497

CURIAN VARIABLE SERIES TRUST

7601 Technology Way, Denver, Colorado 80237

(877) 847-4143

September 26, 2012

Securities and Exchange Commission

450 Fifth Street, NW

Judiciary Plaza

Washington, DC 20549

Re: Curian Variable Series Trust

File Nos. 333-177369 and 811-22613

Dear Sir/Madam:

Pursuant to Rule 497(e) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we hereby file exhibits containing interactive data format risk/return summary information that reflects the risk/return summary information in the supplement dated September 10, 2012, filed pursuant to Rule 497(e), for the following Funds, which are funds of the above mentioned Trust:

Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund

Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund

Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund

Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund

Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund

Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund

Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund

Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund

Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund

Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund

Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund

Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund

Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund

Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund,

Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund

Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund

Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund

Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund

Curian/Franklin Templeton Frontier Markets Fund

Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund

Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund

Curian/The Boston Company Multi-Alpha Market Neutral Equity Fund

If you have any questions concerning this filing, please contact me at (517) 367-4336.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Susan S. Rhee

Susan S. Rhee

enc.

XML

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

In the summary prospectus for the Curian/Franklin Templeton Frontier Markets Fund, in the section entitled “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” please add the following risks:

● China and India country specific risks – Investment primarily in equity and equity-related securities in the People’s Republic of China and India will expose, the Fund specifically to their market, currency, and other risks, including volatility and structural risks.

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

● Risks of investments in Russia –A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by companies located in Russia. Because of the recent formation of the Russian securities markets as well as the underdeveloped state of Russia’s banking system, settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to significant risks. Ownership of shares is defined according to entries in the company’s share register and normally evidenced by extracts from the register. The registrars are not necessarily subject to effective state supervision nor are they licensed with any governmental entity. Also, there is no central registration system for shareholders and it is possible for a Fund to lose its registration through fraud, negligence or mere oversight. While a Fund will endeavor to ensure that its interest continues to be appropriately recorded either itself or through a custodian or other agent inspecting the share register and by obtaining extracts of share registers through regular confirmations, these extracts have no legal enforceability and it is possible that subsequent illegal amendment or other fraudulent act may deprive the Fund of its ownership rights or improperly dilute its interest. In addition, while applicable Russian regulations impose liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, it may be difficult for a Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities in the event of loss of share registration. While a Fund intends to invest directly in Russian companies that use an independent registrar, there can be no assurance that such investments will not result in a loss to the Fund.

In the summary prospectus for the Curian/The Boston Company Multi-Alpha Market Neutral Equity Fund, in the section entitled “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” please add the following risks:

● China and India country specific risks – Investment primarily in equity and equity-related securities in the People’s Republic of China and India will expose, the Fund specifically to their market, currency, and other risks, including volatility and structural risks.

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

● Frontier market countries risk – Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and even less developed capital markets than traditional developing markets, and, as a result, the risks of investing in developing market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. The magnification of risks are the result of: potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity in frontier markets; government ownership or control of parts of private sector and of certain companies; trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which frontier market countries trade; and the relatively new and unsettled securities laws in many frontier market countries.

● Risks of investments in Russia –A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by companies located in Russia. Because of the recent formation of the Russian securities markets as well as the underdeveloped state of Russia’s banking system, settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to significant risks. Ownership of shares is defined according to entries in the company’s share register and normally evidenced by extracts from the register. The registrars are not necessarily subject to effective state supervision nor are they licensed with any governmental entity. Also, there is no central registration system for shareholders and it is possible for a Fund to lose its registration through fraud, negligence or mere oversight. While a Fund will endeavor to ensure that its interest continues to be appropriately recorded either itself or through a custodian or other agent inspecting the share register and by obtaining extracts of share registers through regular confirmations, these extracts have no legal enforceability and it is possible that subsequent illegal amendment or other fraudulent act may deprive the Fund of its ownership rights or improperly dilute its interest. In addition, while applicable Russian regulations impose liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, it may be difficult for a Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities in the event of loss of share registration. While a Fund intends to invest directly in Russian companies that use an independent registrar, there can be no assurance that such investments will not result in a loss to the Fund.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

CURIAN VARIABLE SERIES TRUST

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Apr. 30, 2012

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

In the summary prospectus for the Curian/Franklin Templeton Frontier Markets Fund, in the section entitled “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” please add the following risks:

● China and India country specific risks – Investment primarily in equity and equity-related securities in the People’s Republic of China and India will expose, the Fund specifically to their market, currency, and other risks, including volatility and structural risks.

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

● Risks of investments in Russia –A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by companies located in Russia. Because of the recent formation of the Russian securities markets as well as the underdeveloped state of Russia’s banking system, settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to significant risks. Ownership of shares is defined according to entries in the company’s share register and normally evidenced by extracts from the register. The registrars are not necessarily subject to effective state supervision nor are they licensed with any governmental entity. Also, there is no central registration system for shareholders and it is possible for a Fund to lose its registration through fraud, negligence or mere oversight. While a Fund will endeavor to ensure that its interest continues to be appropriately recorded either itself or through a custodian or other agent inspecting the share register and by obtaining extracts of share registers through regular confirmations, these extracts have no legal enforceability and it is possible that subsequent illegal amendment or other fraudulent act may deprive the Fund of its ownership rights or improperly dilute its interest. In addition, while applicable Russian regulations impose liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, it may be difficult for a Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities in the event of loss of share registration. While a Fund intends to invest directly in Russian companies that use an independent registrar, there can be no assurance that such investments will not result in a loss to the Fund.

In the summary prospectus for the Curian/The Boston Company Multi-Alpha Market Neutral Equity Fund, in the section entitled “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” please add the following risks:

● China and India country specific risks – Investment primarily in equity and equity-related securities in the People’s Republic of China and India will expose, the Fund specifically to their market, currency, and other risks, including volatility and structural risks.

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

● Frontier market countries risk – Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and even less developed capital markets than traditional developing markets, and, as a result, the risks of investing in developing market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. The magnification of risks are the result of: potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity in frontier markets; government ownership or control of parts of private sector and of certain companies; trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which frontier market countries trade; and the relatively new and unsettled securities laws in many frontier market countries.

● Risks of investments in Russia –A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by companies located in Russia. Because of the recent formation of the Russian securities markets as well as the underdeveloped state of Russia’s banking system, settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to significant risks. Ownership of shares is defined according to entries in the company’s share register and normally evidenced by extracts from the register. The registrars are not necessarily subject to effective state supervision nor are they licensed with any governmental entity. Also, there is no central registration system for shareholders and it is possible for a Fund to lose its registration through fraud, negligence or mere oversight. While a Fund will endeavor to ensure that its interest continues to be appropriately recorded either itself or through a custodian or other agent inspecting the share register and by obtaining extracts of share registers through regular confirmations, these extracts have no legal enforceability and it is possible that subsequent illegal amendment or other fraudulent act may deprive the Fund of its ownership rights or improperly dilute its interest. In addition, while applicable Russian regulations impose liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, it may be difficult for a Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities in the event of loss of share registration. While a Fund intends to invest directly in Russian companies that use an independent registrar, there can be no assurance that such investments will not result in a loss to the Fund.

Curian Guidance - Maximize Income Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Balanced Income Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Rising Income Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Moderate Growth Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Maximum Growth Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Tactical Moderate Growth Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Tactical Maximum Growth Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Equity 100 Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Fixed Income 100 Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Institutional Alt 65 Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Guidance - Institutional Alt 100 Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Diversified Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust

For Curian Guidance – Maximize Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Balanced Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Rising Income Fund, Curian Guidance – Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Moderate Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Tactical Maximum Growth Fund, Curian Guidance – Equity 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Fixed Income 100 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 65 Fund, Curian Guidance – Institutional Alt 100 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 35 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 60 Fund, Curian Tactical Advantage 75 Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Diversified Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Aggressive Fund, Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage – Income Fund, Curian/AQR Risk Parity Fund, Curian/Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodities Strategy Fund, and Curian/Neuberger Berman Currency Fund, please delete the risk entitled “counterparty and settlement risk” in its entirety and replace it with the following:

● Counterparty and settlement risk – Trading options, futures contracts and other derivative financial instruments, as well as, certain over-the-counter securities entails credit and settlement risk on the counterparties.

Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Income Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

cvst1_SupplementTextBlock

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Summary Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Supplement Dated September 10, 2012

To The Prospectus Dated April 30, 2012

Curian Variable Series Trust