Welcome to School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Congratulations for the admission and welcome to study at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture! On this page you will find instructions for starting your studies and the Orientation programme. The page will be updated as necessary during the summer of 2026.
Checklist for starting your studies in August before the Orientation Week
- If you have not yet enrolled as an attending student at Aalto University, do it now, or by 28th August 2026 at the latest. If you don´t enroll as an attending or a non-attending student during the enrolment period, by 28th August 2026 at the latest, you will lose your right to study.
- If you have not yet activated your Aalto account, do it now.
- If you have not yet completed the Pre-Orientation in MyCourses, do it now.
- Read carefully the email sent in early August about Starting Your Studies. This email is sent to your personal email address.
- Have you received a contact from your tutor? If you haven't received a contact and want to be part of a tutor group, send an email to: studentservices@aalto.fi
- Start familiarizing yourself with your programme’s curriculum, recommended study timetable, and instructions on how to register for courses. Information and instructions can be found in the Starting Your Studies email sent in August.
- Join Orientation Week, 24–28 August 2026!
Tutoring in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Each new student is assigned a student tutor who has completed tutor training. Your contact information will be forwarded to the tutor so they can reach out to you during the summer. If you do not know who your tutor is, you can contact: studentservices@aalto.fi
Tutors are responsible for providing peer support to new students, guiding them into student life at Aalto University, and directing new students to the Student services. In tutoring groups, students will also learn about activities offered by organizations such as TOKYO and AYY. Your tutor will be your first contact for both academic matters and student life, so enjoy the Orientation week with your tutor group!
Digital Pre-Orientation
Once you have activated your Aalto IT account, you can complete the Digital Pre-Orientation. In the Digital Pre-Orientation, you will learn how to navigate our campus and receive essential information for starting your studies. The Digital Pre-Orientation is mandatory for all new students. The link to the Digital Pre-Orientation is below:
Digital Pre-Orientation 2026 in MyCourses
Orientation week
The orientation week will be held on 24 - 28 August 2026. Prepare to be present daily at 9-16. The first courses will begin on Monday 31 August.
Participating in Orientation is an important part of starting university studies. During the orientation week, you will familiarize yourself with studying, future courses, the study environment, and university practices. You will also receive information about the available services and get to know your fellow students, tutors, and university staff.
Opening of the academic year 2026–2027 aka Aalto Day One event will take place on Tuesday 1 September. All members of the Aalto community are welcome to celebrate!
DVV for International students
DVV (Digital and population data services agency) pop-up registration point on Thu 27.8. & Fri 28.8. & Fri 4.9. Please, read here further information.
HSL on Campus
The HSL (Helsinki Region Transport) pop-up service point is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10.00 to 16.00 at the main lobby of the Undergraduate Centre (Otakaari 1). At the service point, you can obtain or update a HSL card. Please note, that at the service point you cannot top up your travel card, but that can be done at a ticket machine or sales point.