Admission to Bachelor's Programme in Design, Bachelor and Master of Arts (3 yrs + 2 yrs)

Please note that as an Aalto University student you cannot be granted a right to pursue a degree in a study option (e.g. Bachelor's Programme in Design) from which you have already earned a degree or for which you have a valid right to pursue a degree.

At Aalto University, a student may have only one valid study right towards a given degree. If you accept a new study right in a bachelor's programme leading to the same degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts) at Aalto, your old study right will be cancelled.

If you are a refugee or asylum seeker or have a refugee-like status in Finland and cannot prove your eligibility for higher education by documentation, you may be invited to an entrance examination or be required to take the SAT or the ACT test.

You are required to provide reliable explanation of the degree that gives you eligibility to apply, additional information on the lack of requisite documentation as well as an official decision on your refugee status (decision on being granted asylum or a residence permit based on need for international protection or a certificate of a pending application for asylum). The university will determine your eligibility based on the additional information provided.

Please note that you are also required to submit an application to Bachelor's Programme in Design during the application period. Your eligibility can only be determined after we have received your application. For detailed instructions on how to apply, please see the section “How to apply?”.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Admissions to the field of art and design at Aalto University include evaluation of:

• Suitability and talent for the field of the study option
• Educability
• Ability to conceptualize
• Creative thinking
• Motivation (for learning and for the field of the study option)
• Vision
• Interactive skills

Admissions to the study option also include evaluation of applicants’:

• English language proficiency
• Prior scholastic and professional experience
• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• Problem-solving capacity
• Potential for working collaboratively and in groups
• Ability and potential to communicate ideas in written, spoken and visual formats
• Ability and potential to manipulate analogue and digital materials, structures and interfaces
• Ability and potential to contextualize problems and solutions

The preliminary assignments will be published on 13 December 2023.

Preliminary assignments

You must submit the preliminary assignments by 24 January 2024 at 3 pm/15.00 (GMT +2). Submit the preliminary assignments electronically to the Studyinfo service, ensuring that you upload them in the correct attachment field. Your application will be rejected if you do not submit the preliminary assignments by the deadline.

The preliminary assignments are evaluated Pass/Fail. You must complete the preliminary assignments independently and without guidance. The university does not give any additional instructions for completing the assignments.

The results of the preliminary assignments are sent to applicants on 14 March 2024. Both the applicants that pass and those who fail the preliminary assignments are notified.

Applicants who pass the preliminary assignments proceed to the next stage, the intake assignments.

The intake assignments will be sent to applicants who have passed the preliminary assignments on 14 March 2024.

The intake assignments must be submitted by 28 March 2024 at 3 pm/15.00 (GMT +3). The intake assignments are submitted electronically to the correct attachment field in the Studyinfo service. Assignments that arrive after the deadline are not considered for evaluation.

You must complete the intake assignments independently and without guidance. The university does not give any additional instructions for completing the assignments.

Invitations to interviews will be sent to applicants who have passed the intake assignments on 26 April 2024 at the latest. Information on rejection will also be sent to rejected applicants on 26 April 2024.

Invitations to interviews will be sent to applicants who have passed the intake assignments on 26 April 2024 at the latest. Information on rejection will also be sent to rejected applicants on 26 April 2024.

The interviews will be organised between 6 - 10 May 2024. The interview includes a separate intake assignment. The assignment exposes the applicant to time pressure and measures, for example, three-dimensional visualisation. 

The specific time and place of the interview is included in the invitation. The interviews are conducted via Zoom.

You may be granted individual arrangements due to illness, disability or impairment. The arrangements granted depend on what kind of needs you have. See more information on the Individual arrangements for entrance examinations page. The deadline for submitting an application for individual arrangements is 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).
 

The final admission decision is based on the total score for the intake assignments and the interview. The maximum total score is 100 points.

If several applicants have the same score, the applicants will be ranked based on the following criteria:

1. The score of the interview
2. The number of intake assignments for which the applicant received the highest score
3. The number of intake assignments for which the applicant received the second highest score
   Etc.

If the score is still tied, all applicants with the same score are admitted.

For applicants completing an IB or EB degree, a foreign qualification giving eligibility to higher education studies or a Finnish vocational degree in spring 2024, the selection is conditional until the applicant submits a copy of the final diploma to Aalto University Admission Services. If the degree is not completed or the required documents are not delivered by the given deadline, the admission offer will be revoked. Please check the deadlines for delivering application documents under the section "Required application documents".

Attach to your application form a copy of your valid passport or some other government-issued identity card (with photo) including information on your citizenship by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

Please note! If you have Finnish citizenship, you do not have to submit a copy of your passport or identity card.

If your official identification card is issued in a language other than English, Finnish or Swedish, you must also submit a translation of the document. You can translate the document yourself. The translation must be accurate.

If you are exempted from the tuition fee based on your residence permit, attach to the application form copies of both the front and back sides of yourresidence permit card in Finland by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2). See the residence permit types that exempt from tuition fees at Scholarships and Tuition Fees page. 

The fee-exempting residence permit must be valid at the beginning of the academic year i.e., 1 August 2024. 

A residence permit card in itself is not a valid proof of identity. In addition you must submit a copy of your valid passport or other official ID card where your citizenship is indicated.

More information on liability to pay tuition fees can be found under the section Tuition fees and scholarships.

More information on tuition fees (aalto.fi).

If you have completed the Finnish matriculation examination in 1989 or earlier, attach copies of your diploma on the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

Please note that if you have completed the Finnish Matriculation examination in 1990 or later, you do not need to submit a copy of your diploma.

Please note that any high school diploma awarded abroad does not qualify for International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB). The International Baccalaureate is a special programme and only students that have studied at a school that participates in the International Baccalaureate programmes can be awarded an IB Diploma. For more information, see ibo.org.

If you have completed the IB diploma before spring 2024, attach a copy of your diploma to the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2). Attach both pages of the IB diploma (the page stating your grades and the page stating the diploma has been awarded). 

If you are completing an IB diploma in spring 2024, attach a predicted grades report to the online application form by 3 Apr 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3). Information on the official final grades must be delivered by 11 July 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3).  

If you are completing the IB diploma in spring 2024, you must order a Transcript of Grades document to be delivered to Aalto University directly from the IBO. Aalto University will check the final grades electronically from the IBO after the final results have been published. The final grades must arrive to Aalto University by 11 July 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3). 

Please note that any European high school diploma does not qualify for European Baccalaureate Diploma (EB). The European Baccalaureate is a special programme and only students that have studied at a school that participates in the European Baccalaureate programmes can be awarded an EB Diploma. For more information, see eursc.eu.

If you have completed the EB examination before spring 2024, attach a copy of your diploma to the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2). Attach all pages of the diploma.

If you are completing the EB examination in spring 2024, attach a preliminary grades report to the online application form by 3 Apr 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3) and a copy of your final diploma by 11 July 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3).

Deutsches Internationales Abitur diploma or Reifeprüfung diploma completed in Finland More information (dsh.fi)

If you have completed the DIA or RP diploma before spring 2024, attach a copy of your diploma to the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2). Attach all pages of the diploma.

If you are completing a DIA diploma in spring 2024, attach a copy of your final grades report to the online application form by 30 Apr 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3). Attach all pages of the diploma.

Upper secondary education completed outside Finland (general or vocational), e.g. a high school diploma. The qualification must give eligibility to university-level studies in the country in question.

If you have completed the qualification before spring 2024, you are required to attach to the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2)

• A copy of the final diploma
• Translations to Finnish, Swedish or English (if the original document is not in either Finnish, Swedish or English)

If you are completing the qualification in spring 2024, you are required to upload to the online application form:

By 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2)

• A copy of the most recent transcript of records or a certificate of ongoing studies issued by the school (including information on the qualification to be completed and the estimated graduation date)
• Translations to Finnish, Swedish or English (if the original document is not in either Finnish, Swedish or English)

By 11 July 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3)

• A copy of the final diploma
• Translations to Finnish, Swedish or English (if the original document is not in either Finnish, Swedish or English)

More information on translations can be found below.

If you have completed the qualification before spring 2019, attach a copy of the final diploma to the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

Please note that if you have completed the qualification in 2019 or later, you do not need to submit a copy of your diploma.

If you are completing the qualification in spring 2024, it must be completed by 14 June 2024.

If you have completed the degree before spring 2024, you are required to attach to the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2)  

• A copy of the final degree certificate
• Translations to Finnish, Swedish or English (if the original document is not in either Finnish, Swedish or English)   

If you are completing the degree in spring 2024, you are required to attach to the online application form:  
By 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2)  

• A copy of the most recent transcript of records  
• Translations to Finnish, Swedish or English (if the original document is not in either Finnish, Swedish or English)   

By 31 July 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +3)   

• A copy of the final degree certificate
• Translations to Finnish, Swedish or English (if the original document is not in either Finnish, Swedish or English)   

 More information on translations can be found below.

All application documents must be available in Finnish, Swedish or English. If the original document was written in some other language, an official translation of the documents must be submitted. 

The translation is official if it has been done by the educational institution that awarded the degree or by a certified translator (authorised translator). The certified translator’s stamp and/or signature must be on the translations. 

Submit scanned copies of the official translations. In addition to translations, submit copies of the original documents in the original language; translations by themselves are insufficient.  

The Finnish National Agency for Education (www.oph.fi/en) maintains a register of authorised translators who are based in Finland.

A matriculation examination completed in Finland.

• The test of advanced (A language) English passed with a grade of at least magna cum laude approbatur (M)

OR

• The test of English based on the basic syllabus is passed with a grade of at least eximia cum laude approbatur (E)

Please note that if you are graduating in spring 2024 and suspect that your English grade will not fulfill the language requirements, you can also prove your language proficiency with an official language test result. The deadline for delivering the official language test result to Aalto University is 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

An IB diploma (the International Baccalaureate Diploma) completed in an accredited IB school, granted by IBO

More information (ibo.org)

• The A-level English test (literature / language and literature / literature and performance) is passed

OR

• The B-level English test is passed with a grade of at least 5 (good)

For applicants completing an IB diploma in spring 2024, the selection is conditional until Aalto University Admission Services receives the official final grades from the IBO. If the final grades do not meet the language requirements, the admission offer will be revoked.

Please note that if you are graduating in spring 2024 and suspect that your English grade will not fulfill the language requirements, you can also prove your language proficiency with an official language test result. The deadline for delivering the official language test result to Aalto University is 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

An EB examination (the European Baccalaureate examination) completed in an accredited EB school

More information (eursc.eu)

• The language 1 (L1) syllabus is completed in English

OR

• The language 2 (L2) syllabus in English is completed with a grade of at least 7

For applicants completing an EB examination in spring 2024 the selection is conditional until the applicant submits information on the final grades to Aalto University Admission Services. If the final grades do not meet the language requirements, the admission offer will be revoked.

Please note that if you are graduating in spring 2024 and suspect that your English grade will not fulfill the language requirements, you can also prove your language proficiency with an official language test result. The deadline for delivering the official language test result to Aalto University is 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

Deutsches Internationales Abitur or Reifeprüfung diploma completed in Finland

More information (dsh.fi)

• a grade of at least 8 on the English-language test based on the advanced syllabus (completed in writing or orally)

OR

• a grade of at least 10 on the English-language test based on the basic syllabus (completed in writing or orally)

Please note that if you are graduating in spring 2024 and suspect that your English grade will not fulfill the language requirements, you can also prove your language proficiency with an official language test result. The deadline for delivering the official language test result to Aalto University is 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

• TOEFL iBT test completed with a grade of at least 92

Also TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests are accepted.

Request your official score report to be sent from the test administrator to Aalto University reporting code 7364 (Score Report Recipient). Unofficial score reports sent by applicants will not be accepted, the results must be received electronically directly from the test administrator by the deadline. The scores are usually available within 1 to 2 weeks of sending the score report request.

The official TOEFL test result must be received by Aalto University by 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

TOEFL results are valid for two years starting from the test date. For 2024 admissions, the TOEFL test result is valid if the test was taken on or after 3 January 2022.

More information (ets.org)

• IELTS Academic test completed with a grade of at least 6.5 (overall band score)

Also IELTS Indicator (Academic) and IELTS Online (Academic) tests are accepted.

Upload a PDF copy of the IELTS test report to your application form, if you have received the report already. The application form asks your Test Report Form (TRF) number, which is required for verifying the scores. If you have taken the IELTS Indicator test, mark your IELTS Indicator Score ID to the application form.

In addition, the electronic test report needs to be nominated to Aalto University in the test administrator's service. When booking the test, you can choose Aalto University as the Recognising Organisation to make your score available to Aalto University. The department is "Admission Services". If you have already taken the test, you need to contact your test centre and request the test administrator to send your electronic test report to Aalto University. See the instructions for sending IELTS results to nominated organisations (electronically) on the test administrator website. The results are verified electronically.

The official IELTS test result must be received by Aalto University by 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

IELTS results are valid for two years starting from the test date. For 2024 admissions, the IELTS test result is valid if the test was taken on or after 3 January 2022.

More information (ielts.org)

• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A) test completed with a grade of at least 62

PTE test scores are sent via the test administrator’s electronic service. Log in to your PTE account and send your results to Aalto University in the test administrator’s service.

In addition, mark your Score Report Code to your application form. The Score Report Code contains 10 characters that are letters and numbers. The code can be found at the top of the report under the name of the test taker.

The official PTE test result must be received by Aalto University by 24 January 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

PTE A results are valid for two years starting from the test date. For 2024 admissions, the PTE A test result is valid if the test was taken on or after 3 January 2022.

More information (pearsonpte.com)

• C1 Advanced (former name Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE) completed with a grade of at least C

OR

• C2 Proficiency (former name Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE) completed with a grade of at least Level C1

Log into the language test administrator's service and share your test results to Aalto University. Upload a PDF copy of your C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency results report to your application form. Your test taker's ID number (e.g. ABC1234567), Reference number (e.g. 173YU0034522) and Statement of results number must be entered to the application form. The results are verified electronically.

The official Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency test result must be received by Aalto University by 24 January 2024 at 3 pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

For the C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency test, only tests that can be verified online, i.e. tests taken after 2005, are accepted.

More information on the C1 Advanced (cambridgeesol.org)

More information on the C2 Proficiency (cambridgeesol.org)

The National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) (in English) issued by the Finnish National Agency for Education:

• the test completed at the proficiency level of 5 in all subtests (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking). Subtests from different test sittings may be combined.

Upload a PDF copy of the official YKI test result on the online application form by 24 Jan 2024 at 3pm/15.00 (GMT +2).

More information (oph.fi)

Most non-EU/EEA citizens are required to pay tuition fees. 

Citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are not required to pay tuition fees. In addition, tuition fees are not charged from applicants who possess any of the following documents:

• A permanent residence permit for Finland (marked P on the residence permit card)
• A continuous residence permit for Finland (marked A on the residence permit card), based on other grounds than studying
• An EU residence permit card in Finland for third-country citizens with long-term EU resident status (marked P-EU)
• Resident permit card in Finland for a family member of an EU citizen
• EU Blue Card in Finland
• A Brexit residence permit card, type SEU-sopimuksen 50 artikla = Right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, or P SEU-sopimuksen 50 artikla = Right of permanent residence under the withdrawal agreement 

The fee-exempting residence permit must be valid at the beginning of the academic year (1 August 2024).

If you are exempt from tuition fees on the grounds of your residence permit, upload a copy of both sides of your residence permit card to your online application form. A residence permit card in itself is not valid proof of identity. In addition, a copy of your valid passport, or national ID card where your citizenship is indicated, is required to prove your citizenship.

For more information about determining tuition fee liability and tuition fee exemptions, see Studyinfo (studyinfo.fi). For more information on residence permit card types, see the Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi) website.

At Aalto university the tuition fee is €12 000 per academic year for Bachelor’s degree programmes and €15 000 per academic year for Master's degree programmes.

Aalto University has a scholarship programme to support non-EU/EEA citizens who study in a fee-charging degree programme. The number of scholarships is limited.

The scholarships are granted in the form of a tuition fee waiver, covering either 50% or 100% of the tuition fee. The scholarships do not cover living costs. Students are expected to cover living expenses (approx. EUR 800 per month) and other study related costs from their own financial resources.

Non-EU/EEA citizens who are liable to pay tuition fees can apply for the Aalto University scholarship. The applicants can apply for the scholarship at the same time they apply for a Bachelor's programme with the same application form during the application period. It is not possible to apply for the scholarship after the application period has ended.

At Aalto University in the admission to bachelor's programmes you can only receive one scholarship for one study option at Aalto University, including all fields of study (art and design, business and economics and science and engineering). You can still apply and be admitted to more than one study option. Please indicate on the application form your order of preference for your scholarship application for the study options at Aalto University. 

The applicants are ranked based on the programme’s admission criteria and the best applicants liable to pay fees may be granted scholarships. If based on your success in the admission process you would be admitted to and granted a scholarship for several study options, in this case the scholarship will be granted to the study option you have placed as a higher preference. The scholarship decision is given together with the admission decision. No appeal may be lodged against a university decision pertaining to a scholarship.  

Please note! The order of preference you indicate on the application form is binding and cannot be changed after the application period has ended. If you add or remove study options offered by Aalto University on your application form during the application period, please remember to adjust your order of preference accordingly.  

You can find more information on scholarships and tuition fees at Scholarships and Fees (aalto.fi)

The right of appeal means that you have the possibility to request rectification if you believe that there has been an error in the decision-making process. The appeal should be submitted to the Registry of the university within 14 days after the publication of the decisions. In the appeal you should specify the reasons for it. The right of appeal is not intended as a means for receiving feedback or asking for further information about the application process.

More information and instructions for appealing against the admission decision

For the Bachelor's programme in Design in 2023 there were 618 applications and 42 new applicants were accepted.

Previous preliminary and intake assignments

Statistics