke Fischer (TU Wien, Research Unit of Building Construction and Design 2)        

Marcella Franco de Andrade  (University of São Paulo, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism)  

Pratap Jayaram  (London School of Economics, Department of Sociology)        

Diego Martínez  (TU Wien, Research Unit of Housing and Design)        

Marco Patruno  (Politecnico di Milano, Architectural , Urban, and Interior Design)