The art of business decision-making has evolved dramatically, thanks to the explosion of big data. Taking place in Finland's top business school, the ISM programme trains the next generation of business leaders in the century of data and technology-driven culture. Not only do these areas provide significant growth for businesses, but they also play a major role in creating more sustainable practices. Improved transport routes cut emissions, while enhanced information management helps fight cyber threats.
Upon graduation from the ISM programme, graduates are equipped to work in the fascinating intersection of business and technology. They can expect to have the following skills:
Multidisciplinary leadership & project management skills. Graduates are competent to lead people and projects at the intersection of technology and business.
Quantitative data analysis skills. Graduates have a sense for business intelligence. They are able to analyse the rapidly growing volume and variety of available data utilised for business, technology and competitive intelligence.
Analytical problem-solving competence. Graduates can solve practical business problems by effectively utilising modern managerial tools and techniques for analysing big, open, and company-owned data.
Service management skills. Graduates can analyse and develop business models for digital and service business, and analyse and develop services.
Business intelligence and development skills. Hungry for knowledge, graduates have adopted the mindset to identify factors leading to commercial growth and time optimisation.
Strong quantitative research skill sets. Graduates have competence to design and lead research.
The language of instruction is English.
The tuition fee for this programme is 15 000 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.
ISM is organised by the School of Business and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:
● Programme studies (84 ECTS), including the Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)
● Elective Studies(36 ECTS)
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.
The first year provides the students with overall knowledge of business analytics and sustainable supply chains. As the studies proceed, students deepen their understanding of the areas of their choice, such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, or supply chain planning.
In the Master's Programme in Information and Service Management (ISM), you can focus on one of three areas of specialisation, and based on your preferences, by combining different courses you are able to build a more leadership or technology-oriented profile and study curriculum.
Specialisation paths:
● Business Analytics
The focus is on managing and analysing the rapidly growing volume and variety of data available, to be utilised for business, technology and competitive intelligence.
● Information Systems
The focus is on managing and developing business processes using information systems and networks, as well as IT project management and IT project implementation.
● Supply Chain Management
The focus is on the capabilities to manage and develop companies’ production, distribution, supply, purchasing and service operations.
Examples of the wide course selection:
● Decision Making and Choice Behavior (6 ECTS)
● Programming (6 ECTS)
● Sales & Operations Planning (6 ECTS)
● Global Business in the Digital Age (4 ECTS)
● Artificial Intelligence (5 ECTS)
ISM studentIt's more than a University, it's like a second home.
The ISM programme equips students with skills and knowledge that are highly sought after by international companies and markets. You experience working with international teams as over 40 percent of ISM students come from abroad. Moreover, the programme regularly welcomes guest lecturers from our partner and non-partner institutions.
Students are also encouraged to gain international experience by spending time in a foreign country. ISM students have the unique opportunity to complete a Double Master's Programme offered by the University of Cologne and the Aalto University School of Business. They also have the opportunity to complete minor studies (24 ECTS) at an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business.
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.
The degree grants eligibility for doctoral studies.
Graduates of ISM are employed in consulting and IT and have some of the highest starting salaries of all business majors according to both Finnish and international studies. By becoming an expert in one of the fastest growing disciplines, you can be assured that your skills stand the test of time.
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 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 Information and Service Management is a great foundation for doctoral studies and post-doc positions.
The Department of Information and Service Management conducts world-class research focusing on information systems science, management science and supply chain management.
Specific examples of current areas of research include:
● Sustainable supply chain management
● Risk management
● Health care procurement
● Business models
● Information systems implementation
● Applications of text analytics
● Machine learning and sustainable forestry
● Circular economy
● Data monetization
The ISM programme goes extremely well together with course offerings at Aalto School of Science, ranging from computer science and machine learning to industrial engineering. However, it is not the only field students can take courses from.
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 multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.
The ISM programme goes extremely well together with course offerings at Aalto School of Engineering and Science, ranging from computer science and machine learning to industrial engineering. However, it is not the only field students can take courses from.
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.
What is it like to study in Master's Programme in Information and Service Management? Watch the webinar recording where students tell more about the studies, student life and life in Finland and answer some of your questions.
Are you wondering what it is like to study at Aalto? Come chat with our students about all things Aalto on Unibuddy chat platform.
Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria decided in advance for each study option.
The applications to Master’s Programme in Information and Service Management are evaluated based on the following criteria.
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 have completed at least 12 ECTS credits of studies that give ability to start the advanced studies in the programme. The credits completed in the following subjects, or subjects that the Aalto University School of Business considers to be corresponding, may be considered: Logistics, Management Science, Information Systems Science, Technology Management, Business Mathematics and Statistics. Theses or internships cannot be included in these credits. The previous credits in the core area of the programme giving the ability to start the advanced studies are assessed by a representative of the programme. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| 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 with a weighted GPA of previous degree lower than 3.50 are not eligible for admission. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
| What is evaluated? | Amount and weighted GPA of previous studies |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | Amount and weighted GPA of previous studies giving the ability to start the advanced studies. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | not critical |
| What is evaluated? | Motivational letter and CV |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | The letter is written in English and the maximum length of the letter is 4000 characters (including space characters). |
| Evaluated documents | Motivation letter and CV |
| Criticality | not critical |
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 | To be considered for admission the applicant must have completed at least 24 ECTS credits of such studies that give ability to start the advanced studies in the programme. The credits completed in the following subjects, or subjects that the Aalto University School of Business considers to be corresponding, may be considered: Logistics, Management Science, Information Systems Science, Technology Management, Business Mathematics and Statistics. Theses or internships cannot be included in these credits. The previous credits in the core area of the programme giving the ability to start the advanced studies are assessed by a representative of the programme. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| 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? | Overall evaluation of previous studies |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | Applicants must demonstrate good academic performance. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | Critical (0 points = rejection) |
| What is evaluated? | Amount and weighted GPA of previous studies |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | Amount and weighted GPA of previous studies giving the ability to start the advanced studies. |
| Evaluated documents | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | not critical |
| What is evaluated? | Analytical and quantitative skills |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | 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? | Motivational letter and CV |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | The letter is written in English and the maximum length of the letter is 4000 characters (including space characters). |
| Evaluated documents | Motivation letter |
| Criticality | not critical |
The academic evaluation for the Master’s Programme in Information and Service Management is done based on the following programme-specific documents:
Please also remember to check the general document requirements for all master’s applicants.
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