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International Design Business Management, Master of Science (Technology) (School of Science)
IDBM is a pioneering and renowned study programme that truly embodies the vision of Aalto by integrating design and technology with global business development. Through transdisciplinary teamwork and real-life business challenges provided by our prominent industry partners, the programme prepares students as the next generation of creative professionals. IDBM is uniquely positioned as the only programme offered in all six schools of Aalto, allowing programme graduates to earn a Master’s degree in either business, design or technology.
Degree:
Master of Science (Technology)
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:
Technology and Engineering
Credits:
120 ECTS
Organising school:
School of Science
Tuition fees:
For non-EU/EEA citizens, €15000/y (Master’s studies)
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Applying to master’s programmes
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.
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 programme includes in total 120 cr:
50 cr IDBM major studies, e.g.:
- JOIN-E7009 IDBM Challenge 6 cr
- ELEC-E9900 Networked Partnering and Product Innovation 5 cr
- 26E04350 Business Model Design 6 cr
- JOIN-E7007 IDBM Capstone: Industry Project 15 cr
- In addition to IDBM courses, the programme includes courses by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management on organizational design, leadership, product management, and research methods.
20 cr engineering specialisation/minor studies
20 cr electives
30 cr thesis
There may be some changes to the courses for the academic years 2024–2026, the new curricula will be published in April 2024.
Specialisations
All master students from the different tracks (Design, Science and Technology, Business) will mostly study the same compulsory IDBM major courses during the first year of studies. The courses include topics such as creative teamwork and business model design. 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.
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
More information about the research: https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-industrial-engineering-and-management.
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.
Applying to master’s programmes
Programme-specific admission requirements
International Design Business Management (School of Science) applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated according to the below Evaluation criteria. The evaluation process is described under Applicant evaluation process. In addition to the obligatory application documents, this study option asks the applicants to submit also the documents listed under Requested documents.
The applications to IDBM (School of Science) are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Relevance of previous studies
| What is evaluated? | Previous studies |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
The applicants are expected to have a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in some field of engineering or natural sciences and at least 25 ECTS of business studies included in the degree. Concerning business studies, the application should clearly demonstrate basic knowledge of management science, covering at least the basic concepts of strategic management, operations management, financial management, and organizational behavior. Other Bachelor’s degrees may be suitable only if the content of these studies, together with relevant university-level non-degree studies meet our expectations. The application documents should unambigously show sufficient amount of studies similar to typical Bachelor's level engineering studies:
Even though the studies in the relevant subject areas would reach the minimum, they may be inferior when compared to other applicants. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records and degree certificate(s). Course descriptions of courses taken in the previously mentioned relevant subject areas in cases where the amount of business studies does not clearly exceed 25 ECTS or the applicant does not have a B.Sc. in some field of engineering. |
Academic performance
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree |
| 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). For example, applicants from Finnish universities should have a GPA of at least 4.0 on the grading scale of 1-5. For universities of applied sciences, the expected GPA is generally at least 4.5, however. 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) |
Suitability (1st phase)
| What is evaluated? | Motivation |
| 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:
|
| Method of demonstrating competence | Motivation letter |
Other areas of competence
| What is evaluated? | Professional experience |
| What we look for in an applicant? | Applicant’s professional experience is looked at broadly. Special emphasis is put on 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 |
Suitability (2nd phase)
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s further applicability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills |
| 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 |
Please note that the admission process is competitive and not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted.
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 by phone or on a virtual meeting platform if necessary.
After the evaluation conducted in Phase 2, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases 1 and 2.
In addition to obligatory application documents, the applicants to IDBM (School of Science) are requested to provide the following programme-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?
- The contribution I will bring to fellow students and the continued success of the IDBM Programme?
The lack of the above 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. - Officially attested copies of certificates and study records concerning other university-level degree or non-degree studies in addition to the Bachelor’s degree providing eligibility.
- Course descriptions
These are vital in two cases because the mere course titles in study records do not describe the content sufficiently:
• If the amount of your business studies does not clearly exceed 25 ECTS, course descriptions should show the amount of business studies and the required basic knowledge.
• If you do not have a B.Sc. in engineering, course descriptions should show that you have completed corresponding typical bachelor's level engineering studies.
Course descriptions should be linked to courses you have completed or shall complete in your current programme. A curriculum of a programme does not exhibit this and therefore, is not a sufficient document.
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Department of Industrial Engineering and Management
We conduct world-class research and education focusing on the creation and transformation of technology-based business.
School of Science
Science for tomorrow’s technology, innovations and businesses
Contact information
IDBM Programme Manager
Johanna Rametta
Admission Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services
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