Frequently asked questions regarding online registration (FAQ)

Here is a list of documents to be submitted when registering

• For a BA degree programme (PDF)
  
• For a MA degree programme (PDF)
  

No. If you have quit your studies, you will need an account sheet regarding your deregistration. If your university/applied university is unable to provide a final account sheet, please ask them to provide a provisional one.

An official translation is required for each document not originally in German, English, French or Italian. No translation is required for Swiss certificates. In addition to the translation, you need to upload a copy of the original document (in the respective language). Following translations will not be accepted:

• Translations produced by the applicants themselves or by any other non-professional
• Faulty or inaccurate translations
• Translations that do not bear an official feature such as a stamp or seal mark
• If a certification confirming that the translation corresponds to the original document is missing.
  

A Transcript of Records (ToR) is an official transcript of data that certifies previous academic performances and exam results including the grades and ECTS points awarded.

The field “matriculation number” only concerns applicants who have already studied at a university or applied university in Switzerland. Applicants who have studied abroad 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). Please upload a copy of this sticker when registering.

The admission procedure from registration for the aptitude assessment to definite enrolment is done in four steps:

1. The first step involves a formal examination which is carried out by the Central Student Administration (ZSA). This includes a review of the following admission requirements:
   - Educational qualifications required for either a BA or MA degree programme
   - Competence regarding the language of tuition (certificate or equivalent)
   - Completeness of documents to be submitted according to the chosen degree programme (see info sheet)
          - Candidates will receive confirmation by email if all the formal admission requirements have been met.
2. In a second step, candidates receive an invitation to the aptitude assessment from the respective degree programme (department Design) or the submitted documents are passed on to the Commission for review (departments Fine Arts and Arts and Design Education). For detailed information, see the info sheet of the respective degree programme.
3. The third step comprises the approval and admission to studying at HGK Basel FHNW which is issued by the respective degree programme.
4. The fourth step involves matriculation, or enrolment, which is conducted by the Central Student Administration (ZSA). During this period, you will be asked to submit certain documents.
   

Detailed information concerning the educational qualifications (school degrees), the aptitude assessment, and the dates/deadlines you will find here:
Bachelor’s degree programme and Master’s degree programme.

For the degree programmes in Design and Fine Arts, one of the following qualifications is normally required:

• a vocational baccalaureate
• an upper secondary school baccalaureate
• a specialized baccalaureate
• proof of equivalent education at upper secondary school level obtained otherwise (e.g. applied university degree)

For the degree programme Arts and Design Education BA, one of the following qualifications is normally required:

• a vocational baccalaureate
• an upper secondary school baccalaureate
• a specialized baccalaureate
• proof of equivalent education at upper secondary school level obtained otherwise
• an EDK-approved primary school teaching certificate
  

 Grafik Bildungssystem Schweiz

For a Master’s degree programme in Design and Fine Arts, one of the following qualifications is normally required:

• A Bachelor’s degree in the field of study or in a related field.
• A similar, equivalent degree (at BA level pursuant to the “Dublin Descriptors").

For a Master’s degree programme in Arts and Design Education MA, one of the following qualifications is normally required:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Design Education.
• A similar, subject-related Bachelor’s degree in Design or Art geared towards teaching Art or Design at upper secondary school level or in the cultural industries.

 Grafik Bildungssystem Schweiz

Yes, you can apply for the aptitude assessment. Please upload a current confirmation from your school concerning your forthcoming educational degree. The original graduation certificate (diploma) must be submitted to the Student Administration immediately upon receipt.

For admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme in the fields of Design and in Fine Arts, candidates in exceptional cases do not have to be in possession of an upper secondary school degree (*) (Grafik Bildungssystem Schweiz) as long as they are able to provide viable proof of exceptional artistic or design-related talent with regard to the professional field in question. Please add to the application documents a motivation letter, a portfolio, and a CV in tabular format. 

The head of the respective degree programme will decide on the basis of the submitted documents whether sufficient artistic / design-related talent is given.

Please note: Applicants who meet the regular admission requirements are not eligible for admission on the basis of exceptional talent.

(*) The following educational qualifications do not apply to the admission to a Bachelor's degree programme (no upper secondary school degree): basic vocational training (EFZ apprenticeship), vocational certificate (EBA), specialized secondary school (FMS), compulsory schooling.

A list of approved vocational trainings for design-based degree programmes and the professional fields regarding work experience (field of Design) you will find here in form of a PDF document.

 Approved vocational trainings and professional fields

The common language of tuition is listed on the website of the respective degree programme.

Basically, the language of tuition is German supplemented by English at times. Applicants are asked to provide evidence of their competence in form of a certificate in German (B2 or equivalent in accordance with the European Framework of Reference for Languages) or in some other form (e.g. first language or education in a German-speaking country) at the start of the degree programme. No proof of language competence is required from applicants with an upper secondary school baccalaureate.

• Passive knowledge (basic knowledge) of English is expected (reading and listening comprehension).
• We expect students to use and develop their language skills (in German and English) during the course of their studies.

Master’s degree programmes Design and Fine Arts

The language of tuition is English. Applicants are asked to provide evidence of their competence in form of a certificate in English (B2 or equivalent in accordance with the European Framework of Reference for Languages) or in some other form (e.g. first language or education in an English-speaking country) at the start of the degree programme. No proof of language competence is required from applicants with a Swiss educational degree.

• Passive knowledge (basic knowledge) of German is expected (reading and listening comprehension).

Master’s degree programme Arts and Design Education

The language of tuition is German. Applicants are asked to provide evidence of their competence in form of a certificate in German (C2 or equivalent in accordance with the European Framework of Reference for Languages) or in some other form (e.g. first language or education in German-speaking country) at the start of the degree programme.

• Passive knowledge (basic knowledge) of English is expected (reading and listening comprehension).

Here is a list of accepted language certificates

In order to start the application process, you will first have to create a SWITCH edu-ID address.

1. It takes four steps to create a SWITCH edu-ID account:

• Go to the SWITCH edu-ID registration page.
  
• Enter your name, your private email address, and a password.
  (Please do not use company or school email addresses)
• After you have created an account, you will receive a confirmation by email
• Click on the confirmation link in the email to activate your account – finished!

2. After that, you can register for a degree programme.
   Please note that you can have only one SWITCH edu-ID account. You will need this ID each time you log in to the registration platform.
   You will find further information on the SWITCH edu-ID here.
   

• Please use your private email address
• No company or school email addresses
• Create only one SWITCH edu-ID account

IncaMail is an encrypted email service provided by Swiss Post for Switzerland and abroad. Confidential emails, such as the transmission of decrees, are delivered by the FHNW via this service. Sending via the IncaMail service is data protection compliant in accordance with the specifications of the FHNW and meets the requirements of the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the European General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO).

Further information about the IncaMail service can be found under the following link: IncaMail

Application to the admission procedure and the aptitude assessment at the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW is done exclusively online.

Select your desired degree programme from the list on the HGK Basel FHNW website (1) and click on the grey button “APPLY NOW” on the right (2). This takes you to the registration form.

1)

2)

Applicants who are interested in an advanced semester or wish to switch to a different degree programme are requested not to use the online registration but to contact the respective degree programme instead.

If you are interested in an exchange semester, please contact the International Office (Email: aW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbC5oZ2tAZmhudy5jaA==).

If you wish to complement an existing registration form for a specific degree programme, please click on the button “APPLY NOW”. The question “you have already registered for this degree programme. Would you like to make an additional registration?” will appear.

Answer this question with NO.

Open the link you received by email to correct / amend the data.
Then choose the path Home > Registrations > Open (see steps 1,2,3,4)

1 Home > Open

2 Complete the displayed information regarding your person

3 Save your data

4 Complete your registration

Yes. But you must register for each degree programme separately and also pay the registration fee of CHF 200.- for each programme.

1. Most importantly, you must already be in possession of a SWITCH edu-ID account (see SWITCH edu-ID -> What is a SWITCH edu-ID?). You will need this ID each time you log in to the registration platform.
2. After creating your SWITCH edu-ID, click on the button “Online registration”. If you wish to amend an already existing registration, click on the button “Online registration”.
   The question “you have already registered for this degree programme. Would you like to make an additional registration?” will appear.
   Answer this question with NO.
3. You can either fill in and complete your registration form in one go or in several consecutive steps at different times.

• Your entries are buffered automatically. There is no save button.

4. As soon as you have checked your entries, click on the button “Complete data entry”. In this way your entries are saved definitely. This means you can no longer make any changes on the “Registration” tab.

Note: For this reason, please read through your entries carefully and check whether the provided information is correct before finalizing your registration.

Changing personal data
Entries concerning personal data such as postal address or billing address can be changed at any time. To do this, please log in to the registration portal using your access data. In the tab “Addresses” you can now amend the information concerning your personal data.

Changing registration details
Registration details (tab “Registrations”) can be altered only until you click on the button “Enter data”. For this reason, please read through your entries carefully and check whether the information is correct before finalizing your registration.

If necessary, please contact the Administration Office and let us know which details need changing. You will find the address in the confirmation of receipt we sent you by email.

Amending / Deleting a registration to a degree programme
Click on the button “Cancel registration”. By doing this, your registration will be deleted.

If you experience problems while registering, we suggest you use a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).

• If you experience technical problems while registering online for a Bachelor’s degree programme, you can contact the Central Student Administration (ZSA) of HGK Basel FHNW: YWRtaXNzaW9uLkJBLmhna0BmaG53LmNo or by phone +41 61 228 44 33.
• If you experience technical problems while registering online for a Master’s degree programme, you can contact the Central Student Administration (ZSA) of HGK FHNW by email : YWRtaXNzaW9uLk1BLmhna0BmaG53LmNo or by phone +41 61 228 44 33.

No. Please make sure that you complete your registration with all the necessary documents before the deadline runs out. The deadlines are absolutely binding and the registration window will be closed as soon as the deadline expires.

• Bachelor’s degree programme: Registration deadline 15 February
• Master’s degree programme: Registration deadline 15 March

You need to register anew for the degree programme of your choice.

If you have already completed your registration and received a confirmation of receipt, you cannot delete your registration.

In that case, please send us an email (you will find the addresses at the end of the registration form in the tab “Registration” or else enclosed in confirmation of receipt we sent you) and inform us that you have decided to cancel your registration.

Otherwise, you can delete your registration by clicking on the button “Cancel registration”.

No. You must simply delete your registration.

Click on the button “Cancel registration”. This way your registration will automatically be deleted.

Or else you can send us an email. You will find the email address at the end of the registration form in the tab “Registration” or else enclosed in the confirmation of receipt we sent you.

The registration fee of CHF 200.- (including aptitude assessment and matriculation) can be settled by paper invoice or by credit card.

We accept the following cards:

• Mastercard
• PostFinance Card
• PostFinance e-finance
  
• TWINT
• Visa
  

1) Select “Proceed to payment”

2) Select “Continue”

3) Choose method of payment and click on button “Pay now”.

4) Select “Conclude registration”

5) You will receive an email with the reference “Confirmation of receipt”

Note: if you choose the method “Paper invoice”, you will receive the invoice by post.

After choosing “Paper invoice” and clicking on the button “Create invoice”, the invoice will appear in the next window. Then please click in the button “Create invoice” and then on the button “Complete registration” to conclude the billing process. You will then receive the invoice by post.

1) Select “Mode of payment” and click on the button “Create invoice”.

2) Select “Complete registration”

No, the registration fee will not be waived under any circumstances.

No. In the case of applications that were processed and rejected, the registration fee for the aptitude assessment cannot be refunded. 

No. Regarding applications that were not complete or were withdrawn, the registration fee for the aptitude assessment cannot be refunded.

Your registration will not be processed by us before the processing status “Payment” shows up green. You will then receive from us a confirmation of receipt by email.

You can check on the status of your registration at any time. The processing steps read from left to right.

Each application is carefully reviewed and assessed.

You will be informed by email as soon as we have reviewed your application (see also FAQ "What is the process from application to definite enrolment?").

• Regarding applications to a BA programme (deadline 15 February) this will be done by mid-March
• Regarding applications to a MA programme (deadline 15 March) this will be done by mid-April

You will find the dates of the aptitude assessment for the different degree programmes under the respective tab "Info sheet on aptitude assessment and dates" (as a PDF).

Each degree programme has its very own form of aptitude assessment. Regarding the degree programme you have chosen, you will find information under the respective tab “Info sheet on aptitude assessment and dates (as a PDF)”. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact the office of the respective degree programme or attend the info events and Open House for an informative conversation.