Society looks to mechanical engineering for effective and safe solutions in energy production, traffic and transportation, environmental protection, durable natural resource management, production technology, and all kinds of machinery in housing, wellness, recreation, and even medical technology. These fields will continue to bring challenges and widespread opportunities for innovation. To excel at the resulting jobs will require both creativity and a rigorously analytical mindset. We aim to educate such excellent professionals.

In Mechanical Engineering studies at Aalto University, students specialize in arctic technology, engineering materials, marine technology, mechatronics, product development, production engineering, solid mechanics, or a combination of these. Specializing provides the student with detailed knowledge of the current methods and applications in the field, as well as some knowledge of recent research and developments, and with skills to further advance the state of the art. Aalto University is an international environment, and students may complete part of their studies abroad.

Every student completing the programme understands the principles and methods of mechanics in engineering, and their practical applications. Our graduates know how to solve engineering problems in their chosen area of specialization, and they correctly apply a combination of creativity, systematic analysis, computational tools, and critical judgement to such tasks. As students in an international environment, they learned to justify their choices and methods, communicate clearly and collaborate effectively. They can articulate how their own unique professional profile equips them to contribute productively in any setting. Our students also appreciate the economic, environmental, and societal context in which their work is important.

The degree structure comprises 60 credits of major studies, 30 credits of free electives, and 30 credits for the master’s thesis. Within the major studies, there are 30 credits of common studies and 30 credits of advanced studies. The common studies consist of the Mechanical Engineering in Society course, one of three common studies project courses catering to different study paths, and 20 credits selected from the common studies courses. The courses making up the 30 credits of advanced studies in Mechanical Engineering may be selected from any combination of topic groups’ offerings as well as the common studies courses. Elective studies may consist of courses from Mechanical Engineering, from other degree programmes in the School of Engineering, or from other Schools in Aalto. The programme is completed with a Master’s degree thesis.

Topic groups and study paths

Reflecting the organization of research in the department, advanced courses in Mechanical Engineering are offered under various topic groups. Students may freely combine courses from different topic groups, as long as course-specific prerequisites are satisfied. Prerequisites are presented in WebOodi’s course descriptions (oodi.aalto.fi)

As examples, professors have prepared Study paths that implement typical specializations in a topic group. These may be used as a basis for preparing your own personal study plan, according to your scientific interests and career objectives.

Code: ENG25
Credits: 31 ECTS cr
Responsible Professors: Sven Bossuyt, Heikki Remes

Mechanical Engineering in Society and the integrated Spoken Communications course are compulsory for all students. Select from the alternative common studies courses to meet 30 credits. Additional common studies courses can be included in advanced studies. Typically, the common studies are completed during the first year of studies and include one of the common studies project courses. If the common studies do not include a project course, then a project course* must be included in advanced studies or elective studies.

^{*The common studies project courses are: MEC-E1003 Machine Design Project, MEC-E1004 Principles of Naval Architecture, and MEC-E1005 Modelling in Applied Mechanics. Advanced studies project courses are MEC-E3001 Product Development Project, the MEC-E310 Global Innovation minor, MEC-E5002 Mechatronics Project,or MEC-E7004 Industrial Project. Project courses from other programmes or projects carried out under the MEC-E1500 Special Assignment in Mechanical Engineering course code may be approved case by case.}

Code: ENG25
Credits: 30 ECTS cr
Responsible Professors: Sven Bossuyt, Heikki Remes, Arttu Polojärvi, Matti Pietola, Kalevi Ekman, Esko Niemi, Luc St-Pierre

Select 30 credits from the courses listed below. You may freely combine courses from different topic groups as long as the course-specific prerequisites are satisfied. Additional common studies courses can also be included in advanced studies or in elective studies. Please see the Study paths for suggestions.

Separate study tracks

ME310

ME310 is an interdisciplinary minor for Master-level students from all Aalto schools. It is orgazined as a set of courses that are taken together. During one academic year, the project teaches students how to use the Stanford/IDEO design process in product development, and is concentrated in practice-based learning. The global student teams prototype, test and iterate in order to develop and implement innovative solutions to real world design challenges posed by multinational corporate sponsors.

Students who have been admitted to the Master's Programme in Mechanical Engineering can apply to take part in ME310. More information on the minor and how to apply: me310.aalto.fi 

Students who participate in ME310 will place the courses in their advanced or elective studies.

For their elective studies (29 cr) students can freely choose courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities in Finland (JOO studies) or by our partner universities abroad (Exchange studies). Students may also take additional mechanical engineering courses and include them in elective studies. Consult the Study pathsfor further suggestions.

Students may also complete a minor and include those courses in elective studies. Please see the list of all minors offered at Aalto University under Studies.

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

Students can also include 1-5 credits of practical training in their elective studies. Please see more information in the subsection of Practical training.

The course ENG-E3010 Introduction to Master's Studies in Engineering (1 cr) is recommended for students who are coming from outside of Aalto University. The course is organized during the orientation week.

The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the programme, agreed upon between the student and the supervising professor. The professors of the programme provide master’s thesis topics that are related to their current research activities. The student can also suggest his/her own topic to a supervisor. The recommended time of the thesis project is the second year spring semester.

The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University or, for special reasons and by decision of the Dean, the thesis supervisor may also be a university lecturer or senior university lecturer of the school. The thesis advisor shall hold at least a master’s degree.

The master's thesis includes a seminar presentation. The student is also required to write a maturity essay related to the master’s thesis. The thesis is a public document and it shall be available at the school.

Please see further instructions on Completing your master's thesis under planning your studies.