Home
Home

Mainnavigation

    Home
    Home
    Home
    Home
      • DE
      • EN
    • Watchlist
    • MenuMenu
    You are here:
    1. Preparatory training
    2. PreCollege Music
    3. Profile School Music
    More: Profile School Music

    Application and admission process PreCollege Music – Schulmusik

    Thank you for your interest in the PreCollege School Music of Zurich University of the Arts. We look forward to receiving your registrations by 1 March 2026.

    The aptitude test for admission to the PreCollege Music ZHdK examines the applicant’s aptitude, level of musical training and 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 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!

    • General terms and conditions
    • Regulations PreCollege Music
    • Guidelines Special Needs Arrangements
    • 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.

      • 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.

      Further documents

      • Report from the current main subject teacher on musical development over the past year.
      • Repertoire list/song list for the last 12 months
      • Classical music: letter of recommendation from the desired main subject teacher at ZHdK, if the main subject is to be taken internally at ZHdK or submitted by e-mail by 30 March 2026 at the latest. If you have any questions or uncertainties, please contact the Head of PreCollege Music. Internal major subject places at ZHdK are limited. The decision on the allocation of places will be made at the entrance examinations.
      • Jazz/Pop: Video recordings (see below under “admission exam”)
      • Song list with at least five songs for the admission exam (only for specialization Jazz)

    • Admission examination

      The admission examination consists of several parts and therefore takes place on two different dates. 

      CLASSICAL MUSIC

      Instrumental exam on site (major instrument)

      You will prepare two works from different eras with a total duration of 10 minutes. Performing from memory is highly desirable. Works with piano (including piano as orchestra) must be presented in their original version. Accompaniment must be organised by the candidates.

      Exam school music on site

      You will prepare a piano piece (except for those majoring in piano) and a song or aria of your choice. Any accompaniment must be organised by the candidates. This will be followed by an interview about your motivation.

      OR

      Vocal exam on site (major voice)

      You will prepare two songs or arias from different eras, lasting a total of 10 minutes. Performing from memory is highly desirable. The works must be accompanied. The accompaniment must be organised by the candidates.

      Exam school music on site

      You will prepare a piano piece of your choice. Any accompaniment must be organised by the candidates. This will be followed by an interview about your motivation.

       

      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. The lead sheets must be submitted with the application.

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

      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. The lead sheets must be submitted with the application.

      Exam school music on site

      You will prepare a piano piece (except for major piano) and a vocal piece (except for major voice) of your choice. Any accompaniment must be organized by the candidates.  This will be followed by an interview about your motivation.

      JAZZ

      Video (has to be sumitted 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.

      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.

      Exam school music on site

      You will prepare a piano piece (except for major piano) and a vocal piece (except for major voice) of your choice. Any accompaniment must be organised by the candidates. This will be followed by an interview about your motivation.

    • 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 2025 and February 2026. By submitting the application, the interested party guarantees that all recordings were made during this period.
    • Dates

      Information events

      • Thursday, 20 November 2025, 14:00 - 15:00, Toni-Areal, Hörsaal 1, Level 3
      • Saturday, 17 January 2026, 12:30 - 13:30, Toni-Areal, Kaskadenhalle, Level 5

      Opening of the online registration for the PreCollege admission procedure

      6 January 2026

      Closing date for online registration for the PreCollege admission procedure

      1 March 2026

      Entrance examinations

      Major classical music: CW 17/18

      Major Pop: 10 April 2026

      Major Jazz: 27 April 2026

      Exam School Music: 30 April 2026

      Start of studies

      22 August 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 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

      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