Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education (NoVA), Master of Arts (Art and Design)

A Bachelor’s degree corresponding to a minimum 180 ECTS credits. 

Students in their final year of their Bachelor’s studies are eligible to apply, provided they complete their Bachelor’s degree before the start of the program by 31 July 2025 and submit the degree certificate and official translation if needed by the given deadline.

The following Bachelor’s degrees (or closely related degrees) are eligible for application.
A bachelor's degree must be equivalent to 180 ECTS credits or three years of full-time study. The degree must give eligibility to apply for master’s degree studies at university in the awarding country. The awarding higher education institution has to be a recognised part of the official national education system of the country. It has to be accredited as a degree- granting higher education institution by the country where it is located or by a relevant international organisation (such as UNESCO).

It is not possible to apply to a master’s programme on the basis of a previous master's degree. Only bachelor’s degrees give eligibility for master’s programmes. An exception to this are ‘long-cycle’ master's degrees that have been granted without a bachelor’s degree, for instance, degrees awarded in Finland prior to the adoption of the two-cycle degree system in 2008 or licentiate of medicine degrees.

In addition to the degree granting eligibility to apply (i.e. bachelor's degree), it is possible to include one other higher education degree (e.g., master's degree) to the section Other Higher Education Degree on the application form. All the studies included in the application form must be supported by the required application documents. The same documentation requirements apply to all degrees. For further information, see Application form and the required application documents.

Students in their final year of their Bachelor’s studies are eligible to apply, provided they complete their Bachelor’s degree before the start of the program by 31 July 2025 and submit the degree certificate and official translation if needed by the given deadline. If you are accepted to the university, you must deliver a certified copy of your degree certificate by 15 August 2025 at 15.00 (3 pm, UTC +3).

In case you are not able to graduate or fail to deliver your degree certificate by the deadline, your conditionally granted study right will be cancelled.

If you apply with an incomplete degree, note that it may not be possible to graduate during the summer months. You should look into the graduation schedules and requirements of your own faculty or school in advance.

In the field of art and design, an applicant who does not have a higher education degree may apply on the basis of sufficient knowledge and skills, gained by means of other studies and/or work experience, that correspond to a relevant bachelor's degree. Other eligibility for higher education is not an option for applicants who have completed (or will complete no later than 31 July 2025) a bachelor's degree that makes them eligible to apply to a master’s programme. Applicants applying on the basis of sufficient knowledge and skills must provide evidence of their skills with documents such as work or study certificates (document instructions and application requirements are listed at Other eligibility for higher education)

The application form and links to it are available only during the application period. One applicant can have only one application form, do not fill in several forms.
Application form (Studyinfo.fi)Once you have submitted your online application form, you will receive an automatic confirmation email with a request to submit the required application documents. Your application is incomplete until the required documents have been uploaded to the application system.

• Bachelor’s degree certificate If your degree is unfinished, you can leave the upload attachment section for degree certificate blank. The degree must be completed by 31 July 2025.
• Transcript of study records (Bachelor's degree)
• Official translations of the above documents if the originals are not in English, Finnish or Swedish.
• If you have, in addition to a Bachelor's degree, another university degree you wish to be taken into consideration in the admissions: degree certificate, transcript and official translations (if applicable) of the degree.
• English language test results or other accepted proof of English proficiency. If required, request the test administrator to send the official electronic score report to Aalto University as instructed.

• Motivation letter max 4000 characters (excluding spaces) should include a description of personal interests for Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, including a proposed area of research, aim of study, and professional goals. In particular, the letter should indicate an understanding of opportunities for study a double degree in Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, what the applicant wishes from the programme and, in turn, what they are interested in bringing into the programme. The applicants may include one example of their past or current practice (e.g., documentation of an art/design/educational/professional project or a summary of an academic paper/thesis) as an appendix. The appendix may consist of text and/or images and should be max 2 pages long. Applicants are not required to add an appendix to their motivation letter. The applicant’s name, address and phone number and the programme applied for must be indicated clearly on the motivation letter.

  Curriculum Vitae Applications must include the applicant’s CV indicating personal data, educational background, and work experience that is relevant to their application. This information may include educational and/or artistic projects, exhibitions, publications and articles, awards and grants, study trips and positions of trust. Applicants should upload their CV to the application system in a single PDF-file before submitting the application.

• Valid passport; or official government-issued identification card with photo and citizenship
• If you are exempted from the tuition fee in Finland based on your residence permit card in Finland, the front and back sides of your residence permit card.
• Do not include any additional attachments (e.g., letters of recommendation or extra-curricula training certificates). Additional attachments are not taken into account in the evaluation and they will only slow down the processing of the application.

Language of application documents

• All application documents must be submitted in English.

You must submit certified (attested) hard copies of some of the application documents by a given deadline. Please note that only admitted applicants need to submit the certified hard copied documents after the admission results have been published. 

Certified hard-copy documents required from admitted joint degree applicants:
•    Certified copy of your Bachelor's degree certificate or diploma
AND
•    either the official transcript of records for your Bachelor's degree, OR a certified copy of it

If you are proving your English proficiency with a different degree than your Bachelor's degree you are additionally required to submit:

•    Certified copy of the degree certificate that you are proving your English proficiency with, and an official transcript of records or a certified copy of it
•    Official translations of these documents (if applicable) by the given deadline.
 

Please send the hard copies of these documents to Student Services of School of Arts, Design and Architecture (contact information below) by mail or courier service. Read carefully and follow the instructions for certified hard copy documents.

Copies of study certificates (Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts of records) must be certified to be true copies of the original documents by the issuing university or a notary public. Each page must have the certifying official’s original signature, printed name, ink stamp and date. Copies of officially certified copies are not accepted, the certifying official’s ink stamps and signatures must be original. A multiple-page certified copy must be certified on the front side of every page.

The deadline for the officially certified study certificates is :

• For the officially certified study certificates of applicants admitted 9 April is 15 May 2025 (at 15.00/3 pm,GMT +3).
• For applicants conditionally admitted with an incomplete degree and for applicants admitted off the waiting list, the deadline is 15 August 2025 (at 15.00/ 3 pm, GMT +3).

Submitting the certified copies and address

We strongly recommend using a courier service (e.g. DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEx) for shipments from outside the European Union (EU) instead of regular mail.

If you send the documents by courier service, use the street address:
Aalto University
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Otaniementie 14,
FI-02150 ESPOO, Finland
tel +358 9 47001

Write “Nordic Master programme in Visual Studies and Art Education” on the envelope.

If you send the documents by regular mail (not recommended from outside the EU), send them to the postal address:

Aalto University
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
PO Box 31000
FI-00076 AALTO
FINLAND  
tel +358 9 47001

Write “Nordic Master programme in Visual Studies and Art Education” on the envelope.

All documents must arrive at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture by the given deadline (see deadline above). The deadlines cannot be extended. In case you are not able to graduate or fail to deliver your degree certificate by the deadline, your conditionally granted study right will be cancelled.

Admission is conditional until the certified hard copy documents have been received by the university. Conditionally granted study right will be cancelled if the certified documents are not received in the required manner by the deadline. The certified documents will be compared to the electronic documents uploaded to the application system.

Minimum score requirements

• IELTS Academic: overall score 6.5, and writing score 6.0.

Aalto University also accepts IELTS Online (Academic), IELTS Indicator (Academic) and IELTS UKVI Academic test.
Only IELTS Academic tests are accepted. General-level tests are not accepted.

If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered. You cannot combine scores from different test dates.

Period of validity of test results

IELTS test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.
For 2025 admissions, test results are valid if the test was taken on or after 28 November 2022.

Submitting the IELTS scores

The official IELTS test scores must be received by Aalto University Admission Services by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2).

1. Upload a PDF copy of your IELTS test report to your application form (to "Language proficiency" section), if you have already received the report. Name the file according to the format: IELTS-lastname-firstname.
2. On your application form, enter your Test Report Form (TRF) number. If you have taken the IELTS Indicator test, enter your IELTS Indicator Score ID. Enter these numbers very carefully. The numbers are required for verifying the scores.*
3. Share your electronic test report to Aalto University via the test administrator's IELTS Results Service e-delivery.
   - When booking the test, choose Aalto University as the Recognising Organisation to make your score available to Aalto University. The department is "Admission Services".
   - If you have already taken the test, contact your test centre and request the test administrator to send your electronic test report to Aalto University. See the instructions for sharing your IELTS test report form electronically on the test administrator website.

Your scores will be verified electronically.

* You can edit your application form only during the application period from 28 November to 27 December 2024 at 15.00 (UTC +2). If you receive your TRF number after 27 December 2024, send it by email to [email protected] and request that the TRF number be added to your application form. Your email must be received by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2). Use "Master's admissions IELTS TRF number" as the subject line.

More information about language test

• test administrator: IELTS (ielts.org)

Minimum score requirements

• TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test): 92, and 22 for Writing

Aalto University also accepts TOEFL iBT® Home Edition test.
Only TOEFL iBT tests are accepted. For example TOEFL Essentials or TOEFL ITP tests are not accepted.

If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered. You cannot combine scores from different test dates, e.g. TOEFL MyBest scores is not accepted.

Period of validity of test results

TOEFL test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.
For 2025 admissions, test results are valid if the test was taken on or after 28 November 2022.
Note that the test administrator ETS does not send expired TOEFL results.

Submitting the TOEFL scores

The official language test scores must be received by Aalto University Admission Services by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2) directly from the test administrator. Only official test scores sent by the test administrator are accepted.

1. Request your official score report to be sent from the test administrator to Aalto University reporting code 7364 (Score Report Recipient) well in advance of the deadline.
   A department code is not required (or you can choose any department). Aalto University will receive all results sent with the reporting code 7364. 
2. Enter your TOEFL iBT Appointment number on your application form (to "Language proficiency" section of the form). The number has 16 digits (e.g. 0000 0000 xxxx xxxx).*
3. Upload a PDF copy of your TOEFL test report to your application form, if you have already received the report. Name the file according to the format: TOEFL-lastname-firstname.

The scores must be received electronically directly from the test administrator by the deadline. Score reports sent by applicants will not be accepted. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks from sending the score report request for the scores to be received by the University. Aalto University receives the scores via ETS® Data Manager service. Contact the test administrator if you have questions about score delivery times.

* You can edit your application form only during the application period from 28 November to 27 December 2024 at 15.00 (UTC +2). If you receive your TOEFL iBT Appointment number after 27 December 2024, send it by email to [email protected] and request that the number be added to your application form. Your email must be received by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2). Use "Master's admissions TOEFL iBT Appointment number" as the subject line.

More information about language test

• test administrator: TOEFL (ets.org)

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Minimum score requirements

• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A): 62, and 54 for Writing

Aalto University also accepts Pearson Test of English Academic Online (PTE Academic Online) and Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI tests.

Period of validity of test results

PTE test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.
For 2025 admissions, test results are valid if the test was taken on or after 28 November 2022.

If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered. You cannot combine scores from different test dates.

Submitting the PTE scores

The official language test scores must be received by Aalto University Admission Services by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2) directly from the test administrator. Only official test scores sent through the test administrator's electronic service are accepted.

1. Log in to your PTE account and send your results to Aalto University in the test administrator’s electronic service.
2. Enter your Score Report Code on your application form (to "Language proficiency" section).* 
   The Score Report Code can be found at the top of the report under your name. It contains 10 characters that are letters and numbers.
3. Upload a PDF copy of your PTE A test report to your application form, if you have already received the report. Name the file according to the format: PTE A-lastname-firstname.

* You can edit your application form only during the application period from 28 November to 27 December 2024 at 15.00 (UTC +2). If you receive your Score Report Code after 27 December 2024, send it by email to [email protected] and request that the code be added to your application form. Your email must be received by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2). Use "Master's admissions PTE Score Report Code" as the subject line.

More information about language test

• test administrator: PTE Academic (pearsonpte.com)

Minimum score requirements

• C1 Advanced: A,B or C
• C2 Proficiency: A,B,C or Level C1

No Cambridge language tests other than C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE) and C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE) are accepted.

Period of validity of test results

For C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, electronically verifiable tests taken after 2005 are accepted.

Submitting the C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency scores

The official language test scores must be received by Aalto University Admission Services by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2).

1. Upload a PDF copy of your C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency results report to your application form (to "Language proficiency" section).
   Name the file according to the format: Nameofthetest-lastname-firstname.
2. Enter your test taker's ID number (e.g. ABC1234567), and Reference Number (e.g. 173YU0034522) or Statement of Results Number or Verification Number to your application form. The name of the number varies depending on the year the test was taken.* 
3. Log into the language test administrator's service and share your test results to Aalto University.

Your scores will be verified electronically.

* You can edit your application form only during the application period from 28 November to 27 December 2024 at 15.00 (UTC +2). If you receive your test ID and verification numbers after 27 December 2024, send them by email to [email protected] and request that the numbers be added to your application form. Your email must be received by 3 January 2025 at 15.00 (UTC +2). Use "Master's admissions Cambridge ID number" as the subject line.

More information about language test

• C1 Advanced (cambridgeesol.org)
• C2 Proficiency (cambridgeesol.org)

English proficiency can be demonstrated with a university degree completed in an English-medium programme at a university that is physically located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.

The language of the degree must be stated unambiguously in the degree certificate or its appendix, or in the transcript of records or other official document issued by the awarding institution.

If there are several instruction languages, the document must clearly indicate the amount of studies taken in English. It is not sufficient, if the document states, for example, that the language of instruction is English and French.

Upload to the application form:

1. Scanned copy of the original degree certificate
2. Scanned copy of the original official transcript of study records
3. If the language of the degree is not stated unambiguously in the degree certificate or transcript of records, an official document of the language of instruction issued by the awarding institution.

The documents must be uploaded to the online application form by 3 January 2025 15.00 (3 pm,GMT +2).

If your degree is still incomplete at the application phase, the degree must be completed, and you must graduate by 31 July 2025. A copy of the degree certificate must be submitted according to the instructions by 15 August 2025 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3).

After the publication of admission results, the admitted applicants must submit certified (attested) hard copy documents by the given deadline.

English proficiency can be demonstrated with a higher education degree in an English-medium programme completed at a university or university of applied sciences in an EU/EEA country:

The language of the degree must be stated unambiguously in the degree certificate or its appendix, or in the transcript of records or other official document issued by the awarding institution.

If there are several instruction languages, the document must clearly indicate the amount of studies taken in English. It is not sufficient, if the document states, for example, that the language of instruction is English and French.

Upload to the application form:

1. Scanned copy of the original degree certificate
2. Scanned copy of the original official transcript of study records
3. If the language of the degree is not stated unambiguously in the degree certificate or transcript of records, an official document of the language of instruction issued by the awarding institution.

The documents must be uploaded to the online application form by 3 January 2025 15.00 (3 pm,GMT +2).

If your degree is still incomplete at the application phase, the degree must be completed, and you must graduate by 31 July 2025. A copy of the degree certificate must be submitted according to the instructions by 15 August 2025 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3).

After the publication of admission results, the admitted applicants must submit certified (attested) hard copy documents by the given deadline.

English proficiency can be demonstrated with upper secondary education and a Bachelor’s degree (issued or ongoing if the applicant is currently enrolled in the last semester) from a Nordic country (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland). 

Upload to the application form:

1. Scanned copy of your school leaving certificate / secondary-school final certificate
2. Scanned copy of the original bachelor's degree certificate 

3. Scanned copy of the original official transcript of study records (bachelor's degree)

The documents must be uploaded to the application form by 3 January 2025 15.00 (GMT +2).

If your degree is still incomplete at the application phase, the degree must be completed, and you must graduate by 31 July 2025. A copy of the degree certificate must be submitted according to the instructions by 15 August 2025 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3).

After the publication of admission results, the admitted applicants must submit certified (attested) hard copy documents by the given deadline.

Only the methods listed above to demonstrate English proficiency are accepted. 

Phase I

Phase II

The applicants will be first evaluated based on Aalto’s general eligibility requirements. Applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that has been decided in advance for each study option.

The selection process for applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises of two (2) phases: 

Phase I

In Phase I, the applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria

• Suitability (Motivation letter)
• Other areas of competence (Curriculum Vitae)
• Relevance of previous studies (Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s))
• Academic performance (Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s))

Only the applicants who fulfil the requirements and are ranked highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to Phase II in the selection process.

Phase II

In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria

• Suitability (Interview)

The second phase consists of an individual interview. Interviews will be carried out by Zoom. The length of the interview is 20 minutes.

Applications who fulfil the requirements and are ranked highest in Phase I will be invited to the interview. The invitation to the interview will be sent to the applicants at latest seven days in advance.

After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases I and II.

The documents required from all applicants are listed on the Aalto University website (https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes). In addition, applicants to this study-option are required to provide the following study-option-specific documents:

Motivation letter

Motivation letter, max 4000 characters (excluding spaces) should include a description of personal interests for Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, including a proposed area of research, aim of study, and professional goals. In particular, the letter should indicate an understanding of opportunities for study a double degree in Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, what the applicant wishes from the programme and, in turn, what they are interested in bringing into the programme. The applicants may include one example of their past or current practice (e.g., documentation of an art/design/educational/professional project or a summary of an academic paper/thesis) as an appendix. The appendix may consist of text and/or images and should be max 2 pages long. Applicants are not required to add an appendix to their motivation letter. The applicant’s name, address and phone number and the programme applied for must be indicated clearly on the motivation letter.

Curriculum Vitae

Applications must include the applicant’s CV indicating personal data, educational background, and work experience that is relevant to their application. This information may include educational and/or artistic projects, exhibitions, publications and articles, awards and grants, study trips and positions of trust. Applicants should upload their CV to the application system in a single PDF-file before submitting the application.

Language of application documents

All application documents must be submitted English.

Additional notes

The selection group does not assess or consider letters of recommendations.

It is possible to submit a written request to rectify the admission decision within 14 days of the publication of the results. The purpose of the written rectification request procedure is to allow applicants to appeal against the admission decision on the grounds of a possible error in the decision-making, and thereby have an erroneous decision corrected. An admission decision may only be rectified if Aalto University has made an error in the admission procedure and the error in question entitles the applicant to have the admission decision rectified. The procedure is not for requesting feedback or additional information on the admissions results.

Your request for rectification has to contain the following information:

• the study option that the rectification request concerns
  the decision you wish to have rectified
• a description of how you want the university to rectify its decision
• the grounds for your rectification request
• your contact information (full name, email address)
  written authorisation to your representative (if you use a representative)

Decisions on scholarships are final and cannot be appealed against.

All requests for rectification of admission decisions must be delivered to the University Registry within 14 days from the publication of admission results, either to the Registry’s email address [email protected] or by post to its postal address: Aalto University, Registry, P.O. Box 11000, 00076 Aalto, Finland.

According to the ‘one student place per term in higher education’ policy, applicants who are offered admission to more than one degree programme beginning in the same academic term at a Finnish university or university of applied sciences may only accept one offer of admission. The policy applies to all degree-granting higher education programmes, whether applying through: joint application procedures, separate admissions procedures, or applying to doctoral education (to earn a licentiate or doctoral degree).

If you are offered admission to more than one degree programme in different admissions for studies starting in autumn 2025, you can only accept one of them. It is not possible to switch to another study place. The acceptance of a study place is binding.

Please note that if you apply in admission 2025 for NoVA via both Aalto University and Aalborg University and you will be offered a study place from both universities, then you will need to choose for which university you will accept the offer of admission. It is only possible to accept one study place offer of admission in NoVA.