Programme director: Maaria Nordman

Urbanization, environmental crises, use of natural resources, security, and migration are examples of complex problems where location plays an essential role. Our ability to measure, model, analyse, and visualize these complex phenomena is a key in understanding them and help solving the problems. Geoinformatics represents the real world using digital models. These models allow us to better understand and simulate various processes of the world, providing valuable information for the society. Geoinformatics adds value to many fields of sciences, such as environmental sciences, forest sciences, urban science, archaeology, and construction sciences, just to name a few. Geoinformatics helps the decision makers, planners and engineers to prepare for the future, and design better cities and environments that are more sustainable and good places to live.

The Programme is student-centered, making use of our students’ varied backgrounds. Our field is diverse and you have several possibilities to pursue your career. Our programme takes you close to the working life, by providing you possibilities to interact and work with companies and the public sector, either as a part of our project courses, or when doing your MSc thesis. To ensure that you will study things that you are thrilled about, you can design your own study path. Your academic advisor will assist you to recognize your strengths and interests, which enable you to optimize your personal study plan.
The Master’s programme in Geoinformatics provides you many exciting opportunities to work in various fields combining different aspects of geoinformatics, read more from here: https://foto.aalto.fi/geoinformatics_Aalto2.pdf

Learning outcomes

The Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics aims to educate enlightened professionals in geoinformatics. The programme is interdisciplinary and integrates engineering applications with the environmental and other sciences and teaches the most advanced techniques in geographic information acquisition, processing, analysis, and visualization. Graduates have knowledge of all scientific subfields of geoinformatics – namely geodesy, photogrammetry, laser scanning, Earth observation, and spatial data science – and are competent in one or more of them. They are familiar with the state-of-the-art theories and techniques of the discipline and are able to apply mathematical, computational and visualization skills to the tasks of geoinformatics.

Graduates can identify user requirements in geoinformatics, and assess the uncertainties, accuracy and reliability concerning spatial data and its use. They are able to apply spatial thinking, system’s thinking, and analytical thinking to solve complex real-world challenges using geographical and computational approaches. Graduates understand and can apply spatial data collection methods, spatial data processing tools, spatial data management tools, spatial algorithms, and relevant software. They can summarize the process of the scientific method and apply their methodological and scientific skills to create new knowledge and applications related to geoinformatics. Graduates can perform essential working-life skills, including writing, presentation and project management skills, and are able to work both independently and as members of a team.

Common studies (compulsory courses, 30  cr)

 Advanced studies (select 30 cr from courses below)

Course descriptions for the academic years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 (pdf).

The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the degree programme.

The topic and the language of the master’s thesis are approved by the school upon application by the student; the school also appoints a thesis supervisor and one or two thesis advisors for it. The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University. 
The topic of the master’s thesis remains valid for one year.

The master's thesis includes a presentation and maturity test. 

Further instructions on the master’s thesis and the related process from Completing master's thesis.   

For your free elective studies module you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites.
   
The structure of your Master’s Programme is designed so that you are able to study your major studies i.e. common and advanced courses during the first year. This leaves the second year for elective courses and Master’s thesis. It also makes it easy for you to go for student exchange during the second year.
Alternatively, you can deepen your expertise by taking more of our advanced courses as elective courses, or broaden your expertise by choosing courses from Aalto’s other programmes or from different universities.
The choice for elective studies is yours: the most important thing is that your elective studies complement your major studies, and provide you with expertise that you personally feel important and inspiring for your career.  
Please note that the total number of credits for a master's degree (major studies, elective studies and master's thesis) may not exceed 125 cr.

You can complete a minor subject and include it in elective studies. Please note that if you want to have a minor it needs to be master level minor. Please see the list of all minors offered by Aalto University under Minors.  

You can also include max 5 credits of practical training (ENG-E1010 Practical training) in your elective studies.  You can find information on practical trainingon this page (MyCourses).

Please note GISwap studies:

We have arranged a special opportunity for the students in the Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics to take following courses from the University of Helsinki:

Applications for courses are made using the e-form(University of Helsinki)
Questions related to studies at HY should be addressed to [email protected]

Please note: Studies completed outside Aalto University are graded "Pass" when credits are transferred.
Courses completed at the Helsinki University are transferred to Aalto University by using the credit transfer application. For more information: https://www.aalto.fi/en/applications-instructions-and-guidelines/substitution-and-inclusion-of-studies-on-sisu
 

Requirements of language studies

Language studies (min 3 cr) are a compulsory part of the Master’s degree (elective studies module) if they have not been completed as part of the Bachelor’s degree.
For international students, Finnish and Swedish language courses are highly recommended for elective studies.

According to Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004), student shall demonstrate proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations under subsection 1 of section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) andt hat is necessary for their own field; and proficiency in at least one foreign language that enablesstudents to monitor progress in their own field and operate in an international setting.

Students with Finnish Bachelor's degree

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.

Other students

Students who have received their education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or received their education abroad, are required to complete 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.
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 or Swedish (basic level) courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree.

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

Please find more information about language courses and information about learning languages from the Language Centre of Aalto University.

Academic years 2022-2023, 2023-2024

Academic years 2020-2021, 2021-2022

Academic years 2018-2019, 2019-2020

Academic year 2017-2018

 Academic year 2016-2017