Application and admission process PreCollege Music – Classical

Thank you for your interest in the PreCollege Classics programme at Zurich University of the Arts. We are happy to accept your applications until 1 March 2026.

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

Candidates for a Bachelor’s degree who are interested in a PreCollege place must register for both programmes. 

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

  • Thursday, 20.11.2025, 14:00 - 15:00, Toni-Areal, Hörsaal 1, Ebene 3
  • Saturday, 17.01.2026, 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 with ZHdK or SWITch edu-ID

    If you have a ZHdK login, you may apply with your ZHdK login.
    If you have no ZHdK login, you will need a SWITCH edu-ID.

    → How to create and use a SWITCH edu-ID (in German)

    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.

    Except for the personal photo, all documents must be uploaded in PDF format (portrait format).

    Social Security Number 

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

    Portrait Photo

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

    Copy of ID or passport

    We require a scan of the passport or ID.

    School leaving certificates

    Please upload final certificates or, if necessary, a current confirmation from the high school.

    CV

    Please submit in tabular form.

    More documents

    • Report from the current main subject teacher on musical development over the past year.
    • Repertoire list from the last 12 months
    • Letter of recommendation from the desired main subject lecturer at ZHdK, if the main subject is to be taken internally at ZHdK, or can be submitted by email by 30 March 2026 at the latest. If you have any questions or are unclear, the Head of PreCollege Music will be happy to help. The internal major subject places at ZHdK are limited. The decision to allocate places is made at the entrance exams. 
    • Sheet music of the examination programme in PDF format

  • Admission examination

    Instrumental: You must prepare at least two works from different periods plus an etude, totalling 12–15 minutes. One of the works must be written in sonata form. Performance from memory is highly desirable. Works with piano (including piano as orchestra) must be presented in the original version. Accompaniment must be organised by the candidates.

    Classical percussion: You will prepare at least one work each for snare drum, marimba, timpani and xylophone that is at least 12 minutes long. Reciting from memory is particularly desirable for record instruments. Any accompaniment must be organized by the candidates.

    Vocal: You prepare at least three songs or arias from different eras lasting a total of 12 - 15 minutes. Reciting from memory is highly encouraged. The works must be accompanied. The accompaniment must be organized by the candidates.

  • Dates

    Information events

    • Thursday, November 20, 2025, 14:00 - 15:00, Toni-Areal, Hörsaal 1, level 3

    • Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12:30 - 13:30, Toni-Areal, Kaskadenhalle, Level 5

    Opening of online registration for the PreCollege admissions process

    January 6, 2026

    Deadline for online registration for the PreCollege admissions process

    March 1, 2026

    Admission exams

    calendar weeks 17/18, 2026

    Start of studies

    August 22, 2026

  • 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 of the ZHdK is a part-time programme. Third-country nationals unfortunately can’t participate in the PreCollege Music ZHdK due to visa regulations.

    → Entry checklists

    German Courses

    The 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.

→ Online registration PreCollege Music