Registration and admissions process

Master’s Major in Fine Arts

Thank you for your interest in the Master’s Major in Fine Arts 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 Programme Regulations of the Master of Fine Arts at Zurich University of the Arts (StO MA Fine Arts § 4 ff.).

In exceptional cases, ZHdK may admit individuals without a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized and accredited university. → Further information (PDF).

  • Application documents

    1. Letter of motivation incl. work project
      Explain your motivation for studying the Master’s Major in Fine Arts at ZHdK and describe your artistic interest. The letter of motivation specifies topics, questions, procedures, fields of work and possible results that you would like to deal with during your studies. 
      Length: please submit a maximum of 2 A4 pages (DE/EN) as a PDF.
       
    2. Portfolio
      The portfolio consists of selected works that reflect your artistic development. The portfolio also includes an artist statement. It must be submitted digitally as a PDF. Links with expiry date (such as WeTransfer) will not be accepted. Videos will only be considered as Vimeo and/or YouTube links. 
      Length: maximum 20 DIN A4 pages (Portrait orientation / Landscape orientation), maximum PDF file size is 10 MB, larger files must be uploaded as a ZIP file.
       
    3. Transcript of Records / Learning Biography
      Please attach a Transcript of Records / Learning Biography with all completed (passed and failed) modules with credits, in case of a drop-out from another university/college. If credit transfer of the acquired credits is desired, this must be additionally noted in the application. The decision as to whether and how many credits will be credited is at the discretion of the Head of Programme.
       
    4. 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. 
       
    5. 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.
       
    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. 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.
       
    7. Photograph JPG
      Please upload a current passport-quality photograph (at least 320 x 400 pixels). A copy or screenshot of your passport or identity card will not accepted. The photograph must be a frontal shot of your face and should account for two-thirds of the image.
       
    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.
       

    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.

  • Consultations

    In connection with the registration for the Master’s Major in Fine Arts, we offer a 20-minute individual consultation on selected dates (see “Dates”) regarding the portfolio to be submitted and the work project.

    To register for a consultation, please send us an e-mail with the following information: Name, address, phone number, preferred date with preferred time of day/time slot (CH time).

  • Admissions procedure

    Application for the admission procedure is made by submitting the application documents, a letter of motivation and a portfolio. The positive assessment of all submitted documents by the Admission Committee is a prerequisite for the invitation to an individual aptitude interview. Following the interview, the Admissions Committee decides on admission to the Master’s Major in Fine Arts programme. Applicants will be informed of the decision in writing.

    Aptitude interview

    The aptitude interview is usually conducted in English and takes place by video conference. During the interview, in addition to the letter of motivation (incl. work project), the artistic works and topics are discussed on the basis of the submitted portfolio.

  • Dates

    Information days

    17 November 2025

    Opening of online registration – major admissions process

    17 November 2025

    Consultations (online)

    14 January 2026
    11 February 2026

    Application deadline (incl. portfolio) – major admissions process

    24 February 2026

    Application confirmation – major

    until 3 March 2026

    Rejection or request to pay examination fees – major aptitude test

    from 24 March 2026

    Invitations to aptitude interview (subject to settlement of examination fee)

    30 March – 2 April 2026

    Aptitude interviews – major

    7–13 April 2026

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

    15 April 2026

    Minor selection

    7–18 May 2026

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

    26–30 May 2026

    Minor allocations

    4 June 2026

    Module registrations – major and minor

    17–22 June 2026

    Course commencement – major and minor

    14 September 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 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.

  • 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 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

  • 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.

Registration

→  Register now, MA Fine Arts