Registration and admissions process

Major – BA Theatre, Directing

Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor’s programme in Directing 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 Theater at Zurich University of the Arts (StO BA Theatre § 4 ff.). 

  • Application documents

    The following documents must be submitted with the online application

    1. Written directing concept for a theatre text of your choice (2–4 DIN A4 pages)
    2. Letter of motivation (1 DIN A4 page)
    3. Preparation for the entrance examination:
      • Short presentation/conversation on the submitted directing concept for a theatre text of free choice (see above)
      • Interview about motivation and previous theatre experience
      • Audition roles*:
        • a self-written/self-developed scene (maximum 2 minutes)
        • a self-selected passage from a play specified by the admissions committee (maximum 2 minutes), which will be made available to applicants after successful registration

          * as it is often the case within the Directing-programme, that students are acting as players (for example in scenic sketches of their colleagues), the entry exam also comprises an audition – meaning performing a self written/developd scene.  
    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 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 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 (portrait) 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.

  • Admission procedure

    The admission procedure comprises a written application, a one-day preliminary test and a two-day admissions examination. The examination committee subsequently decides if the candidate will be invited to take the preliminary test and the admissions examination.

    1. Preliminary test
      • Information about the Directing-programme of ZHdK 
      • Discussion panel about motivation and theatre experience
      • Presentation of the submitted directorial concept
      • Audition of self-written/developed scene
      • Scenographic work
      • Copywriting work

        The examination committee subsequently decides if the candidate will be invited to take the admissions examination.
         
    2. Admissions examination
      • The admissions examination is completed across two days.
      • On the first day, the candidates’ analytical, scenographic, theatrical and direction skills are tested using a predetermined scene.
      • Additionally, collaborative work within a small team
      • At the end of the first day, candidates are informed in person whether they can take part in the second day.
      • Scene work is continued on the second day and the candidates’ conceptual skills are tested.
      • The examination panel decides if the candidate will be accepted onto the course on the second examination day.
      • Candidates are informed of this decision in person and in writing.

    Important information about the course

    Since the admissions examination is unable to fully assess whether a student is capable of completing such an intensive course, the first semester is regarded as a trial semester. 

  • Dates

    Application opens

    20 November 2025

    Application deadline for the entrance examination

    24 March 2026

    Application confirmation

    until 2 April 2026

    Preliminary test

    23 April 2026

    Entrance examination

    24–25 April 2026

    Definitive admissions decisions

    28 April 2026

    Course commencement

    September 2026

  • Registration and examination fee

    The registration fee for the admission procedure is CHF 100. The application is valid once the registration fee has been paid. Payment must be made online using a credit card. 
    The registration fee applies to one application for one degree programme. Applicants who are invited to the admissions examination after successfully completing the preliminary test must pay an additional examination fee of CHF 200. Examination fees are to be paid at Swiss Post (around five minutes from the university) either before the admissions examination or after a successful preliminary test. The stamped receipt of payment must be brought along to the admissions examination and serves as confirmation. You will not be permitted to complete the examination without this receipt.

    Request for financial support with the examination fee

    The registration fee of CHF 100 and the examination fee of CHF 200 must be paid via online registration. Applicants who can prove that their own resources and those of their dependants or other persons liable to pay maintenance are insufficient may submit an application for financial support (the form is available at the top of this page). If the application is approved, the examination fee of CHF 200 will be refunded. The application must be submitted by the submission deadline. Subsequently submitted or incomplete applications will not be considered. Unfortunately, the registration fee of CHF 100 cannot be refunded.

  • 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

Registration

→  Register now, BA Theater, Directing

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