Orientation to studies is an important phase. During orientation you will get all the relevant information regarding the studies and study environment in Aalto and in the School of Electrical Engineering. To ensure a smooth start for your studies, you should attend all orientation activities.
If you have completed your BSc degree in Aalto, most content in the orientation week is already familiar to you. However, you can attend all activities but please read especially the final chapter in this page.
Orientation to studies
Orientation to studies consists of
- Self-study preorientation course online. In this online material you learn basic essential things about Aalto university and the study environment here. The course-space is accessible after you have activated your Aalto user account (starting from July 2023). You must go through the preorientation materials and exercises before the orientation week.
- Orientation week for new students on campus. Orientation week is organized on 28 August - 3 September 2023. During the orientation week you will get a deeper understading on the studies in Aalto, meet programme staff and fellow students and start your journey as a member of the Aalto community! Orientation week is arranged by the Learning services together with the student associations in the School of Electrical Engineering.
All new students get a student tutor (so called “iso”). Tutors (isos) are students from the School of Electrical Engineering who help new students during orientation week and at the beginning of their studies. All tutors have completed a tutoring training. Tutors are not necessarily senior students from your programme but they know all the general study practicalities and can help you eg. With course registrations etc. Tutoring is carried out in cooperation with the student organisations and the learning services. Your contact information will be given to your tutor and your tutor will contact you in July.
In the School of Electrical Engineering there are three student associations ie. Student guilds:
- Guild of Electrical Engineering
- Guild of Automation and Systems Technology
- Inkubio – Guild of bioinformation technology
The guilds operate under the Student Union AYY. The guilds organize tutoring and welcome activities to new students during the orientation week and also during the entire first semester.
Revision of previous studies
To make your start in your programme as smooth as possible, you may consider refreshing some topics from your previous studies. Take a look at the recommendations of the programmes in the School of Electrical Engineering here:
Advanced Energy Solutions - Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets
- If your BSc degree is from other field than electrical engineering, a good source to go through is:
Mohamed A. El-Sharkawi, Electric Energy, An Introduction, 3rd Edition, CRC Press,ISBN 978-1-4665-0303-8
Automation and Electrical Engineering - Control, Robotics and Autonomous Systems
- Basics of engineering mathematics, e.g. integral transforms and probability theory
- Basics of linear systems and control theory
- Programming in e.g. Matlab, Python and/or C/C++
Automation and Electrical Engineering - Electrical Power and Energy Engineering
- Basics of engineering mathematics, e.g. integral transforms and Fourier analysis
- Basic of electric circuit theory
- Basics of linear systems and control theory
- Basic programming with Matlab
Automation and Electrical Engineering - Electronic and Digital Systems
- Engineering mathematics, calculus and probability in particular
- Basic programming with Matlab and/or Python, probably also C or C++
Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Acoustics and Audio Technology
- Brush up you Matlab skills. Matlab is used in many courses and basic signal processing operations and plotting the figures are needed to do the home assignments.
Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Communications Engineering
- Basics of Signals and Systems
- Programming in C/C++ (C-courses are available in Aalto as well, no need to study beforehand if no previous knowledge exists)
- Knowledge of Python is recommended but not necessary
Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Signal Processing and Data Science
- Brush up your Python and Matlab skills as they are used in many courses
Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Speech and Language Technology
- Brush up your Python skills. Python is used in many courses.
Electronics and Nanotechnology - Microwave Engineering
- Circuit analysis
- Electromagnetic field theory
Electronics and Nanotechnology - Micro- and nanoelectronic circuit design
- Electronics
- Circuit analysis
Electronics and Nanotechnology - Space Science and Technology, depending on your planned focus area within the major
- Circuit analysis
- Electromagnetic fields
- Electronics
- Physics
Electronics and Nanotechnology - Photonics and Nanotechnology
- Physics
- Basic mathematics
Orientation week 2023
The orientation week is organised on 28 August - 3 September 2023. This preliminary schedule is subject to changes. Final schedule will be available in August
When | What | Where |
Mon 28.8.2023 10.30-11.30
11.30-13.00 13.00-15.00 15.00- |
Welcome to the School of Electrical Engineering Lunch with student tutors Programme welcome sessions Evening programme with student guilds |
Maarintie 8 |
Tue 29.8.2023 10-11.30 11.30-14.00 14.00-15.30 |
Study plan and course registration clinics Campus tour with student tutors Study plan and course registration clinics |
|
Wed 30.8.2023 9.45-10.30 10.30-11.00 12.30-14.30 15.00-16.00 |
Info session for Aalto scholarship students Meet the AYY Student Union Display your academic integrity and intelligence, lecture Student Guilds at the School of Electrical Engineering |
|
Thu 31.8.2023 10.00-16.00 |
Aalto welcome fair |
|
Fri 1.9.2023 9.00-11.00 12.00-14.00 |
Breakfast and feedback session Teekkari-life - life as a technical student in Aalto |
Orientation to studies for Aalto BSc graduates
The master's programmes are planned as 2-year programmes starting in Autumn. The model schedules and course timetables have been designed based on this 2-year plan. However, if you start your MSc studies during Spring term, it is recommended to first complete the degree elective courses or minor studies.
All students who have graduated as a BSc from Aalto are invited to participate in the orientation of the master's programme. The content of the orientation week is mainly already familiar to you but are welcome to attend the welcome session of your programme and a specific info session for Aalto bachelor-graduates. More information will be available in August 2023.
Masters students
Information for new masters students

Campus maps, addresses and opening hours in Otaniemi
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