Aalto University

Key figures of 2018 and reports

The development of campus took major steps in 2018. Academic results improved and internationalisation continued.
Students on Otaniemi campus. Open red umbrellas attached to trees, students sitting on a bench under the green-leaved trees. Photo by Aalto University /Unto Rautio

Research

  • We direct our research towards seven key areas: ICT and digitalisation, materials, art
    and design, business, energy solutions, living environments, and health and wellbeing.

  • Competitive research funding obtained by the university has risen from last year. 
Scientific articles 2010-2018

International peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals

2010–2018

Competitive research funding 2010-2018

Competitive research funding (€ million)

2010–2018

The number includes e.g. research funding from the Academy of Finland, Business Finland and companies, as well as competitive EU funding.

Julkaisujen laatu 2010-2018

Quality of publications

2010–2018

Share of Aalto University publications that belong to the top 10% most highly cited publications in the world in the same subject area. This indicator has been used since 2015.

International faculty 2010-2018

International academic faculty (%)

2010–2018

Excellence in research
  2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Recipients of European Research Council (ERC) funding

 6 6 10 13 16 17 21 26 26

Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence

 9 9 7 7 7 7 7 7 6

Academy of Finland
Academy Professors

 6 5 7 7 7 6 7 5 5

Academy of Finland
Research Fellows

 39 38 37 34 36 34 38 40 41

FiDiPro Professors
and Researchers*

 15 16 15 14 13 14 12 9 7

* The FiDiPro programme has ended

  • The tenure track career system is the university's most important strategic investment.
  • 69% of all professors in 2018 are recruited after 2010.

Professors
  2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

All professors

 230 239 293 329 369 388 386 386 389
International 4% 6% 12% 15% 17% 18% 20% 22% 24%

Women

 10% 11% 13% 16% 17% 20% 19% 20% 20%

Average age

 55 54 52 51 50 50 50 51 49
New professors * 0 18 83 131 185 216 228 243 268
International - 28% 29% 31% 29% 28% 30% 31% 33%
Women - 17% 19% 23% 24% 27% 25% 26% 26%
Average age - 41 43 43 44 44 44 45 45

* New professors refer to professors appointed to the Aalto University tenure track career system, implemented in 2010.

Education

  • The strategic development of teaching and learning continued, as well as the long-term work to streamline study paths.
  • The number of doctorates has increased by 43% compared to 2010.
Students 2018

Bachelor’s and master’s degree students

2018

Full-time equivalent students FTE

Bachelor's degrees 2010-2018

Bachelor's degrees

2010–2018

Master's degrees 2010-2018

Master's degrees

2010–2018

The number of master's degrees was exceptionally large in 2010 and small in 2011 due to degree reform in the field of science and technology.

Doctoral degrees 2010-2018

Doctoral degrees

2010–2018

Students 55 ECTS

Students with a minimum of 55 ECTS credits per year (%)

2010–2018

Art and creative practices

  • International prominence in the fields of art, design and architecture continued, with the university receiving a number of awards and recognitions
  • Art and creative practices offer fresh insights for all lines of research and studies.
     

Artistic excellence

Art and design 7th in the world
The QS Rankings put Aalto’s art & design to 7th place worldwide.

25 university-wide art courses
A total of 283 participants from all Aalto schools attended the UWAS courses.

Visibility in important events
Paris Photo, Pitti Uomo, Ars Electronica, Milan Furniture Fair, Venice Architecture Biennale, Chart Copenhagen, Toronto Film Festival.

Significant awards
Apple Design Award, Finlandia Prize for Architecture, Venla and Jussi Awards, Red Dot, Designer's Nest, Hyères.

Fashion Programme at 5th place
The Business of Fashion ranked Aalto's Fashion Programme as 5th globally.

Jenni Haukio's gown
Students designed the gown made of birch-based fabric for Jenni Haukio, spouse of Finnish President, to the Independence Day reception.

    Significant artistic outputs 2018

    Significant artistic outputs in 2018

    Top-ranked significant outputs

    Significant outputs in world's most important artistic forums.

    Other significant outputs

    Other significant artistic outputs.

    Rankings in key research areas

    • Aalto University places high in rankings specific to science, technology, art and business.
    • In 2018, QS placed Aalto in 9th place in the world among universities founded less than 50 years ago.
      Key research areas_all

      Aalto University key research areas

      Click on the arrows to see rankings attached to these areas.

      Key research areas_ICT

      ICT and digitalisation

      • ShanghaiRanking: Telecommunication Engineering 28 (2017: 31)
      • US News: Computer Science 43 (2017: 47)
      Key research areas_Bus

      Global business dynamics

      • ShanghaiRanking: Management 36 (2017: 49)
      • ShanghaiRanking: Business Administration 34 (2017: 51–75)
      Key research areas_Mat

      Materials and sustainable use of natural resources

      • ShanghaiRanking: Mining and Mineral Engineering 51–75 (2017: 46)
      Key research areas_art

      Arts and design knowledge building

      • QS: Art & Design 7 (2018: 9)
      Key research areas_ene

      Advanced energy solutions

      • ShanghaiRanking: Electrical & Electronic Engineering 51–75 (2017: 76–100)
      Key research areas_liv

      Human-centred living environments

      • QS: Architecture/Built Environment 42 (2018: 46)
      Key research areas_hea

      Health and wellbeing

      • ShanghaiRanking: Medical Technology 101–150 (2017: 101–150)

      Campus

      • The long-term campus development programme continued in 2018.
      • Three new buildings were completed: Väre, School of Business and A Bloc shopping centre.
      Developing campus
      Campus spaces 2010-2018

      Facility usage (1000 sqm)

      2010–2018

      Campus costs 2010-2018

      Facility costs (€ million)

      2010–2018

      Sustainability

      • The viewpoints of sustainable development and responsibility are taken into account in teaching, research and other operations.

      • Sustainable development was the topic of 12% of all publications at Aalto in 2018.

      • In addition, numerous research projects are indirectly linked to sustainability via e.g. utilisa

      • Sustainability reports

      Publications_sustainability 2010-2018

      Publications related to sustainability 2018

      Number and share of all publications

      Personnel

      • 40% of the academic faculty is international.
      Personnel structure 2018_new

      Personnel

      2018

      The number of full-time equivalent personnel was 4 052.

      Personnel structure

      Personnel structure

      2010–2018

      2010=100

      Finance

      • The pro forma operative income totalled €347 million.
      • The main sources of income were government funding and project grants.
      Income 2010-2018_new

      Income (€ million)

      2010–2018

      Expences 2010-2018_new

      Expences (€ million)

      2010–2018

      Sources and uses of funds 2018

      Sources and uses of funds 2018

      Annual reports and financial statements

      Aalto University Sustainability Reports

      Aalto University brochure (pdf)

      Aalto University in 2017

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      • Updated: