Entry requirementes

Admission requirements

1. At least one year's work experience after finishing education at the time the application is submitted.
2. Fulfilment of one of the following conditions:
   (a) vocational matriculation, specialist matriculation, high school matriculation, teacher training or
   (b) certificate from a tertiary establishment (e.g. school of economics, school for social workers, engineering college, commercial college), three years at a secondary school offering diploma courses or a cantonal commercial college, kindergarten teacher training or
   (c) finished at least three years of professional training with a federal certificate of proficiency and passed an admission examination that meets the requirements of the general education part of the vocational matriculation. An extra-occupational training course of around two semesters prepares students for this examination. The relevant fact sheet can be obtained from the department secretariat. The preparatory course is usually attended after the aptitude test has been passed. The prospective student must pass the admission examination at least six months before the start of the degree course.
3. Individuals who cannot continue a university degree in psychology because they have twice failed a module cannot apply to the ZHAW for admission to a psychology course (BSc or MSc).
4. Passing an aptitude test subject to payment.
5. Very good command of German and basic English language skills (text comprehension) as well as IT user skills.
6. All courses are given in German.

Preparatory course for admission examination

(applies only to people who do not meet the formal conditions for admission: see 2c).

AKAD in collaboration with the ZHAW School of Applied Psychology offers a preparatory course to people who have finished a three-year apprenticeship that is recognised by the Confederation (without a vocational matriculation). This course ends with an examination that is accepted as the formal examination for admission to the School of Applied Psychology; students sit the examination with AKAD.

The ZHAW School of Applied Psychology also subjects all applicants to a challenging psychological aptitude test which, according to experience, is passed by only 25% to 30% of all applicants. It is therefore advisable to first do the psychological aptitude test or to contact the department secretariat for information before starting the preparatory course.

Information on the aptitude test

Attend an information event or call us:
Secretariat
+41 58 934 83 10 (mornings only)
E-mail: School of Applied Psychology 

Information on the preparatory course
Please contact:
AKAD College, Jungholzstrasse 43, P.O. Box 5012, 8050 Zurich,
+41 44 307 31 31
E-mail: AKAD College