The degree is valued and the studies prepare well for working life

Masters of Arts and Technology are satisfied with their studies: 85% of them would recommend studies to others. 80% of the respondents feel that the abilities and skills learned at the university are well suited to working life and 84% feel that the requirements of working life correspond to the academic qualifications.

91 % of the graduates were employed or were entrepreneurs five years after graduation, and 6% were given a grant. 81% of the respondents were satisfied with their career so far.

They consider self-direction, ability to learn and adopt new things, co-operation skills, stress tolerance, creativity and problem-solving skills to be the most important knowledge and skills in current job.

The respondents to last year's survey were masters who graduated from the School of Arts, Design and Architecture in 2015. Their professional titles include architect, graphic designer, designer, producer, photographer, lecturer in fine arts, art director, illustrator, landscape architect, project architect, interior architect and visual designer.

A quarter of the graduates works in small or medium-sized companies. Municipalities employ 17% of the respondents and 15% work as entrepreneurs. Large companies employ 15% of the career monitoring survey respondents of 2015.

A new survey will be launched to 2016 Masters and 2018 Doctors

School of Arts, Design and Architecture monitors closely how teaching and degrees meet the changing skills needs in future working life. Responses to career development surveys, conducted five years after graduation, also have an impact on the university funding received from the Ministry of Education and Culture. Information on graduates' career paths is also valuable for the future students in planning their studies and careers.

Career development monitoring is conducted as a part of a national survey on academic graduates with the Aarresaari Career Services network representing 13 Finnish universities.

This year the request to participate in the survey will be sent to the graduates in 2016 with a master's degree and in 2018 with a doctorate. The survey will start on October 4 and the invitation to the survey can be received by e-mail, mail or text message.

Thank you for everyone taking the time to answer the survey!

Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture will send a career development survey by e-mail, text message or mail to all 2016 Masters and 2018 PhDs. The survey can be answered from October 4 to December 13, 202.

More information:

Riikka Heinonen
Manager, Career Services and Alumni Engagement
Aalto University Advancement and Corporate Engagement
riikka.heinonen@aalto.fi