Study options

Creative Sustainability, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

For applicants

The Master’s Programme in Creative Sustainability (CS) provides an interdisciplinary learning platform in the fields of design, business, and materials and chemical engineering. Sustainability is an increasingly relevant design perspective as designers are expected to contribute to innovative solutions and to critically examine different framings of sustainability concerns. Studies in the Creative Sustainability Master's Programme prepare students to make an active contribution in sustainability through creative design practice.

Creative sustainability students studying

Degree:

Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Application period:

1 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026

Language of instruction:

English

Duration:

2 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant Bachelor's degree

Field of study:

Art and Design

Credits:

120 ECTS

Organising school:

School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Tuition fees:

For non-EU/EEA citizens, €17000/y (Master’s studies) Read more

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HOW TO APPLY

Description

The Master’s Programme in Creative Sustainability (CS) provides an interdisciplinary learning platform in the fields of design, business, and materials and chemical engineering. Sustainability is an increasingly relevant design perspective as designers are expected to contribute to innovative solutions and to critically examine different framings of sustainability concerns. Studies in the Creative Sustainability Programme prepare students to make an active contribution in sustainability through creative design practice.

Complex sustainability challenges, such as climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity, and poverty and inequality, call for new mindsets and skills. These mindsets should incorporate a systems-based view of the planet and the ability to work with professionals from different fields and cultures. Sustainability challenges require critical insight and multi-level collaboration that involve a wide range of stakeholders with often competing interests and values. The CS programme prepares students to respond to these challenges through its international, interdisciplinary, diverse and inclusive learning environment.

The CS master's programme brings together students who are devoted to developing systemic solutions, working in interdisciplinary teams, and challenging themselves with practical learning tasks. Creativity in the programme denotes a focus on fresh, holistic, and emerging innovations and far-reaching alternative and regenerative futures. The studies include state-of-the-art knowledge about the interlinked environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of sustainability coupled with learning in practical projects conducted together with partner organizations.

The Creative Sustainability master's programme is organized jointly by the School of Business, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and the School of Chemical Engineering. Students who enter the programme via the School of Arts, Design and Architecture graduate with a degree of Master of Arts. As an offering in the Department of Design, the Creative Sustainability master’s programme provides opportunities to develop skills and knowledge to promote sustainable development as a broad societal change process.

Please see the intended learning outcomes of the study option at the Programme page.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction in the degree programme Creative Sustainability is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fee for this programme is 17 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.

Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

The two-year CS programme comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits, divided between compulsory joint Creative Sustainability studies, compulsory studies in design, elective studies, and a master’s thesis. The pedagogical approach is based on integrating teaching and research, problem-based learning, and strong connection to practical outcomes. The curriculum is based on personal study plans, in which the students can also include studies completed at other universities or other modules from Aalto University.

More information about the course offerings is available on the programme website.

For further details on the education content, see the Student guide under Curriculum

Courses and curriculum

Specialisations

The Master's Programme in Creative Sustainability contains three tracks that are organised through the separate intake processes in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Business, and School of Chemical Engineering.

Internationalisation

The Creative Sustainability programme is genuinely international. Thanks to this, the CS learning experience takes place in a diverse, while like-minded and supportive group of highly motivated students and faculty.

Students have opportunities to make exchange studies in another university through exchange agreements of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Further study opportunities

The degree grants eligibility for doctoral studies.

Career opportunities

Creative Sustainability studies prepare the students to work as sustainability experts in a wide range of organizations also including those with a strategic view on transformation towards sustainability. The student can develop expertise in different professional profiles which vary from research skills to the practical skills of management, leadership, design and engineering in different environments.

Design confronts new challenges in innovating for sustainable development. The Creative Sustainability programme teaches skills to meet these challenges through specialization and interdisciplinary work. Graduates from Creative Sustainability programme are attractive targets for progressive local and international employers as well as prepared for academic careers and independent entrepreneurial activity.

Aalto University's Creative Sustainability studies prepare the students to work as sustainability experts in a wide range of organizations

Research focus

Creative sustainability studies draw from research in the fields of design for sustainability, sustainable consumption, sustainability innovation and management and on research on new materials and circular economy.

Co-operation with other parties

The programme is particularly planned to support collaboration between disciplines. Beyond this, Aalto University is well-known for bridging disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus and freedom of choosing elective courses across the university bring students from different fields under one roof. This spontaneous interdisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.

The pedagogy is based on real life challenges, and the studies present many opportunities to interact and network with other stakeholders and organizations involved in sustainability.

HOW TO APPLY

Evaluation criteria 2027

Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that has been decided in advance for each study option. The applications to Master’s Programme in Creative Sustainability (CS), Master of Arts will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

What is evaluated	Grades of the previous degree(s)
What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements	Good academic performance in previous studies
Method of demonstrating competence	Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s)

What is evaluated	Demonstrations of artistic and/or design work or assignments
What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements	Relevant design practice relates to promoting sustainability and social change.
Method of demonstrating competence	Portfolio; include only 3 projects that best demonstrate relevant design practice; portfolio size max 30MB

What is evaluated	Content and quantity in relation to the applied study-option-specific requirements
What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements	Relevant previous studies can relate to a many fields. However, studies in sustainability, environmental studies, as well as studies relating to social change are regarded as an advantage.
Method of demonstrating competence	Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s)

Phase I

What is evaluated	Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies and communication skills
What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements	Suitable applicants have demonstrated some engagement in sustainability either in their previous study, work or through other commitments. Suitable applicants also have emerging ideas on how they might be professionally engaged in sustainability in the future.
Method of demonstrating competence	Motivation letter

Phase II

What is evaluated	Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies and communication skills
What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements	Suitable applicants have demonstrated some engagement in sustainability either in their previous study, work or through other commitments. Suitable applicants also have emerging ideas on how they might be professionally engaged in sustainability in the future.
Method of demonstrating competence	Interview

What is evaluated	Work experience and other acquired knowledge/achievements e.g. publications, non-formal education, competitions
What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements	Sustainability requires skills of communication and analytical skills as well as creative problem-solving. Not all these competence areas are captured in design outputs but can also include e.g. publications.
Method of demonstrating competence	CV

Evaluation process

The applicants will be first evaluated based on Aalto’s general eligibility requirements. Applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that has been decided in advance for each study option.

The selection process for those who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises of two phases:

In Phase I, the applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria

Academic performance
Artistic and/or design practice
Suitability/Motivation letter
Other areas of competence

Only the applicants who are ranked highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to phase II in the selection process.

In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria

Suitability/ Interview

Part of the applicants are invited to the second phase. The invitation to the second phase is sent to the applicants at latest seven days in advance.

Interviews are conducted online. The interview is used to further assess the merits and suitability of the applicant.

After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, the highest scoring applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases I and II.

Documents required by the study option

This study option (master’s programme) requires two sets of documents from their applicants:

Obligatory application documents detailed on the Apply to master’s programmes webpage
Documents required by the study option listed below

A portfolio consisting of the applicant’s own works is mandatory.

In the portfolio, applicants display work that shows their artistic expression and design skills. The portfolio must contain maximum three samples of the applicant’s previous scientific, professional and/or artistic activity. Artwork/project work can be provided as technical drawings, slides or photographs. If you present a work that has been undertaken as a team, please clarify your particular role in, and contribution to, the project. The work contained in the portfolio must be catalogued, listing at least the title and/or theme, materials used, size, purpose and year of completion of each piece. The catalogue must also detail where and when the work has been exhibited, displayed or published.

The portfolio should be uploaded as a single PDF-file. Maximum size for the portfolio is 30 MB and it can include maximum of 14 pages, larger ones will not be evaluated, even if the system allows uploading larger ones. Name the file as: Portfolio-surname-firstname.pdf. The intake committee will only evaluate the material displayed in the PDF file. Links to external material (e.g. website) or video material will not be considered during the intake process. The portfolios may be examined on a laptop display of ca. 14”. It is highly advisable to use e.g., 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio.

Document language: English

The applicant’s professional experience will be looked at broadly, and especially with regard to work experience relevant to the Creative Sustainability programme. Professional experience will be evaluated based on the CV.

Document language: English

The applicant must convey his/her motivation for studying in the Creative Sustainability programme by writing a letter of motivation. The letter should include responses to the following questions:

What is your most significant achievement or success in the area of sustainability and design?
Why do you want to become a student in the Creative Sustainability programme at Aalto University?
What types of projects would you like to do during your studies and as your masters’ thesis?
What do you want to do after the master programme?

The maximum length of the motivation letter is 2000 characters, including spaces.

Document language: English

Checklist of all application documents

Obligatory application documents required from all applicants:

Bachelor’s degree certificate
Transcript of records
Authorised translations (if applicable)
Degree certificate and transcript of records of another higher education degree (if applicable)
Copy of a valid passport or an official identification card (does not apply to Finnish citizens)
Proof of language proficiency
Copy of your fee-exempting residence permit card in Finland (if applicable)

Documents required by this study option:

Portfolio
Motivation letter
CV

Remember to check the detailed instructions for the obligatory application documents, including the language requirements, on the Apply to master’s programmes webpage.

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Contact information

Learning Services at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services.

arts-admissions@aalto.fi

Admissions Services

For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admissions Services.

admissions@aalto.fi

Updated: 1.9.2026
Published: 7.9.2018

Creative Sustainability, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Degree:

Application period:

Language of instruction:

Duration:

Eligibility:

Field of study:

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Organising school:

Tuition fees:

Checklist of all application documents

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Creative Sustainability, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

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Table of contents

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Description

Language of instruction

Tuition fees and scholarships

Structure of studies

Specialisations

Internationalisation

Further study opportunities

Career opportunities

Research focus

Co-operation with other parties

Evaluation criteria 2027

Academic performance

Artistic and/or design practice

Relevance of previous studies

Suitability

Other areas of competence

Evaluation process

Phase I

Phase II

Documents required by the study option

Portfolio

CV / Professional experience

Motivation letter

Checklist of all application documents

Learn more

Chat with Aalto students

Insights from studying collaborative MA programmes (Part 1/2) | Aalto Blogs (external link)

Insights from studying collaborative MA programmes (Part 2/2) | Aalto Blogs (external link)

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