Zurich University of the Arts
In August of 2007, two schools, the School of Art and Design Zurich (HGKZ) and the Zurich School of Music, Drama and Dance (HMT) merged and became Europe’s largest university of the Arts. The merger resulted in the creation of Zurich University of the Arts (Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, or ZHdK).
Before the merger, the Zurich University of the Arts came from a range of notable institutions, which includes the likes of the Zurich Museum of Arts and Crafts, which was established in 1875, and the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts, which founded in 1878.
The Zurich School of Arts and Crafts went on to become the Zurich School of Design, then was known as the Zurich Higher School of Design before it became the School of Art and Design by 2000.
The Zurich of Music, Drama and Dance, on the other hand, originated from various institutions; namely from the Zurich and Winterthur Academies of music which were established in 1873 and 1875 respectively.
Other predecessors of this institution includes the Zurich Jazz School, which was founded in 1977, the Swiss Computer Music Studio established in 1985, the Bühnenstudio which was established in 1937 and later became the Zurich Acting Academy, and subsequently the Zurich Drama School, as well as the Swiss Ballet Academy which was established back in 1986.
The school has a total population of more than 2500 students. ZHdK offers a unique range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees specializing in design, film, art, media, music, dance, theatre and also art education. This Swiss university also offers to its students the leading-edge professional development and advanced education opportunities in these fields of study.
