Registration and admissions process

Thank you for your interest in the Master's programme in Cultural Critique, Curatorial Studies 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 Cultural Critique at Zurich University of the Arts (StO MA Cultural Critique § 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. Motivation letter 
      Please explain your motivation for seeking admission to the Master's programme and describe your career objective (max. two A4 pages).

    2. Portfolio / work samples
      Portfolio should include a documentation of previous work undertaken in a field relevant to coursework (project work, writing/publishing, creative-artistic work).

    3. 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).

    4. 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.

    5. 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.

    6. 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.

    7. 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.

    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)

    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.

  • Selection of candidates for interview

    Whether the applicants meet the formal and professional requirements for admission to the programme is determined on the basis of the dossier.  Applicants who do not meet these requirements will receive a written rejection. The department is not obliged to explain and justify its admissions decisions.
    Applications that meet the formal and professional requirements are assessed according to qualitative criteria. As a rule, a maximum of twice as many applicants as the number of available study places are invited for an interview. Applicants who are not invited to an interview will receive a written rejection.

    Admission interview

    Interviews last 20–30 minutes. Candidates are interviewed by teaching staff and the the head of the programme. On the one hand, the applicants are assessed for their competence in fields that are central to the course, and on the other hand, interviews also serve to answer any remaining questions about the application (based on the submitted documents). Candidates will be invited to discuss their expectations and their career prospects in relation to the programme.

    Admissions decisions

    Admission to the programme will be decided on the basis of the interview and the application documents. Applicants will receive an unconditional offer if they are considered suitable for the programme and if study places are available.
    A waiting list will be kept for applicants who are suitable but cannot be admitted due to the limited number of places.
    Candidates still waiting for the results of their Bachelor's examinations will only be granted conditional admission. Applicants will be informed of their admissions decision in writing.
    No additional information will be provided on the admissions process. Zurich University of the Arts is not obliged to explain non-admission in writing. Candidates may, however, request information by telephone (in this case, please email Ursula Ledergerber).

  • Information days – major

    18–22 November 2024

    Online application process opens – major admissions process 

    18 November 2024

    Application deadline (including portfolio) – major admissions process 

    24 February 2025

    Application confirmation – major

    3 March 2025

    Rejection or request to pay examination fees – major admissions process

    10 March 2025

    Invitations to admissions interview – major

    21 March 2025

    Admission interview – major

    31 March – 2 April 2025

    Admissions decisions – major (acceptance / rejection / waiting list)

    3 April 2025

    Minor selection

    Until 8 May 2025

    Minor aptitude test (only if specific entry-level competencies required) **

    12–16 May 2025 

    Minor allocations

    22 May 2025

    Module registrations – major and minor

    11–22 June 2025

    Course commencement

    15 September 2025
     

    ** The PDFs ‘More about this minor’ linked on the minor pages indicate whether an initial aptitude assessment is required.

  • 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 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

    • 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.