Application and admission process PreCollege Music – Composition for Film, Theatre, Media

Thank you for your interest in the PreCollege Composition for Film, Theatre and Media (FTM) at Zurich University of the Arts. We look forward to receiving your registration by 1 March 2027.

The admission examination to the PreCollege Music ZHdK examines the prerequisites, the level of musical training and the motivation with regard to the skills to be acquired for a later music degree.

Applicants for a Bachelor’s degree who are interested in a PreCollege place must apply for both courses.

The next information events for the PreCollege Music ZHdK will take place:

  • Thursday, 19.11.2026, 14:00 - 15:00, Toni-Areal, Hörsaal 1, Ebene 3
  • Saturday, 23.01.2027, 12:30 – 13:30, Toni-Areal, Kaskadenhalle (on occasion of the PreCollege Open Day)

We are looking forward to welcoming young musicians, their parents and music teachers!

  • Information regarding the online application

    Please consider:

    • 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 (*).
    • When you have entered all the necessary details, press “Complete entry” to submit your application. Upon receipt, your details will be checked by our office. You will not be able to change any details once submitted. If you do not receive a confirmation by us within seven working days, please check your spam folder.
    • The application deadline 1 March has to be respected. Applications that are not submitted on time can not be considered.
    • If there are any difficulties, please contact us by e-mail: precollege.musik@zhdk.ch

  • Login to the online registration with SWITCH edu-ID

    To register online, you will need a SWITCH edu-ID, which must be created once.

    → How to create and use a SWITCH edu-ID (https://intern.zhdk.ch/?switch-edu-id)

    Each person should only have one SWITCH edu-ID. 

    If you forget your password to log in, you can create a new password via Switch edu-ID - Reset Password(https://eduid.ch/reset-password?lang=en).

    If there are any difficulties, please contact us by e-mail: precollege.musik@zhdk.ch

  • Application documents to be submitted

    Only complete dossiers will be assessed.

    • With the exception of the personal photo, all documents must be uploaded in PDF format (portrait format).

    National insurance number

    If you live or work in Switzerland, you will find the Swiss national insurance number (756...) on your AHV card or on your Swiss health insurance card.

    Personal photo

    Upload a current portrait photo in passport photo quality as a JPG (at least 320 x 400 pixels). The photo must be high-contrast and your face must be clearly visible. The photo must not show any other people or objects.

    Copy of ID or passport

    We need a scan of your passport or ID.

    School leaving certificates

    Please upload your school-leaving certificates or, if applicable, a current confirmation from your secondary school.

    Curriculum vitae

    Please submit in tabular form.

    Video recordings of main instrument

    see under “admission exam”

    Dossier with compositions

    2–4 composed works/excerpts (audio, video, score) totalling approx. 10 minutes in length must be submitted with a concept, description of the work and declaration of authorship. Half of the own compositions should be compositions for film, theatre and/or media. Please note: Videos as YouTube links, dossier and recordings via Google or Onedrive links.

    Further documents

    • Report from the current main subject teacher on musical development over the past year.
    • Song list/repertoire list of the last 12 months

    • Song list with at least five songs for the admission exam (only for specialization in Jazz)

  • Admission examination

    SPECIALIZATION CLASSICAL MUSIC

    Video (has to be submitted upon registration)

    You will prepare instrumental or vocal works of your choice and submit them as a video recording when you register. Duration: 12 minutes. Performing from memory is highly desirable. 

    Theory exam on site

    A 15-minute oral exam is used to assess your knowledge of music theory: the ability to read sheet music and scores, as well as harmonic, historical, and instrumental analysis skills. Questions may also be asked about the submitted composition portfolio.

    SPECIALIZATION POP

    Video (has to be submitted upon registration)

    You will prepare three pop songs of different styles, lasting a total of approximately 12 minutes. One of the three pop songs must be an original composition by the candidate. You may accompany yourself, perform with a band or use playback. Performing from memory is highly desirable.

    Pop singing: The expert committee will evaluate the video recordings and decide who will advance to the next round.

    Theory exam on site

    A 15-minute oral exam is used to assess your knowledge of music theory: reproducing simple musical notation and rhythm examples, basic knowledge of scale theory, as well as chords, scales, and chord progressions as they appear in popular pop songs. Questions may also be asked about the composition portfolio you submitted.

    Instrumental/vocal exam on site

    You must prepare three pop songs of varying character, totalling approximately 12 minutes. One of the three pop songs must be an original composition by the candidate. One of the pieces may be identical to the repertoire of the video recordings. You may accompany yourself or use playback (no bands of your own). Performing from memory is highly desirable.

    SPECIALIZATION JAZZ

    Video (has to be submitted upon registration)

    The application must be accompanied by a video and a song list containing at least five jazz standards that differ significantly in character and style. Three of these pieces should be presented in the video. The performance can be accompanied by the applicant themselves, a band or playback. Performing from memory and free improvisation are expressly encouraged. The lead sheets for all submitted songs must also be submitted with the application.

    Theory exam on site

    A 15-minute oral exam is used to assess your knowledge of music theory: reproducing simple musical notation and rhythmic examples, basic knowledge of chord progressions, as well as chords, scales, and chord progressions as they appear in the blues and common jazz standards. Questions may also be asked about the composition portfolio you submitted.

    Instrumental/vocal exam on site

    You will perform one song from the song list submitted during registration, and the expert committee will select another song from this list. You may accompany yourself or be accompanied on the piano/drums by the expert present. You cannot perform with your own band. Performing from memory and free improvisation are highly encouraged.

  • Conditions for video recordings

    The recordings of the artistic, i.e. instrumental or vocal, presentation must be uploaded in the ONLA application as YouTube links in the ‘Video link’ text fields. Unlisted, non-publicly visible videos can be uploaded to YouTube and shared via a link.

    Requirements:

    1. Only uncut and unedited audio recordings will be considered by the expert commission. The audio track may be combined with the video track at a later date.
    2. The performer, head, body and hands (instrumental) must be clearly recognisable on the recordings.
    3. All recordings must be labelled with surname, first name, chosen profile, instrument, composer and precise work details or song title.
    4. On one of the recordings, describe in 1–2 minutes what you know about the works you have played, what they mean to you personally and what relationship you have to these works.
    5. The recordings must have been made between December 2026 and February 2027. By submitting the application, the interested party guarantees that all recordings were made during this period.

  • Dates

    Information events

    • Thursday, 19 November 2026, 14:00 - 15:00, Toni-Areal, Hörsaal 1, Level 3
    • Saturday, 23 January 2027, 12:30 - 13:30, Toni-Areal, Kaskadenhalle, Level 5

    Opening of the online registration for the PreCollege admission procedure

    5 January 2027

    Closing date for online registration for the PreCollege admission procedure

    1 March 2027

    Admission examinations

    Theory exam: 8 April 2027

    Instrumental/vocal exam POP: 5 April 2027

    Instrumental/vocal exam JAZZ: 9. April 2027

    Start of degree programme

    28 August 2027

  • 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. Click here for an overview of ID and visa regulations by nationality.

    On contrary to Bachelor or Master programmes the PreCollege Music ZHdK is a part-time programme. Third-country nationals unfortnunately can’t participate in the PreCollege Music ZHdK due to visa regulations.
    → Entry checklists

    German courses

    PreCollege ZHdK offers compulsory German courses for students whose mother tongue or language of education is not German. The reason for this is that all modules within the PreCollege programme are conducted in German. In addition, a German language level of at least B2 is mandatory for admission to a bachelor's degree programme at music universities in German-speaking countries.

→ From 5 January 2027 you can register online here.