Registration and admission process

Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor's programme in Choral Conducting at Zurich University of the Arts.

Bachelor students must first register for a major. They begin their degree programme with the selected major and choose a minor during their first year of study. They begin studying the selected minor in their second year of study. 

→ Detailed information on the Major-Minor programme structure

Admissions requirements

For admissions and matriculation requirements, please refer to the Regulatory Framework for Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes at Zurich University of the Arts (RO § 19–24).

For additional terms (including the language skills) required for admission to the chosen major, please refer to the Programme Regulations of the Bachelor of Arts in Music at Zurich University of the Arts (StO BA Music § 4 ff.). 

  • Please ensure you submit the following documents when submitting your application:

    1. Letter of motivation (typewritten, in German):
      • Personal details (Full curriculum vitae/please indicate dates with all information: School education, previous musical training: instruments, tutors, ensemble experience; other studies, professional activities, work experience
      • Personal statement
        Why do you wish to study music at Zurich University of Arts (ZHdK)? Please give reasons for choosing the major in Choral Conducting.
        What are your career plans?

    2. Matriculation number
      When registering for the first time at a Swiss university, you will be issued a matriculation number. If you have already been enrolled at a Swiss university, university of applied sciences or tertiary college, please state your matriculation number. This eight-digit code (for example: 18-001-001) is printed on a yellow label, which is affixed to your University entrance qualification (upper secondary school-leaving certificate – Baccalaureate, Vocational Baccalaureate, Specialized Baccalaureate or Federal VET Diploma).

    3. Ex-matriculation certificate
      Confirmation of ex-matriculation is issued at Swiss universities upon graduation or upon termination of studies. If issue is pending, confirmation must be submitted later.

    4. Social security number
      If you live or work in Switzerland, you will find your Swiss social security number (756...) on your AHV card or on your Swiss health insurance card.

    5. Photograph JPG
      Please upload a recent passport quality photo – no copies/screenshots of the passport page or identity card. The photo must be a frontal shot of the face that is 2/3 of the frame and at least 320 x 400 pixels.

    6. Identity card or passport
      A copy of the identity card (both sides) or passport must be uploaded. If a residence permit for Switzerland is available, please also submit a copy of it.

    7. Resume / Curriculum Vitae
      Please submit in tabular form, no prose texts.

    8. Language skills
      The language skills required are listed for each degree programme in the programme regulations. Language skills can be demonstrated as follows:
      —    Native speaker (does not have to be proven)
      —    Required language as a subject in the educational certificate, passed or at least grade 4 (submit the upper secondary education transcript as a PDF)
      —    Recognized certificate (according to the list “Recognized Certificates for Language Requirements”)
      —    University degree (Bachelor’s/Master’s) in a degree programme where the language of instruction corresponds to the language skills required by the study regulations (submit diploma supplement or official confirmation from the university as a PDF)

      Note: The language certificates should usually be no more than five years old. The decision on whether the admission requirements regarding language skills have been met is made during the formal review of the documents.

    9. Further documents
      Please submit the corresponding transcripts, diplomas and certificates to provide evidence of your:

      • Educational qualifications
      • Professional activities (relevant to your degree programme/chosen specialization)
      • Internships (relevant to your degree programme/chosen specialization)

    Documents must be uploaded in PDF format. If you wish to upload several individual PDF files, you may do so one after the other.

    The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is permitted and must be stated when submitting the registration.

  • The exam consists of 5 parts:

    A.  Music Practice

    • Singing

      • Presentation of an accompanied art song or an aria in German
      • simple prima vista singing
      • Prima vista recitation of a short German text

    • Piano

      • Selection of prepared works from two epochs (minimum requirements: Bach: 2- or 3-part inventions, Schumann: “Album für die Jugend”, Bartok: “Mikrokosmos” Vol. 4)
      • Score play: prima vista play of simple choral movements (two to four systems)

    • Conduct

      • Starting and conducting a short, self-chosen choral movement (level of difficulty Anton Bruckner “Locus iste” or Fanny Hensel “Abendlich schon rauscht der Wald”); bring 4 copies of the notes)
      • Simple movement and conducting exercises prima vista
      • Presentation of a rhythm prima vista

    • Choir rehearsal

      • 15-minute rehearsal with the Kantorei ZHdK. The piece will be sent in advance.


    B.  Colloquium

    Description of a choral score (short preparation), questions about career choice
     

    C.  General aptitude interview

    In the dialogue between the candidate and the commission, questions about previous education, personal goals and professional intentions and the organization of the course are discussed. The questions refer to the letter of motivation submitted with the application. The interview also serves to determine language skills.

    Examination panel

    The panel comprises lecturers from the relevant major and representatives from the Department Committee.


    D.  Integrated aptitude test

    Duration: 40 minutes in groups of 3 candidates each

    Content of the examination:

    • Group improvisation
      • The group improvisation exam consists of a series of continuous solo and duo improvisations and is concluded with a trio improvisation.
      • Assessment criteria are: communication skills, empathy, spontaneity, imagination, rhythmic security, reliable hearing, instrumental implementation
      • Duration: approx. 5 minutes. Stylistically, this «relay» is unbounded, open.
    • Theoretical craft
      • At the piano: A simple bass voice in a major or minor key with up to three accidentals is given. The left hand plays this bass voice and the right hand complements the associated triads.
      • Rhythm prima vista: A rhythm pronounced in a binary (3/4, 4/4, etc.) or ternary (6/8, 9/8, etc.) time signature on any syllable. To do this, the pulse is beaten.
      • Melody prima vista: unaccompanied singing of a) a free tonal and b) a tonal melody
      • Singing a chorale part (women: alto, men: tenor or bass), the other three parts are played on the piano by the expert
        → Please find an example test here.


    E.  Written music theory (independently on the computer)

    Duration: 2 hours

    Content of the exam:

    • Recognize intervals (all intervals up to the octave, as a consonance)
    • Recognizing triads (tonal triads, in all positions, set in four voices)
    • Melody dictation (upper voice and bass voice)
    • Rhythm dictation
    • Listening analysis: description of short music excerpts from the 15th–21st century
    • Score analysis: description of short score excerpts from the 15th–21st century
    • Composition: Four-part release of a bass (only triads in initial positions, suspensions on the dominant)
    • Harmonic analysis of a four-part movement (only triads, in all positions, suspensions on the dominant).
      → Please find an example test here.
       

    Examination panel for part D and E

    The panel comprises ZHdK lecturers in music theory.


    Examples for the audition

  • Info Day

    21 November 2024

    Online registration

    7 January – 1 March 2025­­

    Admission examination (inclusive theoretical examination)

    29 and 30 April 2025

    Allocation of places

    Mid-May 2025

    Course commencement

    15 September 2025

  • The registration fee for the admissions process is CHF 100 Registrations are valid once the registration fee has been paid. Payment should be effected online by credit card, TWINT or PostFinance Card. Applicants who are invited to the second part of the aptitude test (interview or examination) pay an additional examination fee of CHF 200 for participation in the second part of the aptitude test. The payment request is sent by e-mail. Once the payment has been transferred, the invitation with the examination dates will be made available in the online registration.
    Fees are based on the Directive on Tuition Fees of Zurich University of Applied Sciences and the corresponding fact sheet on Tuition Fees at ZHdK.

  • Different rules apply for entry to Switzerland. In principle, a distinction is made between nationals of EU/EFTA countries and third-country nationals. An overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality can be found on the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration SEM.
    Third-country nationals who require a visa to study in Switzerland must apply in person for a student visa at the relevant Swiss consulate abroad (embassy or consulate-general). Visa applications should be made at least 3 months before the envisaged entry to Switzerland.
    International students from countries that do not require a visa to study (stays of more than 90 days) may apply for their residence permit directly at their place of residence in Switzerland after entering the country.

    You can find the checklists to prepare your entry into Switzerland at: www.zhdk.ch/migration

    Importing musical instruments into Switzerland

    Please note the regulations for importing musical instruments into Switzerland. If you intend to import musical instruments into other countries, please consult the corresponding import regulations upon leaving Switzerland.

    • Login with ZHdK or SWITCH edu-ID

      • If you do not have a ZHdK login, you will need a SWITCH edu-ID to register online. This ID has to be created once.
        → How to create and use a SWITCH edu-ID

      • If you have a ZHdK login, you may apply with your ZHdK login, provided that it is still valid until the end of the admission procedure. The ZHdK login must be valid until the end of the admission procedure. The ZHdK login remains valid until the end of the studies.

    • You may interrupt your application at any time and continue at a later stage. Any information entered will be stored.
       
    • Compulsory fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

    • Once all the data has been entered, the registration must be completed by clicking on ‘Complete entry’ and the registration fee must be paid. The registration cannot be changed afterwards. The registration is only considered to be submitted and checked once the registration fee has been paid.

    • If the registration has not been completed, including payment of the registration fee, the data will be deleted after the registration deadline.