Aalto Media Lab

Studies

There are a number of ways to partake in the studies here at the lab. We offer three full-time two-year Major subjects, shorter thematic Minor subject studies at the MA level, Doctoral studies and even some opportunities to visit us as an exchange student.
Studies in the Media Lab / Xmas Demo Day

Regardless of which avenue of study you choose, our curriculum gives you access to many good courses, nice facilities for production and a collegial atmosphere of international staff and students. We like people to get involved and contribute to our community and therefore we don’t necessarily accept visiting students who wish to pick just a few courses at the lab, but welcome people of varying backgrounds to apply if you are interested to join us.

The common theme of our study programs is summed up in our mission statement: “The mission of the Media Lab is to explore, discover and comprehend the new digital technology and its impact in society; to find and exploit the possibilities it opens to communication, interaction and expression and to evaluate, understand and deal with the challenges it poses to design and creative publication.”

Our design school context also places a high value on the quality of our art, design and media production as well as the end-user/viewer experience. This concern for the individual person’s experience of a product or a production is indeed important to us and, in many ways, sets us apart from many more technically oriented schools.

MA Study Programmes

The studies of the Media Lab are characterized by collaboration in an experimental and critical environment in which interaction and work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams occurs on a wide scale between students and staff as well as with students of other faculties and institutions. By nature studies in ’new media’ emphasize emerging fields and practices and related tools and technologies for communication, creative production and distribution. In practice graduates of the Media Lab tend to become employed in ’new’ roles and ’emerging professions’ within the broad gamut of the new media industry, as well as in related research and development activities.

During the studies students are expected to get familiar with a variety of tools, and to understand the fundamental characteristics of digital media as well as the specific of their major subject.

Academic communication and writing are a part of the studies, and more research courses can be chosen if the student is planning to become a researcher. Students and researchers are encouraged to network internationally and have an option to spend a part of their studies abroad through any of our exchange programmes.

MA in New Media  is a 120 ECTS programme subject focusing on art and design in different areas of interactive media, with three separate major subjects. The education is project-oriented, combining practice with theory, hands-on with minds-on. The project modules emphasise interdisciplinary and collaborative work, while individual skills are studied in the tools & skills modules, in workshops and through tutored studio work. 

The programme is fully taught in English, and students can write their thesis in Finnish, Swedish or English.  

The students can also continue their studies to doctoral degree, e.g. by doing (part of) their research in research groups at the Department of Media.

Minor Studies

Minor subject studies in Media Lab offer an opportunity for MA level students from various fields to enhance and deepen their professional skills in a multidisciplinary design and research environment, in collaboration with students and professionals of new media design and production.

For the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 we offer four minor subject packages: New media design and production, DVD, SOiN and Games. Our minor subject packages are 15 cp or 25 cp. Participation in the minor subject studies can also offer opportunities for additional collaboration in our research projects or further studies.

JOOPAS-application time for people studying in other Finnish universities is 1.-30.4. Apply here. (No autumn applications, spring only!) Application period for internal/Aalto mobility will be open 15.-31.5.2018 in eAge. Instructions for applying: https://into.aalto.fi/display/ensivuaineet2018/

Your study plan (HOPS) is an obligatory attachment in the minor subject application.

If the minor you want to apply a study right for is not listed in eAge in the menu ”Minor subject applied for”, please choose ”Other minor” and write the name (and the code) of the minor you are applying the study right for in the field “Name of the unlisted minor subject”.

Minor subject study areas 2019-2020

DA Studies

Doctoral studies allow individuals to develop and carry on their own research towards the degree of Doctor of Art (in Art and Design), as offered by the School of Art, Design and Architecture at Aalto University.

Candidates are also encouraged to make use of the opportunities for participation in doctoral-level studies, seminars and workshops that are provided through Schools in Aalto University as well as participate in national and international networks and doctoral schools.

Application procedure

The application deadline is annually on 31 March. Further information about the application procedures and the research plan can be found in: https://into.aalto.fi/display/enopinnot/Doctoral+programmes

In practice

Doctoral students may participate in courses aimed for doctoral students and, to a certain extent, those for MA students in the Media Lab, as well as to some offered in other departments and universities in Finland. Registering credits should be discussed with the professor in charge of the doctoral studies. Every doctoral student should have at least one advisor who is himself/herself a doctor.

Faculty

Teaching faculty supervising the doctoral studies are experienced research professionals from different international backgrounds.

The program is coordinated by Prof, DA Lily Díaz.

Doctoral students

Students enrolled in the doctoral studies are talented professionals from a variety of disciplines and countries. Since September 2016 they’re listed  in the Aalto University’s ACRIS research database, which hosts current information on their projects.

More info: [email protected]

Latest Theses

The theses from the Media Lab are on public display at the Aalto University library as well as some of the latest ones also online. First recorded theses are from 1997 up to this date.

Read more
Theses from the Media Lab

Apply to Media Lab

Media Lab at the Department of Media offers interdisciplinary studies in design and production of new media, games and sound. Also various areas and amounts of design, arts, computer science, communication, cognitive science, sociology etc. are present during your studies in Media Lab.

In short, we require applicants to have a prior degree (at least BA, BSc or equivalent), preferably with previous experience in group work using digital media tools and an ability to function in an international, mainly English language-based environment. We also ask for commitment, as work here is done mainly in projects, not by dropping in for exams.

A group of students representing a variety of skills, backgrounds and talents are chosen every spring. The process consists of these steps: a written application which describes your background, experience and motivation, followed by a set of assignments and finally, an interview which also includes a portfolio pitch. For more information, look for information via the Aalto University Admissions page. 

Apply to Media Lab

Media Lab at the Department of Media offers interdisciplinary studies in design and production of new media, games and sound. Also various areas and amounts of design, arts, computer science, communication, cognitive science, sociology etc. are present during your studies in Media Lab.

Department of Media Demo Day

Apply to DA studies (external link)

The main purpose of doctoral education at the Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture is to teach the doctoral candidate to create new knowledge via scentific and artistic methods and theories. Admission to the Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture is organized annually in March for studies starting in September.

Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees in 2013 at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Head of Sound in New Media

Head of Game Design & Production

Miikka Junnila

Miikka Junnila

Lecturer
A806 Department of Art and Media

Head of New Media Design & Production

Markku Reunanen

Markku Reunanen

Senior University Lecturer
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