Registration and admissions process

Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor's programme in Design 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 Design at Zurich University of the Arts (StO BA Design § 4 ff.). 

  • Candidates may apply for a maximum of two major fields of study. For each major, a separate application must be sent in. In addition to the online application, a portfolio including a homework assignment is required. The registration and examination fee only needs to be paid once. Should you be applying for two majors, please contact us via email.

    The department is not in a position to discuss examination results in person or in writing.

    1. Portfolio and Homework Assignment
      In order to assess candidate’s aptitude for pursuing degree work in their chosen major, they are required to submit a portfolio consisting of:
      • Documentation of previous work: only work samples relevant to the chosen major should be submitted, i.e. samples that demonstrate your engagement with design and/or technology in terms of your previous learning biography. Please ensure that samples are arranged in chronological order. Also note that we will be assessing not only the contents of your portfolio but also the manner of presentation.
      • Format: Sheets must be at least DIN A5, no larger than DIN A2 (42 x 60 cm), and no thicker than 10 cm.
      • Include approx. 5 selected projects (a series of images documenting the various stages of a project is also acceptable), together with a brief description of each project, e.g. the context in which the project was carried out (school, leisure time, etc.).
      • A table of contents must be attached to each portfolio (physical and digital).
      • If URLs are allowed by the major, links with a short expiry date (e.g. WeTransfer) may not be submitted. Links must function for ZHdK unchanged from February to the end of April.
      • Further information about the presentation of the portfolio and the homework assignment can be found below (see «Major-specific presentation requirements for portfolios and homework assignment»)

    2. Homework assignment
      The topic of the homework assignment will be announced by the end of January. See the list of dates below for details and the corresponding link.

      Submission of portfolio and homework assignment

      • Please use these labels only for labelling your portfolio, both in case of personal delivery and shipping. Please note the deadline under “Dates”.

      • In house (submission only possible on the submission date):
        Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, Toni-Areal, Pfingstweidstrasse 96, 8005 Zurich 
        10:00–18:00 h, Level 3 (follow the signs in the entrance hall)
        Note: A representative can also be appointed to deliver the submission.

      • By post (receipt up to the submission deadline):
        Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, Toni-Areal, Bachelor Design Programme Office, Pfingstweidstrasse 96, P.O. Box, 8031 Zurich

      • Online (entry by the submission deadline): Cast / Audiovisual Media only (only in German)

      • Portfolio returns
        Admitted applicants may pick up their portfolio at the beginning of their studies from their respective major office.
        Applicants who have not been admitted will find the two dates for portfolio returns under “Dates”. Please collect your portfolios at: Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, Toni-Areal, Pfingstweidstrasse 96, 8005 Zurich
        Please note that we do not return portfolios by post. If you are unable to collect your portfolio yourself on the two days indicated, you may appoint someone else in your place. Uncollected portfolios will only be retained until 30 September of the year of application.

    3. Motivation letter
      This should state your creative intentions and provide details of your motivation, i.e. your reasons for applying to Zurich University of the Arts and for your preferred major.

    4. 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).

    5. 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.

    6. 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.

    7. 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.

    8. 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.

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

    10. 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.

    11. 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.

  • Cast / Audiovisual Media

    The admission procedure for Cast / Audiovisual Media is only carried out in German, as a very good knowledge of German is a prerequisite for studying. Portfolios and homework assignments may be submitted digitally (online) or physically.

    • Portfolio
      Candidates are free to choose their style of presentation and medium. We accept analog and digital submissions. Digital media (URLs or PDFs) should be uploaded whenever possible and not submitted as data carriers. Ideally, portfolios will consist of 3 to 5 selected projects. These should be listed in a table of contents.
    • Homework assignment 
      Please choose a medium (digital or analog) that best suits your proposed solution. You are free to choose the format in which you present your final result. Digital formats should be provided online (URL or PDFs). Please justify and document your conceptual ideas in a short text, if required with attachments.

    Game Design

    • Portfolio
      Candidates are free to choose their style of presentation and medium. We accept analog and digital submissions. Do not submit any three-dimensional works (objects, sculptures etc.). If you are submitting analog work samples, we prefer originals, copies on paper, or hard copies. Samples should be no larger than A2. Digital submissions should be URLs or otherwise provided on suitable data carriers (USB stick, DVD, hard disk etc.). Digital submissions should be accompanied by partial printouts on paper (to provide a better overview of your work).
    • Homework assignment
      Please choose a medium (digital or analog) that best suits your proposed solution. You are free to choose the format in which you present your final result. Digital formats should be provided online (URL) or on an adequate data carrier (USB stick, DVD, hard disk etc.). Please explain and document your conceptual considerations in writing.

    Industrial Design

    • Portfolio
      We are interested in sketches and images and studies of two and three-dimensional projects that convey your talent for observation, creativity and design skills. Your interest in objects, aspects of construction and their implementation in different materials should definitely be mentioned in the portfolio, as should your focus on shape and colour. We like to see and evaluate insights into your conceptual work, development process and engagement with the environment. What information and how much of it you provide is up to you to decide. The format of the portfolios should be between A2 and A4, ideally on paper or bound as a booklet. It is not possible to submit three-dimensional work samples. These must be documented and attached on paper printouts. If they are of key importance (e.g. moving image), animations or websites can be submitted, either by providing the relevant internet address (URL) or on YouTube or Vimeo. 
    • Homework assignment
      Please choose a medium (digital or analog) that best suits your proposed solution. You are free to choose the format in which you present your final result. Paper submissions should be no larger than A2. Digital or interactive submissions should be provided online (URL). Include a partial printout on A4 paper with each digital presentation. Please explain and document your conceptual considerations on no more than half an A4 page (include attachments if necessary).

    Interaction Design

    • Portfolio
      As long as the portfolio is in a format between DIN A4 and A2, the choice of presentation method and medium is entirely up to you. We explicitly welcome analogue portfolios. We invite you to include a broad range of work samples in your portfolio, such as accounts of your conceptual development process, storyboards, video productions, drawings, and artistic and technological pieces from a variety of subject areas. Your portfolio should also include a clear contents page to facilitate navigation.
      Please note that the number of works is limited to 12 to ensure that the range of your skills on display is representative. Three-dimensional works such as sculptures, objects and technical devices cannot be submitted, but you can provide photos of them.
      If you are going to provide URLs, please create a website on which your digital works are linked. We do not accept any submissions in the form of USB sticks, DVDs, QR codes or .exe files. Instead, we encourage you to make digital formats such as videos and interactive and animated works available via the website you have created.
    • Homework assignment
      Please select the medium (analogue or digital) that is best for you when it comes to implementing your ideas. You are free to define the format as you see fit. If you opt for a digital format, be sure to provide an online version with a corresponding URL. Please note that we do not accept USB sticks, DVDs, QR codes or .exe files. Please explain and document your conceptual ideas in detail. The character limit for this explanation is 900 including spaces. You may include additional attachments for clarity if required. Please do not submit any handwritten text.

    Knowledge Visualization

    • Portfolio
      We are interested in meaningful pictures, i.e. drawings, paintings and studies that demonstrate your power of observation, your craftsmanship and your interest in communicating contents in the clearest possible way. Portfolios should include sketches and study sheets as well as discussions of form and colour. We are happy to see and assess insights into conceptual work and processes. You may choose as many samples as you wish, but they should be well selected and curated. Preferred formats are between A2 and A4, ideally as original works or printed on paper, or collated in a brochure. Do not submit any three-dimensional samples. These must be enclosed as documentation on paper printouts. Digital works and animations may be printed out or enclosed on a USB stick – if essential to conveying the meaning of the samples. We do not recommend pure PDF-based applications.
    • Homework assignment
      Please choose a medium (digital or analog) that best suits your proposed solution. We are very interested in your creative process and the resulting sketches. You may choose the format of the final result, but this should not exceed A2.
      If you decide to submit your assignment digitally, please limit yourself to the formats .pdf, animation in .html. preferably on a USB stick. Please enclose a partial printout on paper A4 with each digital presentation. Please justify and document your conceptual considerations on max. half an A4 page, if necessary with attachments. We advise against pure PDF-based applications, unless the corresponding media-specific staging is obvious.

    Trends & Identity

    • Portfolio
      The portfolio contains approximately five projects in different media. It is important to demonstrate your own strengths and interests. The process should always be visible, not just the end result. Work such as photographs, drawings and texts must be presented on paper or as paper printouts. The format should be between A4 and A2. You are welcome to add short texts explaining the projects. Freely chosen works and commissioned or assignment-based pieces can all be included in the portfolio. Please do not submit three-dimensional works. These must be shown in images. Digital works should be accessible via QR code if possible.
    • Homework assignment 
      Please choose a medium (digital or analog) that best suits your proposed solution. You are free to choose the format in which your present your result (max. A2 format for paper submissions). If you opt for digital presentation, the same specifications apply as for the portfolio. Also include a partial printout on A4 paper with every digital presentation. Make sure you justify and document your conceptual deliberations in a concise text.

    Visual Communication

    • Portfolio
      We are interested in meaningful pictures, i.e. drawings and studies. You may also submit photographic works that demonstrate your observational skills, your command of the basic technical skills, and your analytical skills. Your portfolio should include various aspects of typography and provide a clear sense of how you visualize your approach to form and colour. You may share any insights into your conceptual work and processes, as well as any products in the field of visual communication. You are free to choose how many samples you present but it is important that these reflect your design aspirations. Choose a suitable format in the range between A2 and A4, ideally submitting your work on paper or as printouts. Brochures are also acceptable. Suitable materials and the look-and-feel of your work (its haptic dimension) are important in our context. If you are submitting three-dimensional samples, animations, or websites, you should print these out and enclose them in your folder. We discourage purely PDF-based submissions unless the choice of medium is self-explanatory.
    • Homework assignment
      Please choose a medium (digital or analog) that best suits your proposed solution. We are especially interested in your choice of materials and in the look-and-feel of your work (its haptic dimension). You are free to choose the format in which you present your final result. Paper submissions should be no larger than A2. If you are making a digital submission, please include a partial printout on A4 paper. Please explain and document your conceptual considerations on no more than half an A4 page (include attachments if necessary). We discourage purely PDF-based submissions unless the choice of medium is self-explanatory.

  • Registration for the admission procedure includes the submission of the registration documents, the portfolio and the solving of the homework assignment on a given subject.

    On the basis of these documents, an invitation to the entrance examination and an aptitude interview before an entrance examination committee is issued in the case of a positive result (see “Dates”).

    Aptitude test

    Duration: One-day examinations are held per application/major (for Cast / Audiovisual Media the interview will take place on a separate date) and cover the following areas:

    • Candidates are given an assignment and may be asked to present their results on the same day. Examination tasks are formulated in accordance with the specific requirements of the chosen major and need to be carried out using different means in the time available. Tasks are designed to examine candidates’ conceptual skills, creative potential and communication skills.

    • An interview with the admissions board about the submitted portfolio.

    The department is not in a position to discuss the admissions process in person or in writing.

  • Information days

    22 November 2024

    Online application opens

    18 November 2024

    Homework assignment online from

    23 January 2025

    Closing date for online applications

    27 January 2025

    Confirmation of acceptance to admissions process

    until 6 February 2025

    Submission deadline for portfolio and homework assignment by post (or online for Cast / Audiovisual Media)

    up to 11 February 2025

    Submission of portfolios and homework assignment in house

    on 11 February 2025 from 10:00 to 18:00 h, Level 3 (follow the signs in the entrance hall)
    Note: A representative can also be assigned for this appointment.

    Rejections or summons to pay examination fee

    5 March 2025

    Invitations to aptitude test (if examination fee has been transferred)

    11 March 2025

    Admissions examinations

    17 March – 2 April 2025

    Admissions decisions

    until 15 April 2025

    Return of Portfolio (for those who are not admitted to study)

    on 1 and 3 July 2025 from 15:00–18:00 h
    Address: Zurich University of the Arts, Toni-Areal, Pfingstweidstrasse 96, 8005 Zurich
    (room 4.E13, Level 4)
    Note: A representative can also be assigned for this appointment.

    Course commencement

    15 September 2025
     

    Admissions examinations by major

    • Trends & Identity:
      17 March 2025, 9:00–17:00 h

    • Interaction Design:
      18/19 March 2025, 9:00–17:00 h

    • Industrial Design:
      20/21 March 2025, 8:45–17:00 h

    • Game Design:
      24/25 March 2025, 9:00–18:30 h

    • Visual Communication:
      26/27 March 2025, 9:00–17:00 h

    • Knowledge Visualization:
      31 March 2025, 9:00–17:30 h

    • Cast / Audiovisual Media:
      1/2 April 2025, 9:00–18:30 h

  • 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.