Registration and admissions process

Major – BA Contemporary Dance

Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor’s programme in Contemporary Dance at Zurich University of the Arts.

→ The information days will take place mid-November. Detailed information please find on zhdk.ch/en/information-days

Admissions requirements

The requirements for admission to the degree programme and for enrolment are governed by the Regulatory Framework for Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes at Zurich University of the Arts (RO § 19–24).

Additional admission requirements for the selected major programme, including the required language skills, are set out in the Degree Programme Regulations of the Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Zurich University of the Arts (StO BA Contemporary Dance § 4 ff.). 

The admissions process for the autumn semester of this year has been completed.
Information on the next admissions process will be published here in mid-November.

  • Application documents

    1. Video (contents according to the “Aptitude test” tab)
    2. Motivation letter, max. of 1 A4 page printed
    3. Swiss Matriculation number
      The field “matriculation number” only concerns applicants who have already studied at a university or applied university in Switzerland. Applicants who have studied abroad (not in Switzerland) are not required to fill in the field “matriculation number”. 
      All students receive a matriculation number when they register for the first time at a university or an applied university in Switzerland or at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH in the shape of a yellow sticker, which is affixed to the reverse of their qualifying diploma (e.g. baccalaureate certificate, Swiss Federal Certificate of Competence). Please provide this number when registering and submit your university entrance qualification certificate as a PDF file.
    4. Exmatriculation certificate / Proof of withdrawal
      Confirmation of exmatriculation or proof of withdrawal is issued at Swiss universities upon graduation or upon termination of studies. If issue is pending, confirmation can be submitted later.
    5. Swiss 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. Applicants who wish to come to Switzerland to study do not yet have a Swiss social security number and therefore do not need to provide one.
    6. Personal photo as 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.
    7. Identity card or passport
      A PDF of the identity card (both sides) or passport must be uploaded. If a residence permit for Switzerland is available, please also submit a PDF of it.
    8. Resume / Curriculum Vitae
      Please submit in tabular form, no prose texts.

    9. 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.

    10. 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)
         
    11. Consent form from legal guardians for applicants under the age of 18
      Applicants who have not yet reached the age of 18 at the time of application must submit a declaration of consent from their legal guardians. For this purpose, the PDF U18 is available. This form must be completed, signed by the legal guardians and submitted with the application.
      This form must be completed and submitted with the signature of the parents or legal guardians in the ‘Self-declarations/Legal Notices section of the online registration.

    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 generally permitted, except where it is explicitly not accepted for certain documents to be submitted. The use of AI must be declared when the application is submitted.

  • Aptitude test

    Admission procedure for the Bachelor's program in Contemporary Dance

    Selection for the Bachelor's degree program in Contemporary Dance takes place at three locations: Zurich, Barcelona and Livorno. Prospective students can select the location of their choice.

    Preliminary round audition in Zurich

    The preliminary round for the live audition in Zurich takes place via an application video.

    Application video for Zurich

    • Total length
      • approx. 20 minutes
    • Contents
      • Short personal introduction
        • Introduce yourself in English: Name, age, previous dance training, and one personal aspect (this may or may not be dance related)
      • Ballet Barre
      • Adagio
      • Turns
      • Small and big jumps
      • Solo (between 1.5 - 2 minutes long)
        • The solo should contain a range of movement qualities from contemporary and/or street dance. The various elements should include floor work, level changes and jumps. Inverted movements and other movement vocabulary from the two dance styles may be integrated. The solo must provide an insight into the physical, artistic and creative abilities, demonstrate the performance quality and illustrate the ability to connect with the audience.
    • Recording situation
      • The video can be recorded in any safe environment that is available.
    • Music
      • Any type of music, style or soundscape can be chosen for the solo, including a combination of these elements.
    • Submission
    • Live audition in Zurich
      • The live audition will take place on April 18 and 19, 2026 in Zurich.
      • The invitations for the live audition will be sent out on April 3, 2026.

    Live Audition Barcelona, Spain:

    Workshop: 11 Apri 2026
    Live Audition (Ballet class, Contemporary class, Solo): 12 April 2026
    → Register now for the audition in Barcelona
     

    Live Audition Livorno, Italy:

    Workshop: 25 April 2026
    Live Audition (Ballet class, Contemporary class, Solo): 26 April 2026
    → Register now for the audition in Livorno

  • Dates

    The dates for the next admissions process will be published here in mid-November.
     

    Application opens for Live Audition Zurich

    5 Januar 2026

    Confirmation of acceptance to the admissions process

    After reception and acceptance of the application

    Application deadline for Live Audition Zurich

    1 March 2026

    Live Audition Zurich (preliminary round by video)

    18/19 April 2026 → Registration link please find in the “Aptitude test” section

    Live Audition Barcelona, Spain

    11/12 April 2026 → Registration link please find in the “Aptitude test” section

    Live Audition Livorno, Italy

    25/26 April 2026 → Registration link please find in the “Aptitude test” section

    Course commencement

    24 August 2026

  • Registration and examination fee

    The registration fee for the admissions process is CHF 100 Registrations are valid once the registration fee has been paid. Payment is made 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.

  • Entry into Switzerland

    Different rules apply for entry to Switzerland. In principle, a distinction is made between nationals of EU/EFTA countries and third-country nationals. 

    You can find all the key information on passport and visa requirements by nationality, as well as on living and working in Switzerland, at: Everyday Life and Living in Zurich

  • Information regarding online registration

    • Login to the online registration with SWITCH edu-ID
      • To register online, you will need a SWITCH edu-ID, which must be created once. If you do not yet have a SWITCH edu-ID, you can create one during the registration process. Please ensure you use your personal email address to register.
        → How to create and use a SWITCH edu-ID

      • Each person should only have one SWITCH edu-ID. 
        If you forget your password, you can create a new password via “Reset Password”

    • 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 details have been entered and the documents submitted, you must finalise your application by clicking “Complete entry” and pay the registration fee. 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.
    • For technical enquiries and in emergencies, you can contact us on +41 43 446 44 00. 

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