International Design Business Management, Master of Science (Technology)
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Description
We do not work in silos, so why should we study in one? IDBM students tackle complex, real-life challenges in multidisciplinary teams and develop holistic perspectives of tomorrow’s challenges. The programme embraces design more broadly as a method, mindset and competitive advantage. It does so by focusing on product, service and business design, technology and innovation management. IDBM graduates have:
- The ability to work in and lead diverse teams. Graduates have discovered and unlocked their potential in multidisciplinary teams. They have developed important interpersonal and communications skills through collaborative industry projects. Become an effective team player by improving vital project management skills.
- A forward-looking view of the world. Graduates possess knowledge about current and future trends shaping organisations and societies.
- Not only business sense but design and tech-savviness. Graduates have expanded their competence achieved in business by bringing in design and technical perspectives to gain a more holistic view on how to create value for end-users.
- Competence to manage, develop and lead design-driven strategies. Graduates have gained insight into how design is managed and how can its impact be evaluated and analysed. They have learnt from industry leaders how to create new ideas and execute them with design-driven strategies and processes.
Upon graduation from the IDBM programme, graduates are ready to take on significant roles in teams working in the intersection of design, business and technology. They are able to drive innovation and lead initiatives to undertake new business ventures in global environments.
Language of instruction
Language of instruction 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 programme includes in total 120 cr:
- 40 cr IDBM major studies
- 25 cr engineering specialisation/minor studies
- 25 cr electives
- 30 cr thesis
Specialisations
Applicant should hold a B.Sc. or equivalent degree in a relevant field in engineering, technology or natural sciences. The previous studies of the applicants should be relevant for the specialization they are applying for.
The compatibility and relevance of previous studies is evaluated in relation to the desired engineering specialization area as stated in the letter of motivation.
All master students from the different tracks (Design, Science and Technology, Business) will study the same compulsory IDBM major courses during the first year of studies. The courses include topics such as creative teamwork, business model design, corporate entrepreneurship and global virtual teamwork. One of the core IDBM major courses is the six-month long Industry Project where multi-disciplinary student teams work together on real-life challenges provided by industry partners. In addition to the major studies, students are expected to complete specialisation studies in his/her own field. The amount of specialisation studies vary between IDBM study options. Further information on IDBM programme website.
Internationalisation
Aalto University also offers diverse possibilities for developing one’s global competence by:
- choosing courses with intercultural approach, learning foreign languages and/or becoming a student tutor for international students
- completing part of the degree abroad in an international partner university as an exchange student
- conducting practical training or Master’s thesis abroad
- taking a summer course abroad
Further study opportunities
The programme provides eligibility for doctoral studies.
Career opportunities
IDBM prepares you for a career in creative industries and in organisations that draw on creativity, design and technology as key components of their competitive positioning. These career opportunities exist both in large multinationals and in startups, in a variety of fields as organisations are starting to recognise the importance of design in retaining their relevance and creating better value. In positions ranging from service design to design and strategy, IDBM graduates leverage design to create new products and services, often involving the latest technology.
Aalto University has well-established career services which help you get employed in Finland and abroad. Aalto students tend to find good positions with ease upon their graduation. There is also a very active entrepreneurship community at Aalto, which can help as a springboard for founding a company. Finally, if an academic career is of interest, the Master’s programme in International Design Business Management is a great foundation for doctoral studies and post-doc positions.
Research focus
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Co-operation with other parties
IDBM is a truly multidisciplinary programme that embodies the vision of Aalto: a community of bold thinkers, where science and art meet technology and business. You have the entirely unique opportunity to study and work together with ambitious students from the schools of ARTS, Business, Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Science.
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.
Chat with Aalto students
Are you wondering what it is like to study at Aalto? Come chat with our students and alumni about all things Aalto on Unibuddy chat platform.
Upcoming IDBM Info sessions
We will organise an IDBM webinar on Wednesday 4 December 2024 at 16.00 (GMT+2 Helsinki, Finland time) via Zoom: https://aalto.zoom.us/j/63441581704. You are welcome to ask questions at the webinar!
Admission requirements
Evaluation process
Please note that the admission process is competitive and not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted.
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 applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises of two phases.
Phase 1
In Phase 1, the applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Relevance of previous studies
Academic performance
Suitability / Motivation letter
Other areas of competence
Only the applicants who are ranked highest in the Phase 1 evaluation will be invited to Phase 2 in the selection process.
Phase 2
In Phase 2, the evaluation is based on the following criteria:
Suitability/Interview
Some of the applicants are invited to Phase 2. The invitation to Phase 2 will be send to the applicants at latest 7 days in advance. Phase 2 consists of a face-to-face interview, which can be conducted online.
After the evaluation conducted in Phase 2, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases 1 and 2.
Programme-specific admission requirements 2025: International Design Business Management (TECH)
Phase 1
| What is evaluated? | Previous studies |
| Admission requirements/What we look for in an applicant |
Applicant should hold a B.Sc. or equivalent degree in a relevant field. The compatibility and relevance of previous studies is evaluated in relation to the desired engineering specialization area as stated in the letter of motivation. To be considered for admission, the applicants should have completed a high quality Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology or natural sciences. The previous studies of the applicants should be relevant for the specialization they are applying for. In addition to the studies giving basis to apply to the programme, other possible studies are also evaluated. However, the study option should provide genuinely new knowledge and enhance the career prospects of the applicant. Thus, applicants who already have a master’s degree in a closely related field will only be admitted with well-justified reasons which should be explained in the motivation letter. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | Critical |
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree |
| Admission requirements/What we look for in an applicant |
In addition to compatible previous studies, the applicants are expected to have very good previous study success (GPA and results in key courses). Applicants with a weighted GPA of previous degree lower than 3.00 are not eligible for admission. The cumulative grade point average is calculated from the bachelor’s degree (or the degree giving the eligibility). Applicant’s grades from other completed studies of which the applicant has provided the appropriate documents by the end of the application period will also be evaluated. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Criticality | Critical |
| What is evaluated? | Motivational letter |
| Admission requirements/What we look for in an applicant |
The applicant must show his/her motivation for studying in the IDBM programme by providing a motivation letter. The letter is written in English and the maximum length of the letter is 4000 characters (including space characters). The motivation letter should answer at least the following questions:
The applicant must clearly indicate in the motivation letter in which specialization area(s) they are interested. The specialization areas are listed below. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Motivational letter |
| Criticality | Critical |
Specialization areas
Please note, that admitted applicants will be allocated to the schools of Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Engineering based on the specialization area they have stated in their motivation letter. By choosing the specialization the applicant is also choosing the school. The compatibility and relevance of previous studies is evaluated in relation to the desired engineering specialization area as stated in the letter of motivation. Therefore, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the different specializations. You can use the minor guide (https://www.aalto.fi/en/minors#/) to check what courses the specializations offer.
School of Chemical Engineering
- CHEM IDBM (courses in Bioproducts Engineering; Biotechnology; Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering; or Chemistry and Materials Science)
School of Electrical Engineering
- Acoustics and Audio Technology
- Biosystems and Bioelectronics
- Communications Engineering
- Control, Robotics and Autonomous Systems
- Electrical Power and Energy Engineering
- Micro- and Nanoelectronic Circuit Design
- Microwave Engineering
- Photonics and Nanotechnology
- Speech and Language Technology
- Signal Processing and Data Science
- Space Science and Technology
- Electronic and Digital Systems
School of Engineering
- Advanced Energy Solutions
- Building Technology
- Engineering Materials
- Geoengineering and Mineral Based Materials
- Geoinformatics
- Human-Centered Living Environment
- Interdisciplinary Product Development
- Marine Technology
- Mechatronics
- Production Engineering
- Real Estate Economics
- Solid Mechanics
| What is evaluated? | Professional experience / CV |
| Admission requirements/What we look for in an applicant | Applicant’s professional experience is looked at broadly and is considered to include work experience relevant to the IDBM programme as well as experience in scientific and artistic work, entrepreneurship and / or other relevant civic activity. Professional experience will be evaluated based on the CV. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Curriculum vitae |
| Criticality | Not critical |
Phase 2
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s further applicability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills |
| Admission requirements/What we look for in an applicant |
Based on the above evaluation criteria, the best applicants are invited for an interview. The maximum number of applicants invited to the interview is double the amount of the quota. The applicants’ practical skills and ability to communicate in English are evaluated and the applicants are required to give a short oral presentation in English on a subject given when invited to the interview. The applicants are asked a series of questions regarding their motivation, abilities, and attitudes. Interviews can be conducted by phone or on a virtual meeting platform if necessary. The final acceptance of applicants is made on the basis of the interviews. The applicant can only be admitted to one Master’s Programme in International Design Business Management. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Interview |
| Criticality | Critical |
Study-option-specific documents requested
The documents requested from all applicants are listed on the Aalto University website (https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes). In addition, applicants to this study option are requested to provide the following study-option-specific documents:
Motivation letter
The applicant must show his/her motivation for studying in the IDBM programme by providing a motivation letter. The letter is written in English and the maximum length of the letter is 4000 characters (including space characters). The motivation letter should answer at least the following questions:
- Why am I applying for the Master's Programme in IDBM?
- What am I expecting to learn or gain by participating in the IDBM Programme?
- What specialization area studies would I choose and why?
- The contribution I will bring to fellow students and the continued success of the IDBM Programme?
The applicant must clearly indicate in the motivation letter in which specialization area(s) listed they are interested. (The lack of this application document will adversely affect the evaluation of your application.)
CV
The professional experience of the applicants is looked at broadly and is considered to include work experience relevant to the IDBM programme as well as experience in artistic and scientific work, including entrepreneurship and other relevant civic activities.
Contact information
Johanna Rametta
IDBM Programme Manager
Learning Services of Aalto School of Chemical Engineering
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