Exchange application instructions
Instructions for applying for exchange.
Student Guide
The main content of this page concerns the application and selection process for student exchanges, the studies to be carried out in the exchange, the recognition of exchange studies as part of a degree and the student exchange grants awarded by Aalto University.
Below you will find a general summary of the terms and principles. Please check all possible details for the principles of Aalto University's international student exchange pdf-file. The file can be found from the bottom of the page in Finnish, English and Swedish.
Please read the sections below carefully so that you will know how you will be eligible for exchange and what will be required of you when applying for exchange.
The policy of student exchange concerns the exchanges of Aalto University's bachelor- and master's degree students, and in the case of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, also doctoral students. The policy coversteh exchanges to Aalto Univeristy's partner universities, and in addition so-called free mover exchanges. The principles are followed in the International Business Program of the School of Business (Mikkeli Campus) and the CEMS Program, as applicable. Exchanges are divided by field of study (arts, business, and technology).
School-specific differences are specified in the summary. Exchange destinations may also have their own exceptions and application conditions that differ from Aalto University's policy.
As an applicant, you will be required to have the following minimum averages at the time specified in theapplication schedule:
The minimum average is checked for the studies used in the calculation of the study success index.
More information about available exchange places on Exchange destinations -page.
[number of credits] x [credit-weighted grade point average]) / number of academic semesters enrolled as an attending student (not including the current semester at the time of application)
Supplementary information about the calculation of the academic index, exchanges 2023-24 onwards, all schools:
The academic index is calculated based on the studies that have been entered into the Aalto student register by the deadline indicated in the application schedule and have been completed while the current field’s (technology, business, or arts) study right has been valid. The GPA of these studies and semesters are counted towards the academic index. The field of the applied exchange place determines which studies are taken into concideration.
If you have changed your study right from one bachelor's degree programme to another bachelor's degree programme on the same field (e.g. from ENG to SCI), the credits and semesters that you have completed during the expired study right will not be taken into consideration.
If you have a study right in e.g. School of Business and one of the technical schools, and you apply to School of Business exchange place, the academic index is calculated from studies completed after your School of Business study right has started.
If you have graduated as bachelor and changed to another master level study right within the same field, the credits and semesters of the bachelor degree are taken into consideration
Credits completed before the start of the study right will not be taken into consideration, unless the student has been admitted to Aalto University based on studies completed in the Open University.
BIZ: 60 ECTS of credits completed in the Open University that were basis of admittance are taken into consideration. Two semesters are added to the semesters when calculating the academic index. The student must inform about the Open University studies in the application.
CHEM, ELEC, ENG, SCI: 27 ECTS of credits completed in the Open University that were basis of admittance are taken into consideration in the calculation. One semester is added to the semesters when calculating the academic index. The student must inform about the Open University studies in the application.
If you have previously enrolled as a non-attending student, those semesters will not be taken into consideration when your academic index is calculated.
Note: If the destination university has a GPA eligibility requirement, the GPA is checked from Aalto University transcript (GPA of all studies in the transcript).
Eligibility criteria
The Aalto University liability waiver on international mobility applies to all students who have been selected for an outgoing exchange. The waiver defines the responsibilities of outgoing exchange student. Aalto University or the exchange institution may cancel or discontinue an exchange period for justifiable reasons. The waiver is included as an appendix to the Aalto University policy on international student exchange.
Instructions for applying for exchange.
Information about exchange scholarships.