MSc degree studies consist of the following study modules: 

• Programme studies 84 cr
  • Incl. Master’s thesis 30 cr
• Minor 24 cr
• Electives 12 cr

In addition to the goals stated in Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) 7 § the aim of the Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration is to provide students with

• deep overall knowledge of the area of the specialised master’s degree programme, and very good knowledge of the minor subject or corresponding study entities included in the degree;
• the knowledge and skills required in challenging managerial positions or positions demanding a high level of expertise, or as entrepreneur;
• the ability to independently produce and apply knowledge in the field of business administration and economics, and preparedness for demanding international postgraduate programmes;
• the ability to address ethics, sustainability, and international context; and
• excellent communication and team working skills.

The programme helps you develop into an open-minded and competent professional with analytical, conceptual, communicational and cultural sensitivity skills that you need to succeed in the international arena.

Upon completion of the Master’s in Management and International Business degree you will be able to:

• offer a holistic view to global business challenges
• conceptualize complex business, management and organizational phenomena
• support and initiate business development
• analyze, facilitate and lead change
• design, develop, and perform management practices
• promote cross-cultural interaction
• address and deal with complex communication challenges
• reflect upon and develop your own professional practice
• conduct research in the field of management and organizations

Academic tutoring

You are welcome and strongly encouraged to reserve an appointment for academic tutoring with our programme director. In the tutoring meeting you have a chance to discuss your career plans, and the courses that would support your future plans. Please note: in questions regarding the technical aspects of study planning, you should contact the study coordinator. New students can reserve time for academic tutoring in class during the programme kick-off that is organized in the orientation week. Academic tutoring is also available later on by making an appointment via email.

During semesters, the study coordinator will also inform you of about the ‘Thesis Kick-off’ and ‘Is Your Thesis Stuck’ workshops that offer support for the thesis processes.

Academic tutor can be contacted via email: [email protected]

The planning officer of the programme will also meet students regularly to discuss about the more technical aspects of study planning, such as the structure of the studies, planning and timing of studies, and to give guidance regarding study-related matters.
Planning officer can be contacted via email, please see "Contact" on the left hand menu.

Additional information

Department of Management Studies website

Code: BIZ401
Credits: 84 ECTS cr
Responsible Professor: Saija Katila

Courses

Common studies 48 ECTS

^{1) Replaces courses 26E02800 Management and International Business and 51E00500 Academic skills. Students who started their studies 2013-2014 or 2014-2015 and have not taken one of the two courses above can replace the missing course as below:}

• ^{51E00500 Academic Skills can be replaced with either 26E03700 Essentials of Management and International Business or 21E72500 Finding Joy and Productivity in Academic Writing}
• ^{26E02800 Management and International Business can be replaced with 26E03600 Introduction to Management and International Business}

Specialisation studies 36 ECTS

Capstone 6 ECTS

^{2) Replaces courses 21E99904 Capstone: Management and International Business, 21E00013 Capstone: Workshop on Innovating Management and 26E03500 Capstone: Global Business Cases.}

Suggested specialization areas

Alternative course duo 12 ECTS.

Choose two courses from the following list:

Please note that some of the courses can only take limited number of participants. You may select courses from different specialization areas but teaching times may in these cases overlap

Elective studies 18 ECTS

Choose three courses from the following. Note that only two book exams can be included:

^{3) Replaces course 26E03200 Managing in a Global Context.
4) Replaces course 21E11000 Corporate Responsibility in Global Economy.
8) Replaces course 26E03100 Driving Global Business
9) Replaces courses 26E03300 Operating in Different Cultural Contexts and 26E03301 Institutions, Partnerships and Responsible Business
10) Replaces course 21E16000 Sustainable Business and Consumption
11) Replaces course 75E18000 Organizational Communication and Leadership
12) Replaces course 75E21000 Corporate Communication in Global Context
13) Replaces course 71E00200 Communication in Strategy Work
16) Replaces course 26E05001 Game Industry: Born Global, Innovative and Digital
**) If already included in the bachelor degree, it is not possible to include this course into the master's degree
***) Course can only be included in the degree once}

The following courses can also be included in the elective studies (18 ECTS)

^{7) Replaces course 21E72000 Psychology and Practice of Academic Writing
14) Replaces course 75E24000 Business Presentations
15) Replaces course 75E25000 Business Negotiations
****) Please note that if you complete this course 5 cr, you are required to take additional course from Alternative mandatory course duo 12 ECTS or Elective studies 18 ECTS so that the programme studies are at least 84 cr. In this case you have less credits for the elective (12 cr).
*****) Project work, its topic and requirements must be approved in advance by the programme director.}

The minor study module of the Master’s degree is 24 credits and can be one of the following:

1. a module confirmed in the curriculum (a minor study entity offered at the School of Business) ,
2. a module completed in an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business or in another programme meeting the requirements set in the official exchange programme policy of the School of Business, or
3. a module earned at another Aalto University school or at another Finnish university under the agreement on flexible study rights (JOO agreement).

For a list of all the minors at Aalto University, see Minors 2018-2020.

You can choose elective studies to your Master's degree so, that the extent of the degree (120 credits) is fulfilled. You can exceed the extent of the degree by one course maximum.

Elective studies can include basic, intermediate or advanced level courses. You can use the module e.g.

• To broaden your skills and knowledge via multidisciplinary studies:
  • select courses in the field of technology or art
  • select University Wide Studies -courses
  • select courses in other universities via JOO study right
• To deepen your language and communication skills 
• To deepen or broaden your skills and knowledge in the field of business 
  • select additional courses in your degree programme or major
  • select courses from other degree progarmmes or majors in the School of Business
  • select additional courses in your minor
• To gain work experience and working life skills via practical training
• To gain skills in self leadership and finding meaningfulness via Personal Impact -courses
• To broaden your degree with a second minor, if it fits in your degree
  • Please not that you can only choose the second minor if it fits into your degree or exceeds it by maximum of one course. You can find the requirements of minors in Into Minors 2020-2022.

Mandatory language studies

If you have mandatory language studies in your master's degree, they are included in the elective studies module. You have received information about these in the beginning of your studies, if this applies to you.

• Students who have received their first cycle university degree from the Aalto University or from another Finnish university of from a Finnish university of applied sciences have principally demonstrated their language proficiency in the bachelor's degree or received an exemption. Therefore there is no need to demonstrate language proficiency in the master's degree
• Students, who have received their first cycle university degree outside of Finland and whose language of secondary education is Finnish or Swedish, do demonstrate their language proficiency in the master's degree
• Students, who have received their first cycle university degree outside of Finland and whose language of secondary education is other than Finnish or Swedish, do not demonstrate their language proficiency in the master's degree

If you are uncertain of whether you need to demonstrate language proficiency in the master's degree, please contact your programme's planning officer to get further information about the matter. Read also more about the language requirements for the maturity test in the page Completing your master's thesis > Maturity test.

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

The programme study module includes a 30-credit thesis with a 6-credit seminar. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication.

The student takes also part in a thesis seminar, which is designed to help the students to prepare their thesis work. The seminar commonly consists of meetings, completing thesis, presenting the research topic to the seminar group and acting as an opponent for a fellow student’s thesis. Seminar lasts usually the whole semester, and it is organised during both autumn and spring semesters.

Seminar practices vary depending on the degree programme: please see the instructions for each programme in Sisu or MyCourses. For instructions on writing and handing in the thesis please see the page Completing your master's thesis.

Instructions for writing a master's thesis for MIB students

Frequently asked questions about thesis work:

When and how to start?

The thesis work starts in the 26E99905 Master’s thesis seminar. Thesis seminar is meant to be taken during the second year of the master’s studies, and earliest during the first year's spring. Students are advised to have a topic / area of interest ready when registering for the seminar, but the topic does not have to be finalized. If you are doing a qualitative research, it is further advised that you take the course 21E00011 Doing Qualitative Research at the same time with the seminar.

By registering to the seminar and indicating a topic / interest area, a supervisor will be assigned for the student. You will find out your supervisor during the first sessions of the seminar.

The thesis topic will be finalized with the supervisor.

The thesis seminar is designed to help the students to start their thesis work. The seminar includes seminar sessions as well as progress seminar.

Thesis seminar is held twice per academic year and the registration is done via WebOodi (course code: 26E99905 Master’s Thesis Seminar).

Can I start the thesis work before the seminar?

As the thesis seminars run twice a year, in principle thesis supervisors will not be allocated outside the thesis seminars. A supervisor can be allocated outside the seminar only for very good reasons. Missing the seminar does not count as a good reason 

Do I have to attend the thesis seminar?

Yes. The thesis seminar consists of obligatory seminar sessions, and different assignments. You can find the full course description in oodi under the code 26E99905.

Do I need to find the supervisor by myself?

No. When registering for the Master’s thesis, you are required to provide thesis topic / area of interest, and thesis supervisor suggestion (if you have one). Thesis supervisors will be named based on this information but note that not all supervisor wishes can be fulfilled. You will find out your supervisor during the first sessions of the Thesis Seminar.

Do I have to attend the thesis seminar?

Yes. The thesis seminar consists of obligatory seminar sessions, and different assignments. You can find the full course description in oodi under the code 26E99905.

Do I need to find the supervisor by myself?

No. When registering for the Master’s thesis, you are required to provide thesis topic / area of interest, and thesis supervisor suggestion (if you have one). Thesis supervisors will be named based on this information but note that not all supervisor wishes can be fulfilled. You will find out your supervisor during the first sessions of the Thesis Seminar.

Who approves the research topic?

The research topic is approved by the thesis supervisor. Please negotiate with your thesis supervisor prior accepting commissioned work to make sure that the topic and its theoretical framing is adequate for a Master’s thesis.

If I want to do my thesis for a company/organization, how do I proceed?

Speak to your supervisor to make sure that the topic and thesis itself will meet the criteria set by the degree regulations.

Please note that the school/department does not provide agreement templates for company assigned thesis, this is between you and the company/organization. 

Can thesis be written in Finnish?

By default, the language of the thesis is English. Please discuss this issue with your supervisor.

What are the roles of student and supervisor?

Please see Master’s Thesis Guidelines: Table 1: Responsibilities of students and supervisors during thesis process.

When do I have to hand in my thesis in order to graduate in a particular graduation date?

Please see MyCourses for the schedule.

Finishing the thesis, hand in and evaluation process

Return the first version of your thesis to your instructor for comments. The instructor gives his/her comments and if needed, you should make the necessary corrections to the thesis.

Once you consider the thesis is ready, get the permission from your instructor to hand in your thesis for evaluation on MyCourses. Each thesis will be read and graded by two reviewers, of which one is the reviewer who supervised the thesis. Your superviser will find the second reviewer.

You need to submit your thesis and the maturity test (executive summary) to MyCourses for the evaluation and language check. In addition, you have to order a print copy of your thesis to the library.

See further instructions in Completing your master's thesis on the left hand menu. Department does not require binded copies. Please check with your supervisor to see if electronic version is enough for them or is binded copy required.

How do I complete the maturity test?

From 1.9.2016 onwards, the maturity test is completed by writing a one-page executive summary OR press release based on the Bachelor’s / Master’s thesis. A separate maturity test is no longer being arranged.

 Write a one-page executive summary OR press release based on your Bachelor’s / Master’s thesis. In the text, you should cover the findings and implications/significance of your research (spacing 1.15, font type Calibri, font size 11, all margins 2 cm).

 Pay attention to the legibility and the linguistic clarity of your text. Please note that the maturity test is an independent text without references to your thesis. The maturity test should demonstrate your familiarity with the subject of the thesis and your skills in Finnish, Swedish or English.

INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND STUDENT NUMBER IN THE TEXT!

See further information on the executive summary / press release in Maturity test on the left hand menu. Please note that the maturity test is compulsory to all students even if one has been done during the bachelor studies. Students who have graduated from Aalto University School of Business (Helsinki or Mikkeli campus) do not have to have the language check done for their maturity test in the Master's degree.

According to the degree regulation 2013 the maturity test must be taken in Finnish or in Swedish. If the student has not studied the secondary level education in Finnish or Swedish, it is possible to apply for an exemption in order to write the maturity test in English. The exemption is based on the secondary level education of the student.

If you've been granted the exemption from the maturity test in the BSc degree you do not need to apply it for the MSc degree.

The executive summary OR press release (= maturity test) is to be submitted on MyCourses together with the submission of the final version of student’s thesis on MyCourses. See further instructions on submitting the final version via the link in the section above "Finishing the thesis, hand in and evaluation process".

Can master’s thesis be classified confidential?

According to the decision by the Ministry of Education and Culture that Master’s theses may not be confidential (the principle of transparency) and therefore there is no possibility for keeping MSc theses as confidential.

All the theses are required to be uploaded to eThesis. Student can then decide whether the whole work can be accessed online or only the abstract page. At the same time student will order binded library copy from the Unigrafia. So it is possible not to publish whole work online, but as the library copy is compulsory, the work can be found in the binded form from the library.

MSc degree studies consist of the following study modules: Programme studies 84 ECTS credits, Minor studies 24 ECTS credits and Electives 12 ECTS credits.

In addition to the goals stated in Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) 7 § the aim of the Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration is to provide students with

• deep overall knowledge of the area of the specialised master’s degree programme, and very good knowledge of the minor subject or corresponding study entities included in the degree;
• the knowledge and skills required in challenging managerial positions or positions demanding a high level of expertise, or as entrepreneur;
• the ability to independently produce and apply knowledge in the field of business administration and economics, and preparedness for demanding international postgraduate programmes;
• the ability to address ethics, sustainability, and international context; and
• excellent communication and team working skills.

At the heart of the Master’s Programme in Management and International Business is a practically grounded and research-based understanding of management and international business. The programme encourages students to cross disciplinary boundaries, engage with tough challenges, connect practice with scholarship, invite creativity, and lead inclusive futures.

As an M&IB Master’s student you can specialise in one or two of the following fields:
• Human Resource Management 
• International Business 
• Strategy Work 
• Sustainability Management

In addition to the specialisation options in the M&IB Master’s programme, the multi-disciplinarity of Aalto University allows you to add to your unique professional profile by choosing an interesting minor among the various subjects in Aalto University, or even abroad.

Learning outcomes

The programme seeks to educate open-minded and competent professionals with analytical, conceptual, communicational and cultural sensitivity skills needed to succeed in the international arena.

In close collaboration with companies and other organisations we provide our students a valuable opportunity to learn from real-world cases. We further equip our students with good research skills needed in contemporary organisations and academia.

Depending on your specialisation, upon completion of the Master’s in Management and International Business degree you will be able to:

• understand the nature and challenges of global businesses 
• promote cross-cultural interaction 
• design, perform and develop (I)HRM practices in diverse organisations 
• create new sustainable businesses 
• support renewing organisations towards sustainability 
• understand strategy work in and across organisations 
• analyse markets, businesses and organisations 
• conceptualise complex business, management and organisational phenomena 
• reflect upon and develop your own professional practice 
• do research

Career prospects

Masters from the Management and International Business Programme are widely employable in the culturally mixed and competitive global labor market. The Management and International Business programme prepares students for a range of expert and managerial tasks and positions in domestic and international companies as well as in the public sector and not-for-profit organizations. Consultancy, human resources, communications, international marketing, sustainability management and development work are just a few examples of the wide range of the task areas of our alumni.

Programme director

Saija Katila

Academic tutoring

We strongly encourage students to reserve an appointment for academic tutoring with our programme director, Saija Katila. Academic tutoring includes meeting with the programme director to discuss student's career plans, and the type of minor and courses that would support student’s future plans. Please note: in questions regarding the technical aspects of study planning, you should contact the study coordinator. New students can reserve time for academic tutoring in class during the programme kick-off which is organized in the orientation week. Academic tutoring is also available later on by making an appointment via email.Academic tutor can be contacted via email: [email protected]

The study coordinator of the programme will also meet students regularly to discuss about the more technical aspects of study planning, such as the structure of the studies, planning and timing of studies, and to give guidance regarding study-related matters. Study coordinator can be contacted via email: [email protected]

Additional information

Department of Management Studies website

Code: BIZ401
Credits: 84 ECTS cr
Responsible Professor: Saija Katila

Courses

Common studies 48 ECTS

^{1) Replaces courses 26E02800 Management and International Business and 51E00500 Academic skills. Students who started their studies 2013-2014 or 2014-2015 and have not taken one of the two courses above can replace the missing course as below:}

• ^{51E00500 Academic Skills can be replaced with either 26E03700 Essentials of Management and International Business or 21E72500 Finding Joy and Productivity in Academic Writing}
• ^{26E02800 Management and International Business can be replaced with 26E03600 Introduction to Management and International Business}

^{*) If your thesis is for the following specialization areas: Human resource management, Strategy work or Sustainability management select 21E99910 Master's thesis and 21E99903 Maturuty test. If your thesis is for the specialization area International business, select 26E99910 Master's thesis and 26E99903 Maturity test}

Specialisation studies 36 ECTS

Capstone 6 ECTS

^{2) Replaces courses 21E99904 Capstone: Management and International Business, 21E00013 Capstone: Workshop on Innovating Management and 26E03500 Capstone: Global Business Cases.}

Alternative mandatory course duo 12 ECTS

Suggested specialization areas: choose two courses from the following list:

Elective studies 18 ECTS

Choose three courses from the following:

^{3) Replaces course 26E03200 Managing in a Global Context.4) Replaces course 21E11000 Corporate Responsibility in Global Economy. 5) Replaces course 26E03300 Operating in Different Cultural and Institutional Contexts. 6) Not offered in 2017-2018
11) Not offered in 2017-2018
**) If already included in the bachelor degree, it is not possible to include this course into the master's degree ***) Course can only be included in the programme once}

The following courses can also be included in the elective studies (18 ECTS)

^{7) Replaces course 21E72000 Psychology and Practice of Academic Writing 8) Not offered in 2017-2018
9) Not offered in 2017-2018 10) Not offered in 2017-2018
***) Course can only be included in the programme once ****) Please note that if you complete this course 5 cr, you are required to take additional course from Alternative mandatory course duo 12 ECTS or Elective studies 18 ECTS so that the programme studies are at least 84 cr. In this case you have less credits for the elective (12 cr).
****) Project work, its topic and requirements must be approved in advance by the programme director.
Please note that some of the courses can only take limited number of participants.}

The minor study module of the Master’s degree is 24 credits and can be one of the following:

1. a module confirmed in the curriculum (a minor study entity offered at the School of Business) ,
2. a module completed in an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business or in another programme meeting the requirements set in the official exchange programme policy of the School of Business, or
3. a module earned at another Aalto University school or at another Finnish university under the agreement on flexible study rights (JOO agreement).

For a list of all the minors at Aalto University, see Minors 2017-2018

Master's degree includes 12 ECTS credits of Electives. This can consist of for example

• additional studies in the degree programme,
• additional studies in the minor study module,
• courses from other programmes,
• language and communication studies,
• studies at another Aalto University School,
• studies at another university through the flexible study right agreement (JOO studies), or
• internship (6 cr or 3cr).

More information is provided under the titles Language and communication studies and Internship.

Elective studies can include basic, intermediate or advanced level courses.

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

The programme study module includes a 30-credit thesis with a 6-credit seminar. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication.

The student takes also part in a thesis seminar, which is designed to help the students to prepare their thesis work. The seminar consists of meetings, completing thesis, presenting the research topic to the seminar group and acting as an opponent for a fellow student’s thesis. Seminar lasts usually the whole semester, and it is organised during both autumn and spring semesters.

Registration for the seminar varies depending on the degree programme: please see the instructions for each programme in Sisu or MyCourses. For instructions on writing and handing in the thesis please see Planning your studies.

Maturity test

After completing the Master's Thesis the student has to write a maturity test in order to demonstrate their familiarity with the subject of the thesis and proficiency in Finnish or Swedish language. If a student has demonstrated their Finnish or Swedish proficiency in the Bachelor’s degree, it is not required again for the Master’s degree. In this case the maturity test will be evaluated only based on the content. However, the maturity test is still always written in Finnish or Swedish, unless the student has been exempted to write the test in some other language (see instructions below).

The maturity test is a written examination based on the Master’s thesis. The School of Business students write an executive summary which is classified as the maturity test. For further instructions regarding the maturity test, please see Planning your studies - Maturity test.

If a student has had their (high school) education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or abroad, it is possible to apply for an exemption in order to make the test in English or some other language. The application will be addressed to the Vice Dean of the School of Business. In this case the maturity test will be evaluated only based on the content.

Instructions for writing a master's thesis for MIB students

MSc degree studies consist of the following study modules: Programme studies 84 ECTS credits, Minor studies 24 ECTS credits and Electives 12 ECTS credits.

In addition to the goals stated in stated in Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) 7 § the aim of the Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration is to provide students with

• deep overall knowledge of the area of the specialised master’s degree programme, and very good knowledge of the minor subject or corresponding study entities included in the degree;
• the knowledge and skills required in challenging managerial positions or positions demanding a high level of expertise, or as entrepreneur;
• the ability to independently produce and apply knowledge in the field of business administration and economics, and preparedness for demanding international postgraduate programmes;
• the ability to address ethics, sustainability, and international context; and
• excellent communication and team working skills.

At the heart of the Master’s Programme in Management and International Business is a practically grounded and research-based understanding of management and international business. The programme encourages students to cross disciplinary boundaries, engage with tough challenges, connect practice with scholarship, invite creativity, and lead inclusive futures.

As an M&IB Master’s student you can specialise in one or two of the following fields:

• Human Resource Management 
• International Business 
• Strategy Work 
• Sustainability Management

In addition to the specialisation options in the M&IB Master’s programme, the multi-disciplinarity of Aalto University allows you to add to your unique professional profile by choosing an interesting minor among the various subjects in Aalto University, or even abroad.

Learning outcomes

The programme seeks to educate open-minded and competent professionals with analytical, conceptual, communicational and cultural sensitivity skills needed to succeed in the international arena.

In close collaboration with companies and other organisations we provide our students a valuable opportunity to learn from real-world cases. We further equip our students with good research skills needed in contemporary organisations and academia.

Depending on your specialisation, upon completion of the Master’s in Management and International Business degree you will be able to:

• understand the nature and challenges of global businesses 
• promote cross-cultural interaction 
• design, perform and develop (I)HRM practices in diverse organisations 
• create new sustainable businesses 
• support renewing organisations towards sustainability 
• understand strategy work in and across organisations 
• analyse markets, businesses and organisations 
• conceptualise complex business, management and organisational phenomena 
• reflect upon and develop your own professional practice 
• do research

Career prospects

Masters from the Management and International Business Programme are widely employable in the culturally mixed and competitive global labor market. The Management and International Business programme prepares students for a range of expert and managerial tasks and positions in domestic and international companies as well as in the public sector and not-for-profit organizations. Consultancy, human resources, communications, international marketing, sustainability management and development work are just a few examples of the wide range of the task areas of our alumni.

Programme director

Saija Katila

Additional information

Department of Management Studies website

Code: AAA0000
Credits: 84 ECTS cr
Responsible Professors: –

Courses

Programme studies 84 ECTS
Common studies 48 ECTS

^{1) Replaces courses 26E02800 Management and International Business and 51E00500 Academic skills. Students who started their studies 2013-2014 or 2014-2015 and have not taken one of the two courses above can replace the missing course as below:}

• ^{51E00500 Academic Skills can be replaced with either 26E03700 Essentials of Management and International Business or 21E72500 Finding Joy and Productivity in Academic Writing}
• ^{26E02800 Management and International Business can be replaced with 26E03600 Introduction to Management and International Business}

^{*) If your thesis is for the following specialization areas: Human resource management, Strategy work or Sustainability management select 21E99901 Master's thesis and 21E99903 Maturuty test. If your thesis is for the specialization area International business, select 26E99901 Master's thesis and 26E99903 Maturity test}

Specialisation studies 36 ECTS

Capstone 6 ECTS

^{2) Replaces courses 21E99904 Capstone: Management and International Business, 21E00013 Capstone: Workshop on Innovating Management and 26E03500 Capstone: Global Business Cases.}

Alternative mandatory course duo 12 ECTS Choose two courses from the following list.

Suggested specialization areas, choose two courses:

Elective studies 18 ECTS

Choose three courses from the following:

^{3) Replaces course 21E90000 Managing Innovation and Change. 4) Replaces course 21E11000 Corporate Responsibility in Global Economy 5) Replaces courses 26E044000 International Design Business Management and 26E01000 International Design Business Management **) If already included in the bachelor degree, it is not possible to include this course into the master's degree ***) Course can only be included in the programme once ****) Please note that if you complete this course 5 cr, you are required to take additional course from Alternative mandatory course duo 12 ECTS or Elective studies 18 ECTS so that the programme studies are at least 84 cr. In this case you have less credits for the elective (12 cr).}

The following courses can also be included in the elective studies (18 ECTS)

^{6) Replaces course 21E72000 Psychology and Practice of Academic Writing ***) Course can only be included in the programme once ****) Please note that if you complete this course 5 cr, you are required to take additional course from Alternative mandatory course duo 12 ECTS or Elective studies 18 ECTS so that the programme studies are at least 84 cr. In this case you have less credits for the elective (12 cr).}

^{Please note that some of the courses can only take limited number of participants.}

The minor study module of the Master’s degree is 24 credits and can be one of the following:

1. a module confirmed in the curriculum (a minor study entity offered at the School of Business) ,
2. a module completed in an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business or in another programme meeting the requirements set in the official exchange programme policy of the School of Business, or
3. a module earned at another Aalto University school or at another Finnish university under the agreement on flexible study rights (JOO agreement).

2016-2017 minors at Aalto

2016-2017 minors

2016-2017 minors for School of Business students only

Please see Study Guide 2016-2017

Master's degree includes 12 ECTS credits of Electives. This can consist of for example

• additional studies in the degree programme,
• additional studies in the minor study module,
• language and communication studies,
• studies at another Aalto University School,
• studies at another university through the flexible study right agreement (JOO studies), or
• internship (6 cr or 3cr).

More information is provided under the titles Language and communication studies and Internship.

Elective studies can include basic, intermediate or advanced level courses.

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

The programme study module includes a 30-credit thesis with a 6-credit seminar. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication.

The student takes also part in a thesis seminar, which is designed to help the students to prepare their thesis work. The seminar consists of meetings, completing thesis, presenting the research topic to the seminar group and acting as an opponent for a fellow student’s thesis.

Seminar lasts usually the whole semester, and it is organised during both autumn and spring semesters. Registration for the seminar varies depending on the degree programme: please see the instructions for each programme in WebOodi, MyCourses or department’s homepages.

Maturity test

After completing the Master's Thesis the student has to write a maturity test in order to demonstrate their familiarity with the subject of the thesis and proficiency in Finnish or Swedish language. If a student has demostrated their Finnish or Swedish proficiency in the Bachelor’s degree, it is not required again for the Master’s degree. In this case the maturity test will be evaluated only based on the content. However, the maturity test is still always written in Finnish or Swedish, unless the student has been exempted to write the test in some other language (see instructions below).

The maturity test is a written examination based on the Master’s thesis. The School of Business students write an executive summary which is classified as the maturity test. For further instructions regarding the maturity test, please see Planning your studies - Maturity test. 

If a student has had their (high school) education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or abroad, it is possible to apply for an exemption in order to make the test in English or some other language. The application will be addressed to the Vice Dean of the School of Business. In this case the maturity test will be evaluated only based on the content.