Finland is consistently ranked as the happiest country in the world by the World Happiness Report.
The key factors that contribute to the happiness and well-being of Finns seem to be the constant closeness to nature, a slower way of living, work-life balance, low hierarchies and trust in society.
This course introduces participants to the science of happiness and well-being, with a focus on Finnish and Nordic insights. During the two weeks, you will explore what research says about happiness, discuss these findings, and, most importantly, put these findings into practice in your own life.
The course combines theoretical frameworks and practical applications to provide students with actionable strategies for improving well-being in their personal and professional lives. As a scientific community, we have gained valuable insights into what contributes to happiness and how to use that knowledge to improve our lives and inform policies that promote well-being for ourselves and those around us.
Through lectures, discussions, and independent group work, participants will explore key antecedents of well-being and evidence-based interventions to improve well-being.
Frank Steuer took the Happiness Science from Finland summer course at Aalto University Summer School to explore a topic he was already passionate about: combining happiness and self-development with both lifestyle and successful entrepreneurship.
Summer School in Happiness Science gave Junko Motohashi a reason to slow down and reflect on her
personal life and career.
Ashish Thapliyal teaches the brand new summer course by Aalto University Summer School; Happiness Science from Finland. We had a chat with Ashish to find out whether happiness can truly be taught.
18 – 29 January 2027: Lecture weeks on-site at Aalto University campus
| WEEK 1 | Monday 18 January | Tuesday 19 January | Wednesday 20 January | Thursday 21 January | Friday 22 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning (9-12) | Welcome and Registrations What is Well-being? |
Foundations of Well-being | Relationships | Autonomy | Mind, Body&Nature |
| Afternoon (13-16) |
| WEEK 2 | Monday 25 January | Tuesday 26 January | Wednesday 27 January | Thursday 28 January | Friday 29 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning (9-12) | Life Experiences | Designing for Happiness | Challenges to Happiness | Nordic Insights | Reflection |
| Afternoon (13-16) |
*Note that this is a preliminary schedule subject to change
Alongside the lectures, students have independent work, either in groups or individually. Students can coordinate with their teammates to complete these assignments outside of teaching hours.
The total workload of the course includes both contact lectures and the estimated amount of independent work. Some of the courses also have pre- or post-assignments included in the independent working hours.
-> Find the total course workload here
This course does not require previous experience in the topic.
Participants must have completed a high school or vocational degree or equivalent by the time the course starts. However, they do not have to be a degree student at a university to participate in our courses.
Additionally, all summer school course students must be 18 years or older, as it is the legal age in Finland.
After completing the course you will be able to:
The course employs interactive teaching methods to ensure active student participation and engagement.
• Morning Lectures: Theoretical concepts, empirical evidence, and practical strategies. Each lecture begins with a ”check-in” discussion where students reflect on independent work and group challenges.
• Independent Group Work: Students work in small groups to apply course concepts and develop collaborative deliverables.
• Learning Diary: Students maintain a daily learning diary to reflect on daily lessons, activities, and group work challenges, which they submit at the end of the course.
Course workload
Pre-assignment 5h
Contact sessions (lectures, workshops) 30h
Group work (independent, unsupervised) 9h
Personal reflection/learning diary (independent) 10h
Total 54h (2 ECTS)
The course is graded as pass/fail.
Please include a motivation letter or video in your application. In your motivation letter or video, describe your motivation for taking this course. The recommended length for the motivation letter is 150-250 words and 1-2 minutes for the video.
Tuition fees for Winter School courses
One course: 1270€ (incl. VAT 25,5%)
Social program fee
More information about the social program coming soon!
If you need a visa, we recommend applying by October 15th 2026.
Learn about the Aalto University Summer School cancellation terms. You will receive the full terms before making the payment and confirming the course participation.
Ashish Thapliyal is a doctoral researcher at Aalto University, specializing in happiness and well-being in the context of future work trends. His research focuses on the impact of flexible working practices on employee happiness. Ashish holds three MSc degrees: Communication Engineering (Aalto University), Strategy (Aalto University), and Behavioral Science (LSE). He has 19 years of industry experience and brings a rich, interdisciplinary perspective to well-being research.
The latest research from Aalto offers a variety of possible explanations.
The application period for Winter School 2027 runs from 15 September to 15 November 2026.
Ashish Thapliyal teaches ‘the science of happiness’.
Get to know the application guidelines and tuition fees.
