Registration and admissions process

Major – BA Theatre, Theatre Education

Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor’s programme in Theatre Education 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.). 

Eligibility

The degree programme is aimed at people (minimum age 20) who would like to work creatively and mediatively with a wide variety of people in the performing arts and who are curious and keen to play. They are interested in artistic and mediating processes and also bring an interest in social or political issues that go beyond the world of theatre. An affinity for new artistic forms and formats, the ability to communicate and work in a team and the willingness to collaborate and exchange with students from other disciplines are further necessary requirements.

  • Application Documents

    The following documents must be submitted with the online application:

    1. Preparation for the admission procedure:
      Conceptual idea for a project with amateur actors which makes reference to a current social issue and/or is located in the applicant’s home community. The chosen content, teaching matters and the scenic imagination should be considered in equal measure (maximum of three A4 pages printed).
    2. Preparation for the audition/entrance exam:
      Performance of two of the candidate’s own scenes (maximum of 2 minutes each)
      • A scene in which the candidate performs with an object
      • A scene based on a text (theatre literature, prose or a text written by the candidate).
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    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. 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.
    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 (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 admissions procedure comprises a one-day preliminary test and a two-day admissions examination.

    Preliminary test

    The one-day preliminary test assesses the foundations of acting, direction and ability to reflect on practical work. The examination committee subsequently decides if the candidate will be invited to take the admissions examination.

    Admissions examination

    The admissions examination is split across two days.

    • The first day focuses on the candidate’s acting skills. This day serves to assess entry skills in the areas of movement, breath/voice/speech, perception, scene, conceptual thinking, adaptability, creative drive and self-competence. Furthermore, there will be an audition and the writing project idea will be discussed. At the end of the first day of the examination, candidates will be informed in person whether they can take part in the second day.
    • On the second day, the morning centres around direction – and the skills of working collaboratively. The prepared roles/scenes are used in part as a starting point for exercises. The written project idea is discussed. On the second examination day, the examination panel decides on whether the student should be admitted onto the course. Following the examination, candidates are informed of the decision in person and/or 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 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

  • 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, BA Theater, Theatre Education

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