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You are here:
  1. Studying at ZHdK
  2. Art Education
  3. MA Art Education, Critical Social Practice in Art Education
More: MA Art Education, Critical Social Practice in Art Education

Registration and admissions process

MA Art Education, Critical Social Practice in Art Education

Thank you for your interest in the Master's programme in Art Education, Critical Social Practice in Art Education at Zurich University of the Arts.

If interested in a Master’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.

→ Detailed information on the Major-Minor programme structure at ZHdK
→ Detailed information on Minor Selection

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 requirements, including the language skills required for admission to the chosen major, please refer to the draft Programme Regulations of the Master of Art Education at Zurich University of the Arts (StO MA Art Education § 4 ff.).

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

  • Application documents

    1. Covering letter
      The letter outlines the applicant’s vision of their future teaching and artistic-educational work against the backdrop of their experience to date and taking into account their own education biography (scope: maximum of two A4 pages).
    2. Portfolio/work samples/project idea
      Portfolio in the form of digital documentation of project work and creative-artistic work.
      Documentation of three to four larger, thematically and medially different creative-artistic and/or self-initiated artistic-educative or collaborative projects from the last three years.
      Depending on the type of work, the documentation may include research, sketches, images and text material. The portfolio must be submitted digitally as a PDF. Film material can be embedded in the PDF as an external link.
      We welcome your own project idea with reference to social, educational and creative approaches that could be developed in the course of your studies.

    3. References
      Please provide references from two to three people (employer, university). Only their name/address/e-mail are required, no reference letters.

    4. Transcripts
      For ZHdK staff and student applicants: evidence of Bachelor of Arts achievements (certificates/learning biography)
      For non-ZHdK applicants: proof of academic achievements (learning biography/transcript of records) as well as any confirmation of internships.

    5. 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, Specialised Baccalaureate or Federal VET Diploma).

    6. 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.

    7. 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.

    8. 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.

    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:
      –   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.

    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 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.

  • Aptitude interview

    Responsible lecturers of the corresponding Major will assess each applicant’s competency in the key fields for the programme and clarify any unanswered questions on the basis of the dossier in a 30-minute interview. The interview will also serve as an opportunity to clarify the applicants’ expectations of the programme, the connection with their own professional experience, and the professional prospects that the qualification offers.

    Admission decision

    An assessment will be undertaken on the basis of the interview and the supporting documentation. The applicants will be accepted unconditionally if they are deemed suitable for the programme and study places are available. The following criteria are relevant during the process:

    1. Creative and artistic, artistic and cultural, linguistic or media studies or educational or sociotheoretical skills related to their own questions in the study programme of choice
    2. Outstanding specialist and methodological skills in the original discipline
    3. Nuanced aesthetic perceptual skills, linguistic expressiveness and conceptual strength 
    4. A keen interest in current developments, discourses and positions in the fields of art, education and society, and art and cultural education
    5. Outstanding motivation and capacity for self-reflection
    6. Suitability and potential for development for the professional field as well as motivation to study at Master’s level

    In the case of outstanding Bachelor of Arts degrees, admission will be granted on a conditional basis. Applicants will be informed about the decision in writing.

    No further information will be provided about the process. Applicants who are not accepted into the programme are not entitled to an explanation; however, relevant explanations may be provided over the phone (please contact Claudia Hummel by e-mail in this regard).

  • Dates

    Information days – majors

    20 November 2024

    Online application opens for major admissions process

    18 November 2024

    Application deadline (incl. portfolio) for major admissions process

    24 February 2025

    Registration confirmation – major

    By 3 March 2025

    Rejection or summons to pay examination fee / major aptitude test

    12 March 2025

    Invitation to major aptitude test
    (subject to settlement of examination fee)

    24 March 2025

    Aptitude tests – major

    7–9 April 2025

    Admissions decisions – major

    14 April 2025

    Minor selection

    29 April – 8 May 2025

    Assessment of entry-level competencies for minor
    (only if the minor requires specific entry-level competencies)

    12–16 May 2025

    Allocation of places – minor 

    22 May 2025

    Module registration – major and minor

    11–22 June 2025

    Course commencement – major and minor

    15 September 2025

  • 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 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.

  • 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. 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 about 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

  • Information regarding online application

    • 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.