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.
Master's Programme in Accounting
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:
1.12.2022 – 2.1.2023
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)
The application period will open 1.12.2022 09:00 (UTC+2)
Applying to master’s programmes
Cindy Svetkow, Consultant, EYThe key takeaways from my years at Aalto include critical thinking, networking and problem-solving skills.
Objectives of studies
Accounting plays a key role in any company’s strategic and operative decision-making. That role is to produce and use financial and non-financial information for making the right choices and strategic changes in a turbulent global business environment. Upon graduation from the Accounting programme, graduates will have:
- In-depth financial knowledge. Graduates are able to generate, analyse, interpret and communicate financial information for the benefit of organisations, stakeholders, and the broader society.
- Problem-solving skills. Graduates view managerial challenges through numbers and find solutions to answer them.
- Management capabilities. Graduates can effectively contribute to the development of management information systems.
- Decisive roles in organizations. Graduates impact and guide the strategic and operative decision making of organizations.
- Universal competence. Graduates possess accounting and financial skills that are universal and can be applied in all kinds of organizations, across industries and continents.
Upon graduation from the Accounting programme, graduates have not only financial substance in the field of accounting but also leading-edge skills to apply it to solve business problems, lead operative and strategic decision-making and develop better ways for companies to operate.
Scholarships and Tuition fees
The tuition fee is €15 000 per academic year for non-EU/EEA citizens. Prospective students subject to tuition fees are eligible to apply for Aalto University Scholarship.
Study language
The language of instruction is English.
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)
- Minor studies (24 ECTS)
- Elective studies (12 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.
Personal Study Plan (PSP)
Personal Study Plan (PSP) is a practical tool to define a student’s own study path, i.e. compiling an optimal selection of courses, aligned with the student's interests and programme requirements. PSP is also a useful tool for keeping up with studies. At best, it shows the stage at which students are with their studies and sets concrete milestones for them to follow.
Post-graduate study options
The degree grants eligibility for doctoral studies.
Content of studies
The teaching methods in the programme utilise case-based learning and analytical exercises: actual business problems get solved with real financial information and analytical tools. Theoretic lectures are balanced with independent hands-on assignments, case teaching and group work. Student feedback is well-received by the Department of Accounting and used to improve the learning experience further. There are two focus areas in the field of accounting:
Management accounting helps you learn how to prepare and use financial and non-financial information to serve the needs of managerial control and decision-making.
The core topics in this area of specialisation include:
- Management control and financial planning
- Strategic management accounting
- Capital investment decisions
- Performance management
- Accounting information system
- Risk management
Financial accounting helps you learn how to prepare and use financial statement information to serve the needs of outside stakeholders, especially the decision making of debt and equity holders.
The core topics in this area of specialisation include:
- Financial statement analysis
- International and national accounting standards
- Issues in group accounting and consolidated financial statements
- Auditing methods
Additionally, the programme equips students with knowledge in issues related to data analytics, sustainability, company law, corporate governance and research methodologies, for example.
- Capital Budgeting
- Strategic Management Accounting
- International Accounting
- Corporate Governance
- Big Data Analysis in Accounting
- Accounting for Sustainability
- Risk management in Accounting
International opportunities
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. Internationality and global topics are integral to the Accounting courses.
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.
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.
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.
Chat with Aalto students
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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 2022 is from 1 December 2021 to 3 January 2022.
Here are the most important dates to remember:
- 1 December 2021 – Application period begins and online application system opens
- 3 January 2022 – Application period ends and the online application system closes
- 29 March 2022 – Admission results are published at the earliest
- 20 April 2022 – 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 or equivalent GRE score). |
|
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) |
Contact information
In case of programme-specific questions and inquiries, please contact the Planning Officer of the programme Anna Kuparinen at [email protected].
If there are open questions about the admissions and applying instructions, you can reach out to [email protected].
Get to know us
Otaniemi, a crown jewel of Finnish architecture
A parkland-style campus established in the 1950s forms the core of Otaniemi. The overall vision of the campus was that of Alvar Aalto, and its individual buildings were designed by Aalto and other celebrated Finnish architects such as Reima and Raili Pietilä and Heikki and Kaija Sirén.
Get to know Finland and Aalto
Finland’s excellent reputation in education, combined with a wide range of courses offered in English, makes Finland and Aalto University an attractive study destination for international students.
Department of Accounting & Business Law
The Department of Accounting is one of the leading research faculties in the Nordic region.