Study options

Speech and Language Technology - Computer, Communication and Information Sciences, Master of Science (Technology)

What do predictive text, automated personal assistants, and subtitle generation have in common? To make such applications a reality, it is indispensable to understand and harness speech and language technology. Aalto University’s Speech and Language Technology major benefits from leading research in machine learning and speech technology, with researchers actively involved in teaching. Graduates of the programme are well-equipped to launch their careers in the fast-growing field.
Students working together on a project

Degree:

Master of Science (Technology)

Application period:

28 Nov 2024 – 27 Dec 2024

Language of instruction:

English

Duration:

2 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant Bachelor's degree

Field of study:

Technology and Engineering

Credits:

120 ECTS

Organising school:

School of Electrical Engineering

Tuition fees:

For non-EU/EEA citizens, €17000/y (Master’s studies) Read more

Applying to master’s programmes

Description

A huge amount of information is created through speech and language – from writing and conversation to videos. With artificial intelligence gaining more prominence, there is also a growing need for technology that helps AI-empowered solutions to communicate quickly and impeccably in various languages. By becoming a student in speech and language technology, you secure a place in a fast growing, future-proof field. Besides improving technological applications, you get to solve important societal challenges, such as working towards a more equal education system and helping the healthcare sector to benefit from these technologies.

Upon graduating from the Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Speech and Language Technology, graduates will have:

A strong theoretical and methodological background of speech and language technology. Graduates possess a toolbox of knowledge on machine learning, mathematical and statistical language modeling, as well as speech analysis, synthesis, recognition, and coding.

Advanced programming skills. Graduates master various programming languages and tools, and have the ability to design, implement, test and maintain practical machine learning and speech and language processing systems.

Extensive data analysis skills. Graduates have an in-depth understanding of the nature and diversity of data and how it can be translated into information by machine learning.

Mathematical and statistical modelling skills. Graduates master the use of mathematical models and the underlying statistical assumptions, allowing them to make accurate predictions from real world data.

Extensive knowledge about the state of the art research in the field. Graduates benefit from the top-notch research led by professors and researchers and have the basis needed to embark on a career in research, should they wish to do so.

Language of instruction

In the Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences – Speech and Language Technology, the language of instruction is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

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.

Structure of studies

The major can be completed either as a long (60 ECTS) or compact (40 ECTS) major. Students taking a compact major also take a master level minor (20-25 ECTS). Students taking a long major may include an optional minor in their elective studies.

The first year lays the foundation for speech and language processing and machine learning. As the studies proceed, students deepen their understanding on various topics and can create their own unique study tracks according to their interests.

Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences

Specialisations

Speech and Language Technology is part of the Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences. Students may direct their studies to various specialisation areas through master level minor or elective courses.

Studying in the major has a strong emphasis on practical project work. The aim is to improve industry readiness as well as readiness for scientific work by preparing students to solve real-world problems and providing them with the experience of working in teams through many group exercises. Students also benefit from a flexible learning environment, allowing them to personalise their studies according to their unique interests.

More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.

Opiskelija Niina Tapanainen talvella Otaniemessä.

Student Niina Tapanainen: I study technology because I want to improve people's lives

During her bachelor's studies, Niina selected information technology as her major. She is encouraging people to be open-minded about combining technology and the humanities.

News

Internationalisation

The study environment in the programme is strongly international – studies are conducted in multicultural groups and students are well equipped to embark on an international career. The School of Electrical Engineering offers many possibilities for student exchange and internships all over the world. Students may find themselves taking part in a research project dealing with global phenomena or taking a summer course at one of Aalto's partner institutions, such as EURECOM in Sophia Antipolis, France.

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.

Further study opportunities

The programme qualifies for doctoral studies (Doctor of Science in an applicable field).

Career opportunities

A degree in speech and language technology provides the foundation for a wide range of jobs and careers. Common career paths include going into research and development in industry or academia. Some graduates go and start their own businesses – examples of recent startups founded by the graduates are Hokema, Ääni Company and Speechly.

Aalto University has well-established career services to support students’ employment in Finland and abroad. Thanks to the flexible curriculum, many Aalto students already work 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.

Tiina Lindh-Knuutila

Language technology combines alumna Tiina Lindh-Knuutila's interests

According to Tiina Lindh-Knuutila, language technology and machine learning offer enormous opportunities for many kinds of people.

News

Research focus

Research projects are thoroughly integrated into the studies to foster students’ ability to conduct scientific work. One of the recent projects in the speech recognition research group led to an award-winning campaign, Lahjoita puhetta. The campaign collected samples of spontaneous Finnish spoken by as many speakers of Finnish as possible in order to enhance the Finnish-language speech recognition.

To find out more about the latest research conducted in the Department of Information and Communications Engineering, visit their website.

Puheentunnistussovelluksia käytetään yhä enemmän. Kuva: Unto Rautio / Aalto-yliopisto

Toward better speech recognition: Lahjoita puhetta campaign wins prize as best mobile service

'Thanks to the successful campaign, Finland has the possibility to be a pioneer in speech recognition for small languages,' says Professor Mikko Kurimo

News
 Äänen viivettä on tutkittu Suomen hiljaisimmassa huoneessa Otaniemessä sijaitsevassa kaiuttomassa huoneessa.  Kuva: Aalto-yliopisto / Mikko Raskinen

Department of Information and Communications Engineering

The department of Information and Communications Engineering has a strong focus in the ICT area varying from ICT technology to core electrical engineering and its basic phenomena.

Co-operation with other parties

Besides the wide selection of courses available at Aalto University, students have the opportunity to include courses in their curriculum from other universities – even internationally. The major Speech and Language Technology also regularly welcomes visiting students from other universities. The CCIS (Computer, Communication and Information Sciences) programme is in itself multidisciplinary, encouraging collaboration across disciplines.

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.

Webinar | Speech and Language Technology

In this webinar, the programme representatives introduce Aalto University, give a programme overview, explain the programme structure and content, discuss career opportunities, and answer questions from the audience.

Watch the webinar recording
Students working together

Study-option-specific instructions

Applicants to the programme must meet the general eligibility and language requirements that are common to all Master's programmes in Aalto University. 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 major Speech and Language Technology, Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences (CCIS) are evaluated based on the following criteria.

This English-version is the master version of the CCIS programme-specific evaluation criteria, and its Finnish and Swedish versions are its translations.

Evaluation criteria

Evaluation process and requested documents

The evaluation process is described under Applicant evaluation process. In addition to obligatory application documents, this study option asks the applicants to submit also the documents listed under Requested documents.

Contact information

Aalto University Admission Services

If you have any questions regarding the application process, application documents or language tests, please contact Aalto University Admission Services

[email protected]

School of Electrical Engineering

For enquiries regarding the content of programme, the studies at the School of Electrical Engineering and the study-option specific application documents please contact

[email protected]

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