Registration and admissions process

Thank you for your interest in the Masterโ€™s programme in Transdisciplinary Studies in the Arts at Zurich University of the Arts.

If interested in a Masterโ€™s degree applicants apply for admission to their chosen Major. Afterwards they separately choose their Minor. Both programmes Major and Minor will start in the first semester.

โ†’ Detailed information on the Major-Minor programme structure at ZHdK
โ†’ Detailed information on Minor Selection

Admissions requirements

For admissions and matriculation requirements, please refer to the Regulatory Framework for Bachelorโ€™s and Masterโ€™s Programmes at Zurich University of the Arts (RO ยง 19โ€“24).

For additional requirements, including the language skills required for admission to the chosen major, please refer to the draft Programme Regulations of the Master of Transdisciplinary Studies in the Arts at Zurich University of the Arts (StO MA Transdisciplinary Studies in the Arts ยง 4 ff.).

The drafts are not yet legally binding. They are subject to approval by the Board of Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).

    1. Project idea or thematic idea
      We accept two types of applications: 
      1. Candidates may submit a proposal for a project idea of their own or a thematic idea that they intend to explore during the course (independently of the following profiles). The proposal should outline a research question and possible connections with other disciplines, professions or qualifications. It may be brief or already detailed in nature; it may describe a thematic constellation to be explored, or outline a specific project (scope: one to two A4 pages).
      2. Candidates may apply for a profile of the degree programme. The degree programme focuses outline thematic fields that will be explored in theoretical and practical terms in seminars and labs with a variety of focuses. They provide guidance about the content covered in the degree programme as well as the understanding of transdisciplinarity represented in it. Candidates who apply for one of these core subjects have an opportunity to position their own project idea in a thematic field that is covered in it. They should submit an outline of their proposed project contribution to one of these core subjects (scope: one to two A4 pages).

    2. Letter of motivation
      Please write a letter of motivation outlining your reasons for applying for the Master of Arts in Transdisciplinary Studies. It should be no more than one to two A4 pages in length.

    3. Portfolio
      Please submit a portfolio consisting of a selection of work that you deem to be representative of your previous work and/or your studies. Depending on your professional or academic background, the portfolio may consist of documentation of artistic or design work, abstracts of scientific papers or descriptions of other project work. The portfolio should be submitted digitally in PDF form. It may also contain links to existing websites for film, sound, image and text examples, etc.

    4. Team applications
      Team applications are possible and encouraged. Team members who wish to join the MA in Transdisciplinary Studies should apply individually using the online registration tool and specify the name(s) of their team member(s) there.

    5. Matriculation number
      When registering for the ๏ฌrst 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 af๏ฌxed to your University entrance qualification (upper secondary school-leaving certificate โ€“ Baccalaureate, Vocational Baccalaureate, Specialized Baccalaureate or Federal VET Diploma).

    6. Exmatriculation certificate
      Confirmation of exmatriculation is issued at Swiss universities upon graduation or upon termination of studies. If issue of the certificate is pending, confirmation must be submitted later.

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

    8. Photograph JPG
      Please upload a recent passport quality photo โ€“ 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.

    9. 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.

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

    11. Language skills
      The language skills required are listed for each degree programme in the programme regulations. Language skills can be demonstrated as follows:
      โ€“    Native speaker (does not have to be proven)
      โ€“    Required language as a subject in the educational certificate, passed or at least grade 4 (submit the upper secondary education transcript as a PDF)
      โ€“    Recognized certificate (according to the list โ€œRecognized Certificates for Language Requirementsโ€)
      โ€“    University degree (Bachelorโ€™s/Masterโ€™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.

    12. 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 (portrait) 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.

  • Candidates whose documents have been approved by the examination board will be invited to attend an admission interview.

    Admission interview

    At the admission interview, candidates must present two to three work samples that are representative of their previous work or their future studies. These samples will be discussed, along with the letter of motivation and the project idea or thematic idea, in the subsequent conversation. Interviews will be attended by at least two members of the core team of the MA in Transdisciplinary Studies.

    Admission

    The examination committee of the MA in Transdisciplinary Studies decides on admission to the programme. Candidates will be informed in writing about the decision.

  • Information Days Major

    20 November 2024

    Online Application Process Begins! Major Admissions Process

    18 November 2024

    Application Deadline (incl. Portfolio) Major Admissions Process

    27 February 2025

    Application Confirmation Major

    6 March 2025

    Rejection or Invitation to Major Aptitude Test

    12 March 2025

    Aptitude Test Major

    31 March & 1/7/8 April 2025

    Admissions Decision Major (Acceptance / Rejection / Waiting List)

    16 April 2025

    Choice of Minors

    Until 8 May 2025

    Minor Aptitude Test (Only if specific entry-level competencies required)

    12โ€“16 May 2025

    Minor Allocations

    22 May 2025

    Module Registrations (Major and Minor)

    11โ€“22 June 2025  

    Programme Start (Major and Minor)

    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 (PDF) 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

    • 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.
        โ†’ 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 โ€˜Complete entryโ€™ 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.