Student Guide
No, the new programmes start in autumn 2024 and you can't start your studies in them any earlier. In the meantime, check guidance in the appropriate section below.
No, there is no need to reapply. Whatever you decide to do, your study right to complete a master’s degree at Aalto won’t be affected.
However, if you started your studies in the old programme and would like to transfer to a new one during the transitional period, you can fill in a short application form to do so. The application form will be made available during the summer months of 2024.
Check the prerequisite courses and direct paths of continuation from kemian tekniikan kandidaattiohjelma/kandidatprogrammet i kemiteknik. If you complete your bachelor's degree after 1.8.2024, all you need to do is to indicate your new programme and major in the graduation form. You will also need to make sure that you will have completed all prerequisite courses, if any are required.
Check the prerequisite courses and direct paths of continuation from BSc in Science and Technology with the major Chemical Engineering. As you will see in the table, some prerequisite courses previously available only in Finnish can now be completed also in English. If you complete your bachelor's degree after 1.8.2024, all you need to do is to indicate your new programme and major in the graduation form. You will also need to make sure that you will have completed all prerequisite courses, if any are required.
Do prioritise completing your bachelor's degree. Once you have completed it and apply for graduation, note down a discontinuing MSc major in the form, if this is prior to 1.8.2024. Some discontinuing MSc majors may not have prerequisite courses for continuation from bachelor's programme, so it might be sensible to apply for BSc graduation before 1.8.2024, if you have completed all necessary BSc studies by then.
Once the new programmes start, you can apply for transfer to the corresponding new programme and major.
If you complete your bachelor's degree after 1.8.2024, all you need to do is to indicate your new programme and major in the graduation form. You will also need to make sure that you will have completed all prerequisite courses, if any are required.
If you have already completed lot of studies (for example, closer to or over 60 credits) towards a major of the discontinuing Master’s programme by the end of the academic year 2023-24, you could consider graduating from the discontinuing Master's programme – as long as you first complete your bachelor’s degree! Note also that there will be a set transitional period, see 'About the transitional period' below.
Yes, but make sure to plan your studies carefully. When you submit your bachelor’s graduation application, you should name a current master’s major to continue your studies in. Before autumn 2024, you should focus on completing the master’s elective studies.
In early autumn 2024 or at any point later during the transitional period, you can decide to switch to one of the new programmes and start your master’s studies in the new programme. However, if you have completed a lot of your studies in the old major and believe you can complete your master’s degree during the transitional period, you can continue in and graduate from the old major. See 'About the transitional period' below for details.
When you submit your bachelor’s graduation application, you should name a new Master's programme that you intend to continue your studies in. There might be prerequisite courses that are required; you should check this in the answers to questions 'I am currently studying in kemian tekniikan kandidaattiohjelma/ kandidatprogrammet in kemiteknik. How can I continue my studies in one of the new programmes?' and 'I am currently studying in BSc in Science and Technology, with the major Chemical Engineering. How can I continue my studies in one of the new programmes?'].
No, there is no need to reapply. Your study right to a Master's degree will remain unaffected. You can read more above under 'About the new programmes', in the answer to 'Does the renewal mean that I will have to re-apply to Aalto to study in one of the new Master's programmes?'.
It is important to consider two aspects: the amount of studies that you have already completed towards your Master's studies and when you intend to graduate. For example, if you started your studies in your Master's major in August 2023, and are confident that you will be able to graduate within the recommended two years, it might be a sensible option for you to continue your studies in and graduate from the discontinuing programme. However, if you have completed less than half of your Master's degree by the end of the academic year 2023-2024, it is worth considering changing to a new programme. Please note that change to a new programme is irreversible, meaning that once you change to a new programme, you cannot change back to your old, discontinuing programme.
The Master's portfolio renewal resulted in the discontinuation of the MSc in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering and its seven majors, and their transformation into four separate programmes. No other programmes were discontinued or changed significantly. However, it is possible that some course changes may impact also on other programmes. Course lists for all programmes will be published by 1 April 2024.
Transitional period refers to a time during which students, who have started their studies in MSc in Bioproducts Engineering, MSc in Biotechnology, MSc in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering or MSc in Chemistry and Materials Science after 31.7.2024, are studying in the new programmes, but students who have started before 1.8.2024 can still complete their studies in the discontinued programme of MSc in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering. Alternatively, students of MSc in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering may, during the transitional period, apply to transfer their study right to the corresponding new programme and major, as described in the answer to the question below 'Corresponding new and old programmes and majors'.
The transitional period for MSc in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering is 1.8.2024- 31.12.2025.
Students, who are still studying in the discontinued programme on 1.1.2026, will be transferred to corresponding new programmes and majors without an application procedure. The corresponding programmes and majors are defined below, in the answer to the question below 'Corresponding new and old programmes and majors'.
In addition, students of MSc in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering, who have by 31.12.2025 completed all of their studies (including elective studies) according to old degree requirements, apart from the 30 cr Master’s thesis, can complete their Master’s thesis and graduate from this discontinued programme until the final graduation date in May 2026.
Transition from the Master’s programme and majors to be discontinued to the new Master’s programmes and majors in the School of Chemical Engineering
| Lakkautettavan ohjelman nimi/ Name of discontinued programme | Lakkautettavan pääaineen nimi/ Name of discontinued major | Uuden ohjelman nimi/ Name of new programme | Uuden pääaineen nimi/ Name of new major |
|
MSc in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering |
Biomass refining | MSc in Bioproducts Engineering | Bioproducts Engineering |
| Biotechnology | MSc in Biotechnology | Biotechnology | |
| Chemical and Process Engineering | MSc in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering | Chemical and Process Engineering | |
| Chemistry | MSc in Chemistry and Materials Science | Chemistry and Materials Science | |
| Fibre and Polymer Engineering | MSc in Bioproducts Engineering | Bioproducts Engineering | |
| Functional Materials | MSc in Chemistry and Materials Science | Chemistry and Materials Science | |
| Sustainable Metals Processing | MSc in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering | Sustainable Metallurgical Engineering |
During the transitional period, a student of MSc in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering can apply to transfer to a programme or major other than their corresponding programme and major. The principles that apply to this are defined in section ‘6. Continuing studies in a different Master’s programme leading to a M.Sc. (Tech.) degree or changing majors within a Master’s programme’ of the School of Chemical Engineering admissions criteria:
"Students who continued their studies from any Aalto Technical School Bachelor’s programme to a Master's programme in the School of Chemical Engineering have the possibility to change the programme or major once during their Master’s studies. In the Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering programme the same criteria are applied as in continuing from Bachelor’s programme to Master’s programme but that the required supplementary courses may be completed even outside the Bachelor's
degree.
Starting from 1.8.2024 students who continued their studies from any Aalto Technical School Bachelor’s programme to a Master's programme in the School of Chemical Engineering have the possibility to change the programme or major once during their Master’s studies. In Master’s programme in Bioproducts Engineering, Master’s programme in Biotechnology, Master’s programme in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering ja Master’s programme in Chemistry and Materials Science the same criteria are applied as in continuing from Bachelor’s programme to Master’s programme but that the required supplementary
courses may be completed even outside the Bachelor's degree. [You can find the required supplementary courses in the answers to questions 'I am currently studying in kemian tekniikan kandidaattiohjelma/ kandidatprogrammet in kemiteknik. How can I continue my studies in one of the new programmes?' and 'I am currently studying in BSc in Science and Technology, with the major Chemical Engineering. How can I continue my studies in one of the new programmes?'].
In Aalto joint programmes the criteria and procedures of the programme are followed. Changing the major within Aalto joint programme is done following the procedures of the programme.
Students who have been accepted via Aalto Master’s admissions to Master's Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering can only change the major by attending Aalto Master’s programme admission process.
Starting from 1.8.2024 students who have been accepted to Master’s programme in Bioproducts Engineering, Master’s programme in Biotechnology, Master’s programme in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering or Master’s programme in Chemistry and Materials Science can only change the programme by attending Aalto Master’s programme admission process. Students studying in the Master’s programme in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, which has two majors, have the possibility to change major within the programme once during their Master’s studies.
Other School of Chemical Engineering Master’s programmes are joint programmes with their own procedures defined separately."
If you would like to transfer to a new one during the transitional period, you can fill in a short application form to do so. The application form will be made available during the summer months of 2024.
The course substitution tables for students, who have started their studies in one of the majors of the discontinued programme and who decide to transfer to the corresponding new Master's programme in accordance with the table in 'Corresponding new and old programmes and majors' above, will be published in this website in early summer 2024.
The course substitution tables for each major and minor below illustrate what studies in the new curriculum replace studies of the curriculum 2022-2024 for students, who continue to study in accordance with the old degree requirements.
Major: Biomass Refining
Major: Biotechnology
Major: Chemistry
Major: Chemical and Process Engineering
Major: Fibre and Polymer Engineering
Major: Functional Materials
Major: Sustainable Metals Processing
Minor: Biomass Refining
Minor: Biotechnology
Minor: Chemistry
Minor: Chemical and Process Engineering
Minor: Fibre and Polymer Engineering
Minor: Functional Materials
Minor: Sustainable Metals Processing
| Occasion | Date |
|---|---|
| Portfolio renewal student info 1 - Recording and slides | 11.10.2023 |
| Portfolio renewal student info 2 - Slides | 30.11.2023 |
| Portfolio renewal student info 3 [the event was cancelled] | 14.2.2024 |
| Portfolio renewal student info 4 - Recording (in Finnish only) and slides | 9.4.2024 |
The School of Chemical Engineering are redesigning the offering of their Master's studies portfolio. This page contains information about the renewal project, its timetable, guidelines and other material. Here you will also find information about the new Master’s programmes that will be created.