Photography - Art and Media, Master of Arts (Art and Design)
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Description
A photograph has an all-piercing force in society and culture, impacting individuals, communities and nations alike. In our image-saturated world, the significance of a powerful photograph hasn’t been lost. If anything, artists and photographers with something to say are needed now, more than ever before. As a student at Aalto University, you will be part of an ambitious and professional international community and a learning environment, enabling you to develop your artistic practice and enhance your conceptual and critical thinking.
The Photography major offers diverse and inspiring studies in the varied fields of contemporary photography and artistic research. The studies place emphasis on photography as an independent and multidisciplinary tool and seek to develop students' artistic and research-orientated thinking.
Graduates of the Photography major will be able to:
- Work on the highest level of national and international contemporary photography and art, utilizing techniques, tools and materials, working methods and theoretical concepts that support their artistic practice
- apply various kinds of presentation and installation practices of photography in connection to national and international publishing processes, platforms and audiences
- practice their critical understanding of the diverse functions and specific characteristics of the photographic medium
- position and contextualize their own work and practice and operate equally, sustainably and insightfully in their professional fields of contemporary photography, visual arts, media and culture and as active citizens in the society
- critically assess and use various kinds of source material and apply research-related reading and writing methods to their own qualitative and artistic research
- build on their field-specific theoretical backgrounds, contribute to photography-related academic discussions and pursue doctoral studies
- acknowledge the integrity of art and value it as a foundational element of cultures and communities)
Language of instruction
The teaching in the Photography major is conducted in Finnish and English. Students may write their master’s thesis in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Tuition fees and scholarships
The tuition fee for this programme is 20 000 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
Overall, the Master’s Programme in Art and Media – Photography comprises a total of 120 ECTS. The two-year studies include professional, artistic and research-based courses and are composed of workshops, lectures, seminars, independent projects and their personal supervision. As a student, you may also supplement your major studies with courses offered by other majors and programmes or with social science, humanities or technical studies at other universities.
In the Photography major, we will support your personal development and provide a practice-led, theoretical foundation for understanding contemporary photographic phenomena. Our broad range of courses and workshops include, but are not limited to: photography as sustainable practice, documentary and contemporary art, “expanded” photography, studio practice, experimental printing, moving image, photobook design, and new (and traditional) technologies.
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.
Specialisations
Within the Photography major, you can focus in, e.g., documentary photography, contemporary art, and/or academic and artistic research.
Internationalisation
Our Master’s students and faculty come from different parts of the world and the majority of our intermediate and advanced studies are taught in English. Participating in an international student exchange during the studies is also supported and recommended. During the studies, it is possible to apply for international residency programmes and workshops, and present one’s portfolio to professionals within the field.
Students’ works gain visibility in, e.g. exhibitions and photography publications in Finland and abroad. The students also have the opportunity to explore current international research at the biennial Helsinki Photomedia conference.
Apart from the studies, student life among Photography students is very welcoming and active. New students can join Aalto University’s student unions that provide different activities, events and other opportunities to balance studies with free-time fun.
Further study opportunities
Completion of the MA degree makes a graduate eligible to apply for doctoral studies, for example in the School of Art, Design and Architecture at Aalto University.
Career opportunities
The goal of the Photography major is to help our students to discover their own strengths and to create opportunities for success in a continuously changing and developing field. Our major offers excellent opportunities for working in the fields of photography and related fields in contemporary art. A number of our alumni are internationally recognized within the photography and contemporary art scene. A Master of Arts degree allows the graduates to apply for further studies leading to a Doctor of Arts degree.
Master’s degree studies provide you with the skills and education needed in a diverse range of positions. Graduates of the major often combine different tasks in their practices. Examples of possible paths include:
- Photographer
- Visual artist
- Photojournalist
- Photo editor
- Photography instructor
- Publisher
- Curator
- Researcher
Research focus
Photography research reflects the many roles that photography plays in contemporary culture, including the ubiquity of photographic practices and technologies. The research areas include:
- the theoretical and empirical study of photographs and photography as research objects;
- study of the uses and applications of photography in various social, cultural and educational contexts and media environments;
- the use of photography as an artistic research practice.
Co-operation with other parties
Students can supplement their studies with, for example, courses from other Aalto schools, programmes, and majors, or courses in social sciences, humanities, or arts offered by other universities.
The studies include collaboration with organisations, institutions, and enterprises in the fields of photography and contemporary art.
Study-option-specific Evaluation Criteria in Master's Admissions 2025
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 Art and Media - Photography major are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Phase I
| Artistic and/or design practice | |
| Assessed area | Examples of artistic and photographic work, e.g. projects, publications, exhibition documentations, series or single photographs or other works of art |
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Admission requirements |
We expect our applicants to present a high-quality, well-focused portfolio. We also expect applicants to have artistic insight into their current and future practices by displaying potential for artistic development. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Portfolio |
| Suitability | |
| Assessed area | Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation and commitment for studies, communication skills, and reflexive capacity. |
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Admission requirements |
Applicants are expected to have strong motivation, good co-operative skills, to be goal-orientated, and a capacity to commit to full-time studying. We also require a profound critical understanding of photography as a medium and culture, and ability to reflect upon personal artistic and visual insights. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Motivation letter |
| Other areas of competence | |
| Assessed area | Work experience and other acquired knowledge and achievements, e.g. publications and exhibitions, non-formal education, competitions and other relevant sources |
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Admission requirements |
Artistic, professional and other relevant content utilizing a comprehensive structure of the curriculum vitae |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Curriculum vitae |
Phase II
| Suitability | |
| Assessed area | Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation and commitment for studies, communication skills |
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Admission requirements |
We require relatively adept skills in analytical reading and written expression, as well as the ability to critically reflect on conceptual questions related to photography and other related mediums. We also expect applicants to have a thorough understanding of the photographic medium and culture, as well as personal artistic insight |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Second phase assignment |
| Suitability | |
| Assessed area |
Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation and commitment for studies, communication skills |
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Admission requirements |
We require good verbal communication and co-operative skills. We also expect our applicants to be able to respond to field-specific questions and communicate a thorough understanding of the photographic medium and culture, as well as personal artistic insight towards practice |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Second phase interview |
The applicants are first evaluated based on Aalto’s general eligibility requirements. Applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria decided in advance for each study option.
The selection process for those who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises of two phases:
Phase I
In Phase I, the applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Artistic and/or design practice (portfolio)
- Suitability/Motivation letter
- Other areas of competence/Curriculum vitae
Only the applications which fulfill the requirements and are ranked highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to the second phase in the selection process.
Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria:
- Suitability/Assignment
- Suitability/Interview
Based on the evaluation of Phase I, some of the applicants are invited to the second phase. The invitation to the second phase is sent to the applicants at latest 7 days in advance.
In the second phase of the admissions procedure, applicants complete an assignment within a given timeframe. The assignment can be written or visual and is based on provided material. Applicants who are invited to the second phase will be informed about any required equipment individually.
The second phase also includes a 20-minute interview which will be organized remotely over Zoom.
Final selection
After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, prospective candidates will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases I and II.
The documents required from all applicants are listed here (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
Applicants provide a written motivation letter (max 4,000 characters, single PDF file) explaining why they wish to apply to the major in question, what their particular areas of interest in this field are, and what their objectives and hopes are regarding the studies at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. Applicants should specify their personal strengths, areas of interest, and objectives, including photographic and artistic vision. Other suitable or relevant information can also be included.
Portfolio
The applicant’s name, address, phone number and the major applied for must be clearly visible on the first page of the portfolio. The recommended size of the portfolio is 20–30 pages, and it must be uploaded to the system as one (single) PDF file. A link to a portfolio on the applicant’s website is not sufficient and will not be evaluated. A portfolio is a document to reveal your artistic and photographic practice, as such we take seriously how you use the format.
The portfolio may consist of photos of individual artworks, sets of artworks, and documentation of exhibitions and/or publications. The portfolio must convey the applicant’s previous artistic, photographic, professional and/or academic activity in a focused and comprehensive manner. The applicant may also submit one link to a video file (e.g. Vimeo, YouTube) with or without password protection as part of the portfolio. The maximum duration of the work is 3-5 minutes (an edited file presenting one or several works). The possible password must be provided in the portfolio.
A title and short synopsis, including subject of the work, the method of production, the material used, the size, the purpose and the year of completion and, if applicable, the place where the work was exhibited, displayed or published must be mentioned for each work.
Maximum size of the Portfolio is 1.0 GB. Name the file Portfolio-lastname-firstname.pdf.
CV
The applicant’s curriculum vitae (single PDF file) with personal data, educational background, work experience, exhibitions, published literature and articles, awards and grants, study trips and positions of trust must be attached to the application.
Language of application documents
The application documents must be submitted in Finnish (Swedish) or English.
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Contact information
Learning services of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services.
Admission Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services.
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