School of Business
At the School of Business we strive for better business and better society. We excel in education and research with a multidisciplinary approach and in collaboration with our partners.
Accounting, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)
The Master’s Programme in Accounting prepares students for producing and using financial and non-financial information to control and manage companies. Accounting, whether financial accounting or management accounting, is at the heart of every business and a critical part of planning and decision-making in companies. Accounting graduates possess invaluable and highly universal know-how for succeeding in different organisations across all industries and continents.
Degree:
Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)
Application period:
30 Nov 2023 – 2 Jan 2024
Language of instruction:
English
Duration:
2 years,
full-time
Eligibility:
Relevant Bachelor's degree
Field of study:
Business and Economics
Credits:
120 ECTS
Organising school:
School of Business
Tuition fees:
For non-EU/EEA citizens, €15000/y (Master’s studies)
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Applying to master’s programmes
Description
The Master’s Programme in Accounting prepares students for producing and using financial and non-financial information to control and manage companies. Accounting, whether financial accounting or management accounting, is at the heart of every business and a critical part of planning and decision-making in companies. Accounting graduates possess invaluable and highly universal know-how for succeeding in different organisations across all industries and continents.
Language of instruction
The language of instruction is English.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Aalto University’s tuition fee for master’s programmes taught in English is 15 000 euros per academic year. Tuition fees apply to citizens of countries other than those of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Aalto University has a scholarship programme to support non-EU/EEA citizens who study in a fee-charging degree programme. The scholarship may cover 100% or 50% of the tuition fee.
More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.
Structure of studies
The Master’s Programme in Accounting is organized by the School of Business and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:
- Programme studies (84 ECTS), including Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)
- Elective studies (36 ECTS)
Students have the opportunity to complete the minor studies (24 ECTS) in an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business.
At the beginning of their studies, students define their Personal Study Plans (PSP) together with an academic advisor. The primary purpose of PSP is to ensure that the studies support the student’s interests and are completed in a logical order.
Master's Programme in Accounting
Cindy Svetkow, Consultant, EYThe key takeaways from my years at Aalto include critical thinking, networking and problem-solving skills.
Specialisations
Specialisation is built mainly through advanced studies, where students may choose courses.
Internationalisation
Accounting is universal, making it an ideal field for international careers. The skills that students learn in the programme are universal and can be applied industry-wide. To further encourage internationalisation, Accounting professors have diverse backgrounds and most of the courses handle global topics.
Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad each year. These students join the diverse Aalto community not only through studies, but also multiple free time events, activities and celebrations around the campus. Programme administrators, active student tutors and student support services work rigorously to help international students integrate into Nordic culture and welcome them at home in Finland.
Further study opportunities
The degree grants eligibility for doctoral studies.
Career opportunities
As a graduate of Accounting, you will have broad career prospects. Typical job titles include, for example, Chief Financial Officer, Business Controller, Financial Analyst, Auditor and Business Consultant. The typical route from university to these positions happens through corporate collaboration. The students can network with companies especially during courses (e.g. Capstone course), student activities organised by Aalto Accounting (student association of accounting students) or thesis assignments. Most of the Accounting students have a guaranteed job already before graduating from the programme.
Aalto University has well-established career services that help you get employed in Finland and abroad. Aalto students tend to find good positions with ease upon their graduation. An active entrepreneurship community is also present at Aalto, which can help as a springboard for founding your company. Finally, if an academic career is of interest, the Master’s programme in Accounting is a great foundation for doctoral studies and post-doc positions.
Research focus
At the Department of Accounting, we conduct high-quality accounting research that is published in international top peer-reviewed journals. The emphasis of the research is on financial statement analysis, capital budgeting, auditing, performance measurement, management control, risk management, sustainability reporting, and corporate governance.
Co-operation with other parties
At the Department of Accounting, we believe that it is our responsibility to leave a positive mark not only on academic life but also on society at large. To accomplish this goal, the teachers at the department engage actively in societal discussions, cooperate closely with firms, other organizations, and other Aalto university parties. Many of the teachers give management and executive education for managers and executives.
Multidisciplinary opportunities
Accounting is needed in companies across all industries, and applying it is not only limited to the field of business. In the Master’s programme in Accounting, students can choose their minor and elective courses from a wide selection to meet their interests and goals.
Aalto University is well-known for bridging disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus and freedom to choose elective courses across the university bring students from different fields under one roof. This spontaneous multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.
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Admission dates
The admissions to Master's programmes at Aalto University in the field of Business and Economics are organised once a year. The application period for studies starting in autumn 2024 is from 30 November 2023 to 2 January 2024.
Here are the most important dates to remember:
- 30 November 2023 – Application period begins and online application system opens
- 2 January 2024 – Application period ends and the online application system closes
- 5 April 2024 – Admission results are published at the earliest
- 25 April 2024 – Deadline for accepting the offered study place
Programme-specific Admission Requirements
In addition to these programme-specific admission requirements, applicants must also fulfill the general admission requirements.
Admission group 1
Bachelor’s degree from a university in Finland
| What is evaluated? | Previous studies |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements |
Required previous studies To be considered for admission, the applicant must demonstrate suitability by previous studies. A successful candidate has typically at least 18 ECTS credits of studies in accounting (including both financial accounting and management accounting). In addition, studies in subjects closely related to accounting (for example, corporate finance or business law) are considered an advantage. The programme reserves the right to assess the applicability and sufficiency of the prior studies. Course descriptions of the required previous studies must be explicitly included in the application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide adequate information on the content, credits, and grading of the courses. If the previous studies were evaluated on other scale than the ECTS, the applicant must attach an informal description regarding the evaluation scale to the application. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s), course descriptions |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
Please note! Remember to submit course descriptions for the required previous studies.
If your previous studies were evaluated in other scale than the ECTS then you need to attach an informal description regarding the evaluation scale to the application.
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree(s |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements |
Applicants are evaluated on the basis of GPA of the degree granting eligibility to apply. Additional studies outside the degree are not considered for GPA. Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.50 are not eligible for admission. If the studies were evaluated on other scale than the ECTS, it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide adequate information on the credits and grading of the courses. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
| What is evaluated? | Motivation letter (or motivation video) and CV |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements |
Motivation letter (or alternatively, motivation video) in English.
In case of motivation video, the applicant must include the video file or address (URL) of a video stream to his/her application. The video file or video stream must play in the VLC-application or in the web browser. The applicant is responsible that the address works. |
| Evaluated documents/Method of demonstrating competence | Motivation letter (or motivation video) and CV |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
Admission group 2
Bachelor’s degree from a university of applied science in Finland or from a higher education institution abroad
| What is evaluated? | Previous studies |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements |
Required previous studies To be considered for admission, the applicant must demonstrate suitability by previous studies. A successful candidate has typically at least 18 ECTS credits of studies in accounting (including both financial accounting and management accounting). In addition, studies in subjects closely related to accounting (for example, corporate finance or business law) are considered an advantage. The programme reserves the right to assess the applicability and sufficiency of the prior studies. Course descriptions of the required previous studies must be explicitly included in the application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide adequate information on the content, credits, and grading of the courses. If the previous studies were evaluated on other scale than the ECTS, the applicant must attach an informal description regarding the evaluation scale to the application. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s), course descriptions |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
Please note! Remember to submit course descriptions for the required previous studies.
If your previous studies were evaluated in other scale than the ECTS then you need to attach an informal description regarding the evaluation scale to the application.
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree(s) |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements |
Applicants are evaluated on the basis of GPA of the degree granting eligibility to apply. Additional studies outside the degree are not considered for GPA. Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.50 are not eligible for admission. If the studies were evaluated on other scale than the ECTS, it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide adequate information on the credits and grading of the courses. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
| What is evaluated? | Analytical and quantitative skills |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their GMAT/GRE score. GMAT or GRE is obligatory in admission group 2 (minimum score 550 in GMAT, 515 in GMAT Focus edition or GRE score of 154 verbal reasoning - 155 quantitative reasoning). |
| Evaluated documents | GMAT/ GRE test results |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
| What is evaluated? | Motivation letter (or motivation video) and CV |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements |
Motivation letter (or alternatively, motivation video) in English.
In case of motivation video, the applicant must include the video file or address (URL) of a video stream to his/her application. The video file or video stream must play in the VLC-application or in the web browser. The applicant is responsible that the address works. |
| Evaluated documents | Motivation letter (or motivation video) and CV |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
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Contact information
School of Business
[email protected], [email protected]
https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/masters-programme-in-accounting
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