The Master's Programme in Automation and Electrical Engineering is a broad multi-disciplinary study programme providing graduates with the ability to work in and between a wide variety of fields ranging from traditional electrical engineering and energy sector to biomedical engineering and robotics. Drawing from a strong mathematical and natural science basis, the curriculum is flexible, allowing each student to compile her/his own unique combination of courses according to her/his own interests.

The main fields of the programme are automation, biomedical engineering, and electrical power and energy engineering. Within these, the available focus areas include electrical grids, electric motor drives, lighting technology, control engineering, robotics, embedded systems, imaging and machine perception as well as microsystems, new hybrid carbon nanomaterials, and personalized health care.

To prepare the graduates for their future work with large and often complex systems, the programme includes several practical project works in groups which provide skills for solving multifaceted and ill-defined problems similar to those faced in the actual professional life. These projects typically include experimental and practical components as well as fundamental theoretical aspects. The programme also gives the student a comprehensive foundation for doctoral studies.

The programme features three Majors, all of which offer several study paths. The learning outcome of the Master’s programme and its Majors are as follows:

Upon completion of the program the student will be able to

• Apply acquired skills for industrial tasks as well as academic research
• Develop and manage complex and multidisciplinary problems
• Design and perform research in the respective fields of the programme
• Design real-time systems and their related information and communication operations
• Work individually and as a part of a project team
• Understand technology-based entrepreneurship

Course codes in the School of Electrical Engineering are formed as follows:

ABBREVIATION - LETTER - NUMBER SEQUENCE

The different parts of the course code are determined in the following way:

Abbreviation

All course codes start with the abbreviation ELEC.

Letter

A = Bachelor-level basic studies (common basic studies of the bachelor's programme)

C = Bachelor-level major studies (studies towards the major)

D = Complementary studies for the master's degree (fall between bachelor's and master's studies)

E = Master-level studies (all master-level studies)

L = Post-graduate (licentiate and doctoral-level) studies

Some master-level courses can be included in the licentiate or doctoral degree. These courses have the letter "L" after the course name.

Letter V after the course name refers to course with varying content. It means the contents of the course varies and the students can do the course multiple times.

Number sequence

The first digit of the sequence indicates the department that offers the course:

0 = School's common studies

3 = Department of Micro and Nanosciences

4 = Department of Radio Science and Engineering

5 = Department of Signal Processing and Acoustics

7 = Department of Communications and Networking

8 = Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation

The three last digits of the sequence are decided by the Departments themselves.

Example

ELEC-E8102   indicates a Master-level course offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, for which the department has given the sequential number  031 .

Code: ELEC3025
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible Professors: Quan Zhou, Valeriy Vyatkin, Themistoklis Charalambous, Tommi Karhela, Ville Kyrki,  Simo Särkkä, Arto Visala

Pääaine suomeksi: Säätötekniikka, robotiikka ja autonomiset järjestelmät
Huvudämne på svenska: Reglerteknik, robotik och autonomiska system

Control, Robotics and Autonomous Systems major provides a strong basis in control engineering and automation, allowing a student then to specialize in a particular area of interest such as factory automation, robotics, smart systems, or industrial software systems. Central topics for all students include modelling, estimation and control of dynamical systems, as well as embedded systems and software for modern automation systems. Most courses include theory as well as its application in practice.  Upon completion of the Major, the student will be able to:

• Understand the need for automation
• Design models and controllers  for dynamical systems
• Analyze properties of and dynamics of systems
• Design industrial software applications
• Understand in depth one of the focus areas (robotics, smart systems, control engineering, automation software, or factory automation)

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course} 

Optional courses: choose 25 ECTS - pre-designed study paths are available to support study planning

Code: ELEC3024
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible professors: Marko Hinkkanen, Matti Lehtonen, Antero Arkkio, Anouar Belahcen, Jorma Kyyrä, Seppo Ovaska, Mervi Paulasto-Kröckel, Edris Pouresmaeil

Pääaine suomeksi: Sähköenergiatekniikka
Huvudämne på svenska: Elkraftteknik

Electrical power and energy systems form the backbone of societies. Intelligent systems, spanning from production to end-user, ensure optimal utilisation of resources — minimal impact on environment, maximal benefits for society. This major offers a firm theoretical base as well as practical tools and skills needed by engineers working on the field of electrical power and energy engineering. The field includes transmission, distribution, smart grid, and sustainable generation and utilisation of electrical power, as well as power-conversion devices such as motors, generators, and power-electronic converters. In order to prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems of the field, the major is designed to be flexible and a systems perspective is emphasised. Courses include theoretical considerations, experimental work, industrial applications, and first-hand experience in real research environments. This major prepares students for current and future challenges faced by electrical energy and network companies, power manufacturing industry, and society. Students are well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies. Upon completion of the Major, the student will be able to:

• Identify fundamental aspects and considerations for electrical energy systems
• Develop applications for energy efficiency, integration of renewables, and distributed generation
• Analyze and evaluate existing and future challenges in the field of electrical power and energy engineering
• Design and analyze power systems or energy conversion devices
• Understand in depth one of the focus areas (electromechanics, power electronic systems, power systems, or sustainable electrical energy)

Optional courses: choose 25 ECTS - pre-designed study paths are available to support study planning

Code: ELEC3023
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible Professors: Simo Särkkä, Mervi Paulasto-Kröckel, Pekka Eskelinen, Heikki Ihasalo, Erkki Ikonen, Ilkka Laakso, Tomi Laurila (updated 1.2.2021)

Pääaine suomeksi: Translationaalinen tekniikka
Huvudämne på svenska: Translationell teknik

Translational engineering is a multidisciplinary major dealing with ubiquitous electronics and microsystems from health care and medical technology to “smart everything” at workplace and home. The major provides the student interdisciplinary knowledge from microtechnologies, new materials, and ICT. Translational engineering also emphasizes the process of transferring results from fundamental studies into innovations and functional products. There are four study paths within the major, which are (I) Health and Wellbeing, (II) Smart System Integration, (III) Smart Living Environment, and (IV) Measurement Science and Technology. Students will be well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.

Upon completion of the Major, the student will be able to:

• translate the application needs into technical requirements;
• understand the design and fabrication principles of electronic devices and systems;
• command the tools needed in the development of product innovations;
• design new devices, for example, in the fields of bioelectronics and smart systems;
• understand in depth one of the focus areas (health and wellbeing, smart system integration, smart living environment or measurement science and technology)

^{*Year = The year students are expected to study the course} 

Optional courses: choose courses to complete 65 ECTS in major. 
- Courses from the above compulsory list may also be included
- Pre-designed study paths are available to support study planning

Students choose 25 credits of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete a minor and/or take individual courses. Individual elective courses can also be taken from other programmes at Aalto University or other Finnish universities through Flexible Study Right (JOO).

Entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary Aalto studies are recommended. Foreign students are encouraged to take Finnish courses.

Also studies completed abroad during student exchange can be included in the elective studies (exchange studies can also form an international minor or be included in the major). Work experience completed in Finland or abroad can also be included in Elective Studies.

Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree for students who have studied in Finland and whose language of education is Finnish or Swedish. If the language studies have not been completed in the student’s Bachelor’s degree, the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.

Students who have received their education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or received their education abroad, are required to complete only 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center. There students who have received their education abroad and  who already have excellent command of English (e.g. English as their first language) may choose 3 credits of Finnish courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree. If this applies to you, please contact your school’s Learning Services for further advice, as different schools have different procedures for validating this exemption.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS).

Students are required to complete a Master's thesis, which is a research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic usually related to the student's major and agreed upon between the student and a professor who specializes in the topic of the thesis. The supervisor of the thesis is a professor or university lecturer at Aalto University. The thesis advisor(s) can be from a company or from another university. The thesis advisor(s) must have at least a Master’s degree.

Master’s thesis work includes a seminar presentation or equivalent presentation. The student is also required to write a maturity essay related to the Master’s thesis.

The Master’s thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed.

See also Completing your master's thesis under Planning your studies.