The great challenges of our time, from climate crisis to information manipulation, all have something in common: they are complex societal phenomena and solving them requires cross-disciplinary approaches that recognise larger connections between things. Tailored to the needs of the future sustainable information society, the programme provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how individual technologies and business models can shape societies and values through organisations, networks, and whole industries.
Upon graduating from the Master’s Programme in Information Networks, graduates will have:
The tuition fee for this programme is 17 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.
Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.
More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.
Master’s Programme in Information Networks comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:
If the student chooses to take a compact major, a minor (20–25 ECTS) is mandatory.
The programme offers four majors. The major includes compulsory courses and studies from the selected major and flexibility in choosing courses from the other majors as well. Thus, the specific content of the major depends on the student’s own interest. The majors are as follows:
The common courses for all majors are about technology and society, philosophy, aesthetics and digital ethics, and hands-on innovation design. Depending on the major the student chooses, the topics include organisational design, service design, user experience, social media, business design, and software design. To give concrete examples of the topics covered, here are some courses picked from the programme’s extensive curriculum:
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.
The study environment in the Information Networks programme is international. The School of Science offers diverse possibilities for student exchange all over the world. Exchange studies can be included in the degree as, for example, an international minor. Other possibilities for developing one’s global competence include conducting practical training abroad or taking a summer course abroad.
Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad every year. These students join the diverse Aalto community not only through their studies, but also through multiple free time events, celebrations and extracurricular activities around the campus. Active tutoring programs and support services work hard to help international students integrate to the Nordic culture and feel at home in Finland.
The programme qualifies for doctoral studies (Doctor of Science in an applicable field).
Societally conscious engineers, who are able to see the bigger picture, are increasingly sought after in the job market. Multidisciplinary problem identification, problem solving, continuous learning and innovation are qualities that open doors to an exceptionally wide range of careers. Graduates can best be defined as active co-creators, facilitators and integrators of human-centred innovation in a world in the middle of a green and just transition.
A survey conducted in spring 2023 examined the career paths of Information Networks alumni. 97 % of the respondents said that they are employed. Examples of job titles for recent graduates include:
The most common workplaces for recent graduates were Relex, Futurice, ShareTribe, Reaktor, Wärtsilä, Vincit, Columbia Road, Netlight, Taito United, Teamit, August, Avoin.Systems, University of Helsinki and Nitor.
Aalto University has well-established career services to support students’ employment in Finland and abroad. Thanks to the flexible curriculum, many Aalto students work already during their studies and guarantee themselves entry positions before graduation. There is also a very active entrepreneurship community at Aalto, working as a springboard for founding a company.
Graduates from the School of Science at Aalto University have very good employment prospects in positions corresponding to their education. On this page, you can find information about employment and career development five years after graduation.
Relevant research in conducted at the Department of Computer Science and Department of Industrial Engineering and Management.
The programme follows a transdisciplinary approach, bridging the gap between society, technology, business and human factors. Courses are tailored so that students develop a wide palette of skills and creativity to tackle problems of significant importance. Also, the programme brings together individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
The study methods embrace active peer learning and problem-based learning. Various group work assignments enhance students’ communication and teamwork skills and prepare them for real-life work environments where collaboration is crucial. Information Networks has close ties with the practical world – through various project courses, students receive briefs from companies, non-profit organisations and charities. Students learn to solve problems creatively and ethically, and discuss the end results in close collaboration with faculty and stakeholders. Teaching methods don’t only mimic real-life scenarios but actually introduce students to projects with real problems and viable solutions.
The Master’s Programme in Information Networks gathers together a relatively small number of students, and there are a number of ways in which students can have a say in their learning. The faculty is highly dedicated to their field and encourage close cooperation and open communication between faculty and students. The close community is one of the strengths of the programme – Information Networks’ guild Athene actively organises various events and company collaborations.
Aalto University is well-known for bridging disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus and freedom of choosing elective courses across the University bring students from different fields under one roof. This spontaneous multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.
Information Networks applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated according to the below Evaluation criteria. The evaluation process is described under Evaluation process. In addition to the obligatory application documents, this study option asks the applicants to submit also the documents listed under Requested documents.
The Master’s Programme in Information Networks is a trans-disciplinary study programme in engineering building on computer science and business management. It combines the fields of social sciences, advanced digital technologies, and business. The Master's students combine in their studies computer science, industrial management, and business with a human-centred approach.
Thus, our programme should not be considered as a Master’s Programme in telecommunication technologies. Our programme aims to learning outcomes that enable a holistic understanding about the interplay between information technology, business, and humans.
Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria decided in advance for each study option. The applications to Master’s Programme in Information Networks are evaluated based on the following criteria:
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree(s) and pace of studies |
| What we look for in an applicant |
The acceptable applicants have achieved consistently very good grades at their home university.
When evaluating each applicant’s academic performance, we especially emphasize the grades achieved in the degree that gives the eligibility for applying. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| What is evaluated? | Content and quantity of previous studies |
| What we look for in an applicant |
An acceptable applicant’s Bachelor’s degree will allow the applicant to complete the Master’s degree in two years. Thus, engineering degrees in computer science, industrial engineering and management, or in some combination of these subject areas are examples of suitable degrees. However, we encourage applicants from other backgrounds than engineering also to apply, if they have academic evidence on skills corresponding to the subject areas listed below. The following studies are considered in the evaluation of the content and quantity of previous studies of the candidate:
The contents of the applicant’s previous degree(s) are evaluated based on the courses available on the official transcript of study records. Relevant work experience, professional certificates and/or online courses are judged case-by-case, but they do not, in general, compensate for the university level studies that include also the theoretical foundations of the required subjects. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Evaluated documents: Degree certificate, transcript(s) of records. |
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s suitability to the programme, motivation, commitment to studies, and written communication skills. |
| What we look for in an applicant |
We are looking for applicants who 1) show a clear interest in people as individuals, groups, communities, or organisations and society as users of information and communication technology, 2) can clearly express the reasons for applying to the study option, 3) describe why they would be good candidates for the study option, and 4) are committed to study 30 ECTS per semester. Studies in the Master’s programme should provide genuinely new knowledge for the applicant. If the applicant already has a Master’s degree in any field, the motivation letter should clearly indicate why another Master’s degree is necessary. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Motivation letter |
| What is evaluated? | Recognition and quality of the applicant's previous institution |
| What we look for in an applicant | We expect acceptable applicants to have completed their previous degree in a high-quality higher education institution and programme. The recognition of the applicant’s home university affects also the final interpretation of the academic performance. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | International and national rankings of higher education institutions |
| What is evaluated? | Work experience and other acquired knowledge/achievements e.g. publications, non-formal education, competitions |
| What we look for in an applicant |
We are looking for applicants who show a clear interest in people as individuals, groups, or communities, or organisations and society as users of information and communication technology. Applicants will benefit of the following:
|
| Method of demonstrating competence | CV and/or portfolio, proof of relevant employment, recommendation letter |
This is the master version of the programme-specific evaluation criteria and its Finnish and Swedish versions are its translations
Applicants to Information Networks meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked according to the process described below.
First, the applications are evaluated based on the following, critically important criteria:
Only those applications that include the required documents/fulfill the requirements of the above-mentioned critical criteria will be evaluated further and ranked.
Secondly, the following non-critical criteria are added to the final evaluation:
The applicants are advised to include all the requested study-option specific documents to support their application.
The best applicants will be selected based on the comprehensive evaluation of all the above-mentioned five criteria. The programme does not have a minimum quota to be filled, and not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted.
In addition to the obligatory application documents, applicants to the Master's Programme in Information Networks are requested to provide the following study-option-specific documents:
The lack of any of these documents will adversely affect the evaluation of your application.
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Informaatioverkostojen kilta - Information networks guild
Learning Services at Aalto University School of Science
For enquiries regarding the programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Learning Services of Aalto University School of Science
Admission Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services