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, embedded systems, and electrical power and energy engineering. Within these, the available focus areas include electrical grids, electric motor drives, control engineering, robotics, imaging and machine perception as well as smart sensor systems, 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

Master’s Programme in Automation and Electrical Engineering offers three majors:

• Control, Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• Electrical Power and Energy Engineering
• Electronic and Digital Systems

Students should choose their major in the beginning of the programme. If unsure which major to choose, please contact your academic mentor or the Learning Services for advice. The major is confirmed by the approval of the personal study plan (HOPS).

Control, Robotics and Autonomous systems is a multidisciplinary field that creates intelligent systems capable of performing complex tasks especially related to physical environments. The 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, control engineering, robotics, intelligent systems,  smart living environment 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, intelligent systems, control engineering, automation software, factory automation or smart living environment)

Code: ELEC3025
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible Professors: Quan Zhou, Valeriy Vyatkin, Heikki Ihasalo, Ville Kyrki, Joni Pajarinen, Simo Särkkä, Arto Visala, Ivan Vujaklija, Tomasz Kucner, Dominik Baumann, Shankar Deka
Pääaine suomeksi: Säätötekniikka, robotiikka ja autonomiset järjestelmät
Huvudämne på svenska: Reglerteknik, robotik och autonomiska system

^{*Choose only if you haven't studied this course at undergraduate level}  

Students are required to complete a Master's Thesis, which is an individual research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic related to the student's advanced studies and is agreed upon between the student and a supervisor who specializes in the topic area of the thesis. Master’s Thesis work includes a seminar presentation or equivalent presentation. The Master’s Thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed.

Read more under "Thesis".

Students choose 25/30 credits of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete a minor and/or take individual courses. Students can freely choose a minor or individual courses of their interest to complement the content of their major or to expand knowledge beyond one’s main field of study. Interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial courses are encouraged. 

Minor is selected from the list of available minors in the academic catalogue.

Individual courses may include 

• courses from any field offered in Aalto

• Studies form other Finnish Universities 

• Studies completed during exchange studies abroad 

• Practical training credits (max 5 ECTS)

Read more under “other studies”

In general, elective studies must be university or university of applied sciences level studies. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the programme and the aims of the master of science (technology) degree. 

Studies in the master’s programme should provide students with new knowledge. Studies that overlap or have similar content with studies that are included in student’s bachelor’s degree primarily cannot be included in master’s degree. 

Compulsory language 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).

Electrical power and energy systems form the backbone of societies. This major offers a firm theoretical base as well as practical skills for engineers working in the field of electrical power and energy engineering. The field includes sustainable generation, transmission, distribution, and utilisation of electrical power, as well as power-conversion devices such as motors, generators, and power-electronic converters and their control. To prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems, the major is designed to be flexible, and a systems perspective is emphasised. This major prepares students for current and future challenges faced by electrical energy and network companies, power manufacturing industry, and society. Students are also well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.

Upon completion of the major, the student will be able to:  
•    Identify fundamental aspects of electrical energy systems
•    Develop applications for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation 
•    Analyse and evaluate existing and future challenges in the field of electrical power and energy engineering 
•    Design and analyse power systems or energy conversion devices  
•    Understand in depth one of the focus areas: electric powertrains, energy storage and hydrogen, power and energy systems, renewable energy, smart buildings and lighting

Code: ELEC3024
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible professors: Marko Hinkkanen, Matti Lehtonen, Anouar Belahcen, Jorma Kyyrä, Mervi Paulasto-Kröckel, Edris Pouresmaeil, Mahdi Pourakbari Kasmaei, Zhengmao Li
Pääaine suomeksi: Sähköenergiatekniikka
Huvudämne på svenska: Elkraftteknik

^{*in odd years
**in even yearsin odd years}

Students are required to complete a Master's Thesis, which is an individual research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic related to the student's advanced studies and is agreed upon between the student and a supervisor who specializes in the topic area of the thesis. Master’s Thesis work includes a seminar presentation or equivalent presentation. The Master’s Thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed.

Read more under "Thesis".

Students choose 25/30 credits of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete a minor and/or take individual courses. Students can freely choose a minor or individual courses of their interest to complement the content of their major or to expand knowledge beyond one’s main field of study. Interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial courses are encouraged. 

Minor is selected from the list of available minors in the academic catalogue.

Individual courses may include 

• courses from any field offered in Aalto

• Studies form other Finnish Universities 

• Studies completed during exchange studies abroad 

• Practical training credits (max 5 ECTS)

Read more under “other studies”

In general, elective studies must be university or university of applied sciences level studies. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the programme and the aims of the master of science (technology) degree.

Studies in the master’s programme should provide students with new knowledge. Studies that overlap or have similar content with studies that are included in student’s bachelor’s degree primarily cannot be included in master’s degree. 

Compulsory language 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).

Electronic and Digital Systems (EDS) is a multidisciplinary major focusing on embedded systems and system level design, especially for intelligent, sustainable, and autonomous devices. Application areas include, for example, automotive industry, mobile systems, and health technology. The major considers autonomous embedded systems, self-sustained smart sensor systems, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), heterogeneous integration of 
sensors to System on Chip (SoC), data synthesis, and real-time decision making. EDS emphasizes the research, development, and commercialization process of transferring results from fundamental studies into functional products and services. 

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

• Identify the sustainability, safety, and lifecycle aspects of hardware and software technology choices.  
• Analyze multi-physics (thermal, electrical, and mechanical) properties of electronic systems. 
• Apply and design data processing chains and methodologies using signal processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI).  
• Translate results from basic research into functional electronic and digital systems.

Code: ELEC3060
Credits: 65 ECTS
Responsible Professors: Simo Särkkä, Mervi Paulasto-Kröckel, Erkki Ikonen, Ilkka Laakso, Ivan Vujaklija, Valeriy Vyatkin
Pääaine suomeksi: Elektroniset ja digitaaliset järjestelmät
Huvudämne på svenska: Elektroniska och digitaliska system

Students are required to complete a Master's Thesis, which is an individual research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic related to the student's advanced studies and is agreed upon between the student and a supervisor who specializes in the topic area of the thesis. Master’s Thesis work includes a seminar presentation or equivalent presentation. The Master’s Thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed.

Read more under "Thesis".

Students choose 25/30 credits of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete a minor and/or take individual courses. Students can freely choose a minor or individual courses of their interest to complement the content of their major or to expand knowledge beyond one’s main field of study. Interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial courses are encouraged. 

Minor is selected from the list of available minors in the academic catalogue.

Individual courses may include 

• courses from any field offered in Aalto

• Studies form other Finnish Universities 

• Studies completed during exchange studies abroad 

• Practical training credits (max 5 ECTS)

Read more under “other studies”

In general, elective studies must be university or university of applied sciences level studies. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the programme and the aims of the master of science (technology) degree. 

Studies in the master’s programme should provide students with new knowledge. Studies that overlap or have similar content with studies that are included in student’s bachelor’s degree primarily cannot be included in master’s degree. 

Compulsory language 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).