The Master's Programme in Automation and Electrical Engineering is a broad multi-disciplinary study programme providing graduates with the ability to work in and between a wide variety of fields ranging from traditional electrical engineering and energy sector to biomedical engineering and robotics. Drawing from a strong mathematical and natural science basis, the curriculum is flexible, allowing each student to compile her/his own unique combination of courses according to her/his own interests.

The main fields of the programme are automation, biomedical engineering, and electrical power and energy engineering. Within these, the available focus areas include electrical grids, electric motor drives, lighting technology, control engineering, robotics, embedded systems, imaging and machine perception as well as microsystems, new hybrid carbon nanomaterials, and personalized health care.

To prepare the graduates for their future work with large and often complex systems, the programme includes several practical project works in groups which provide skills for solving multifaceted and ill-defined problems similar to those faced in the actual professional life. These projects typically include experimental and practical components as well as fundamental theoretical aspects. The programme also gives the student a comprehensive foundation for doctoral studies.

The programme features three Majors, all of which offer several study paths. The learning outcome of the Master’s programme and its Majors are as follows:

Upon completion of the program the student will be able to

• Apply acquired skills for industrial tasks as well as academic research
• Develop and manage complex and multidisciplinary problems
• Design and perform research in the respective fields of the programme
• Design real-time systems and their related information and communication operations
• Work individually and as a part of a project team
• Understand technology-based entrepreneurship

Course codes in the School of Electrical Engineering are formed as follows:

ABBREVIATION - LETTER - NUMBER SEQUENCE

The different parts of the course code are determined in the following way:

Abbreviation

All course codes start with the abbreviation ELEC.

Letter

A = Bachelor-level basic studies (common basic studies of the bachelor's programme)

C = Bachelor-level major studies (studies towards the major)

D = Complementary studies for the master's degree (fall between bachelor's and master's studies)

E = Master-level studies (all master-level studies)

L = Post-graduate (licentiate and doctoral-level) studies

Some master-level courses can be included in the licentiate or doctoral degree. These courses have the letter "L" after the course name.

Letter V after the course name refers to course with varying content. It means the contents of the course varies and the students can do the course multiple times.

Number sequence

The first digit of the sequence indicates the department that offers the course:

0 = School's common studies

3 = Department of Micro and Nanosciences

4 = Department of Radio Science and Engineering

5 = Department of Signal Processing and Acoustics

7 = Department of Communications and Networking

8 = Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation

The three last digits of the sequence are decided by the Departments themselves.

Example

ELEC-E8102   indicates a Master-level course offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, for which the department has given the sequential number  031 .

Code: ELEC3025
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible Professors: Joni Pajarinen, Quan Zhou, Valeriy Vyatkin, Heikki Ihasalo, Ville Kyrki, Simo Särkkä, Arto Visala, Ivan Vujaklija, Tomasz Kucner 

Pääaine suomeksi: Säätötekniikka, robotiikka ja autonomiset järjestelmät
Huvudämne på svenska: Reglerteknik, robotik och autonomiska system

Control, Robotics and Autonomous Systems major provides a strong basis in control engineering and automation, allowing a student then to specialize in a particular area of interest such as factory automation, robotics, intelligent systems,  smart living environment or industrial software systems. Central topics for all students include modelling, estimation and control of dynamical systems, as well as embedded systems and software for modern automation systems. Most courses include theory as well as its application in practice.  Upon completion of the Major, the student will be able to:

• Understand the need for automation
• Design models and controllers  for dynamical systems
• Analyze properties of and dynamics of systems
• Design industrial software applications
• Understand in depth one of the focus areas (robotics, intelligent systems, control engineering, automation software, factory automation or smart living environment)

Courses

You can view your degree structure and information on courses and study modules in Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) once you’ve made a HOPS study plan (Sisu Help).  
 
Your study plan automatically shows the courses and study modules that are compulsory, i.e. those you are required to complete in order to graduate. For your elective (optional) studies module, you can find courses by using the search function either in Sisu’s ‘selection assistant’ or on the Search page (click Search on the upper banner). 

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course} 

Optional courses: choose 25 ECTS - pre-designed study tracks are available to support study planning

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course
**Choose only if you haven't studied Robotics at undergraduate level} 

Alternatively, you can choose a study track to follow. You will find study tracks under Recommended timetable tab.

Code: ELEC3024
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible professors: Edris Pouresmaeil, Marko Hinkkanen, Matti Lehtonen, Anouar Belahcen, Jorma Kyyrä, Mervi Paulasto-Kröckel, Mahdi Pourakbari Kasmaei

Pääaine suomeksi: Sähköenergiatekniikka
Huvudämne på svenska: Elkraftteknik

Electrical power and energy systems form the backbone of societies. Intelligent systems, spanning from production to end-user, ensure optimal utilisation of resources — minimal impact on environment, maximal benefits for society. This major offers a firm theoretical base as well as practical tools and skills needed by engineers working on the field of electrical power and energy engineering. The field includes transmission, distribution, smart grid, and sustainable generation and utilisation of electrical power, as well as power-conversion devices such as motors, generators, and power-electronic converters. In order to prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems of the field, the major is designed to be flexible and a systems perspective is emphasised. Courses include theoretical considerations, experimental work, industrial applications, and first-hand experience in real research environments. This major prepares students for current and future challenges faced by electrical energy and network companies, power manufacturing industry, and society. Students are well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies. Upon completion of the Major, the student will be able to:

• Identify fundamental aspects and considerations for electrical energy systems
• Develop applications for energy efficiency, integration of renewables, and distributed generation
• Analyze and evaluate existing and future challenges in the field of electrical power and energy engineering
• Design and analyze power systems or energy conversion devices
• Understand in depth one of the focus areas (electromechanics, power electronic systems, power systems, or sustainable electrical energy)

Courses

You can view your degree structure and information on courses and study modules in Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) once you’ve made a HOPS study plan (Sisu Help).  
 
Your study plan automatically shows the courses and study modules that are compulsory, i.e. those you are required to complete in order to graduate. For your elective (optional) studies module, you can find courses by using the search function either in Sisu’s ‘selection assistant’ or on the Search page (click Search on the upper banner). 

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course} 

You will find study tracks under Recommended timetable tab.

Optional courses: choose 25 ECTS - pre-designed study tracks are available to support study planning

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course}

You will find study tracks under Recommended timetable tab.

Code: ELEC3060
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible Professors: Simo Särkkä, Mervi Paulasto-Kröckel, Pekka Eskelinen,  Erkki Ikonen, Ilkka Laakso, Ivan Vujaklija, Valeriy Vyatkin (updated 1.2.2021)

Pääaine suomeksi: Elektroniset ja digitaaliset järjestelmät
Huvudämne på svenska: Elektroniska och digitaliska system

Electronic and Digital Systems (EDS) is a multidisciplinary major focusing on embedded systems and system level design especially for intelligent and autonomous devices and applications. It covers the chain from sensors small enough to enable smartdust, over autonomous embedded systems, up to data synthesis and real-time decision making for traditional industries as well as IoT and digitally based economies. EDS emphasizes the process of transferring results from fundamental studies into functional products and services. There are two study tracks, which are (i) Embedded systems and sensings and (ii) Integrated smart systems.

Upon completion of the Major, the student will be able to:

• translate the electronic and digital systems application needs into technical requirements;
• create product innovations based on holistic system level thinking;
• apply embedded HW and SW design principles, understand their constraints, performance as well as environmental and safety impacts;
• apply the design and fabrication principles and understand the basics of upscaling and lifecycle management of strongly miniaturized autonomous sensor and actuator systems;
• apply methods for processing, analyzing and combining of data from sensors and sensor networks for generating higher level information

Courses

You can view your degree structure and information on courses and study modules in Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) once you’ve made a HOPS study plan (Sisu Help).  
 
Your study plan automatically shows the courses and study modules that are compulsory, i.e. those you are required to complete in order to graduate. For your elective (optional) studies module, you can find courses by using the search function either in Sisu’s ‘selection assistant’ or on the Search page (click Search on the upper banner). 

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course}

You will find study tracks under Recommended timetable tab.

Optional courses: choose 25 ECTS  from tracks 1 and/or 2; courses do not have to be from one track only. Pre-designed study tracks are available to support study planning

Embedded systems and sensing – track 1

 ^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course}

Integrated smart systems - track 2

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course} 
You will find study tracks under Recommended timetable tab.

Students choose 25/30 credits of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete a minor and/or take individual courses. Students can freely choose a minor or individual courses of their interest to complement the content of their major or to expand knowledge beyond one’s main field of study. Interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial courses are encouraged. 

Minor is selected from the list of available minors in the academic catalogue.

Individual courses may include 

• courses from any field offered in Aalto

• Studies form other Finnish Universities 

• Studies completed during exchange studies abroad 

• Practical training credits (max 5 cr)

Read more under “other studies”

Studies in the master’s programme should provide students with new knowledge. Studies that overlap or have similar content with studies that are included in student’s bachelor’s degree primarily cannot be included in master’s degree. 

Compulsory language studies

Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree for students who have studied in Finland and whose language of education is Finnish or Swedish. If the language studies have not been completed in the student’s Bachelor’s degree, the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.

Students who have received their education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or received their education abroad, are required to complete only 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center. There students who have received their education abroad and  who already have excellent command of English (e.g. English as their first language) may choose 3 credits of Finnish courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree. If this applies to you, please contact your school’s Learning Services for further advice, as different schools have different procedures for validating this exemption.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS).

Students are required to complete a Master's Thesis, which is an individual research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic related to the student's advanced studies and is agreed upon between the student and a supervisor who specializes in the topic area of the thesis. Master’s Thesis work includes a seminar presentation or equivalent presentation. The Master’s Thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed.

Read more under "Thesis".