A record number of applications to Aalto University

The interest in Aalto University’s study programmes continues its steady growth. The application period for Aalto University’s master’s programmes ended on the 3^rd of January and for English bachelor’s programmes on the 22^nd of January.

Vice President of Education Petri Suomalasays, ‘We are delighted to see that the number of applicants to our master’s and English-speaking bachelor’s programmes is the biggest in Aalto’s 10-year history. It is especially great to see that  international interest towards us keeps on growing, and our hard work for a top-quality study offering has paid off’.

A total of 4757 applications to master’s programmes

A total of 4 757 people applied for master's degree studies in the fields of art and design (1 447), business and economics (659) , and science and technology (2 651), with over 25% growth compared to the previous year. The most significant increase was seen in the fields of business and economics while technology and science had the biggest number of applicants. The field of arts and design saw healthy growth as well.

These numbers do not include the incoming class of incumbent students pursuing their study right from their undergraduate degrees.

One-third of the master’s applicants already had a Finnish higher education degree, and as previously, the largest number of applicants with foreign degrees were from China, India, Pakistan, Great Britain, and Iran and approximately half of allapplications are from outside of the EU/EEA countries. All in all, applications were received from altogether 105 different countries as opposed to last year when the number was closer to 90.

In the field of business and economics, the majority (61%) of applicants applied with a Finnish higher education degree, 39% applied on the basis of a higher education degree completed outside of Finland. The most popular study options were Yritysjuridiikka (Business law, available only in Finnish), and Management and International Business.

In the field of art and design, approximately 66 % of the applicants applied on the basis of a Finnish higher education degree and the most popular study options were Collaborative and Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design.

In the field of science and technology, approximately 74 % of applicants applied with a foreign degree and the most popular study options were Machine Learning, Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence, as well as Architecture and Automation and Electrical Engineering.

Applications to bachelor’s programmes in English increased by 54%

This year, Aalto offered 8 bachelor-level study options in English for  all three fields. A total of 4338 applications were received, with a 54 % growth compared to the previous year.

They all saw massive interest, with Economics garnering 922 applications, Design (319), Chemical Engineering (286), Computational Engineering (421), and Quantum Technology (311). Additionally, there were 509 applications for Data Science and 380 for Digital Systems and Design. The International Business programme in Mikkeli had 1190 interested applicants.

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The application rounds were for the bachelor’s programmes taught in English as well as for two-year master’s programmes based on a completed bachelor’s degree or equivalent studies. The students admitted to bachelor’s programmes also receive a direct study right for a master’s degree. The studies will begin in autumn 2020.

The master’s applications results will be published earliest on the 30^th of  March. Results for the English-language bachelor’s programmes on 5 June except for Bachelor’s Programme in Design for which the results will be published on 27 May.

Application for Finnish and Swedish-language bachelor’s programmes will be from 18 March to 1 April.