We live in a world burdened by large-scale problems that have one thing in common: they resist any simple solution. The Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics equips students with a vast array of experience and skills that can be called upon for problem-solving. Students gain a profound understanding of physics and mathematics as well as skills that are highly transferable and applicable, leaving them with an exceptionally varied range of career paths.
Upon graduating from the Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics, graduates will have:
In this webinar, the programme representatives introduce Aalto University, give a programme overview, explain the programme structure and content, discuss career opportunities, and answer questions...
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.
Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:
If the student chooses to take a compact major, a minor is mandatory.
Our curricula are designed for full-time students. While master's students often work part-time during academic terms or full-time in the summer, full-time work during academic terms is discouraged. Part-time work requires careful planning and extra effort, as not most courses are available online or every year.
While there may be courses that are available online, as a general guideline, studies at Aalto University School of Science require on-campus attendance.
Two majors with a different focus are offered in the Master's Programme in Engineering Physics. Students should choose their major at the beginning of the programme. Personal academic advisors and the Learning Services are available for advice and guidance on study-related questions. The majors are as follows:
Students can focus on either experimental physics or theoretical physics and modeling with emphasis on technology applications or basic research. Students can further specialise in nanomaterials, solid-state applications of quantum technology, or purely theoretical physics related to the most pressing questions in modern solid-state physics and quantum technology. The unique AaltoQ20 quantum computer is also used in teaching to educate future experts.
This major addresses the most pressing questions faced by society in the near future: how to combat climate change and pollution by finding alternative energy sources. These include e.g. nuclear fission and fusion, solar energy, and fuel cells.
In addition to learning advanced physics and mathematics, the courses are carefully planned to enable students to think outside the traditional boundaries of different disciplines of physics and therefore inspire innovative thinking. This is what the Master's Programme in Engineering Physics is famous for – and engineers and scientists who are able to see the big picture are becoming increasingly sought after in the job market, too.
As research is deeply integrated into the curriculum, the topics in this arena include experimental and computational materials physics, nanophysics and nanoscience, quantum technology, and advanced energy technologies.
To give concrete examples of the topics covered in the programme, here are some courses picked from the extensive curriculum:
The study programme differs from more classical university physics in its proximity to concrete, practical questions in engineering or research. Learning takes many forms – from theory-driven and science-based research to company excursions. A concrete example of the programme’s emphasis on real-life problems and connection to the practical world is the Company Internship course (10 ECTS), where students gain valuable work experience and create connections to industry.
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.
The study environment in the programme is strongly international and studies are conducted in multicultural groups. The School of Science offers diverse possibilities for student exchange all over the world. Exchange studies can be included in the degree as, for example, an international minor. Many of the students participate in the summer student programme at CERN – European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland, one of the world's largest and most respected scientific research centers.
Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad every year. These students join the diverse Aalto community not only through their studies, but also through multiple free time events, celebrations and extracurricular activities around the campus. Active tutoring programs and support services work hard to help international students integrate to the Nordic culture and feel at home in Finland.
The degree programme provides eligibility for scientific postgraduate studies in Finland. The skills learned in the programme create an excellent basis for doctoral studies at Aalto University, another Finnish university or top international universities. Doctoral graduates from Aalto University continue for a researcher or other academic career or high-level business positions, among other things. Read more about applying for doctoral studies at Aalto University: https://www.aalto.fi/en/doctoral-education/how-to-apply-for-doctoral-studies
Engineering Physics graduates tend to work at the leading edge of technology and science, in either industry or academia. A significant fraction of graduates go on to pursue a PhD in related subjects, many in the research groups at the Department of Applied Physics.
Engineering Physics is a great foundation for almost any career, and graduates of the programme have traditionally found an exceptionally wide range of careers in the private and public sector, ranging from research to consulting and management positions. Typical career paths outside academia include, but are not limited to:
Some examples of the companies where our recently graduated alumni work are: Deloitte, Fortum, GE Healthcare, Minsait, Picosun, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), Rightware, Stora Enso, TVO, Vaisala, Vilant Systems, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Accenture, McKinsey, IQM
Aalto University has well-established career services to support students’ employment in Finland and abroad. Thanks to the flexible curriculum, many Aalto students work already during their studies and guarantee themselves entry positions before graduation. There is also a very active entrepreneurship community at Aalto, working as a springboard for founding a company.
Graduates from the School of Science at Aalto University have very good employment prospects in positions corresponding to their education. On this page, you can find information about employment and career development five years after graduation.
The studies in the programme are closely related to the research conducted at the Department of Applied Physics. The department is nationally and internationally acclaimed, hosting two Research Council of Finland Centres of Excellence: Quantum Materials (2026–2033) and Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (2022-2029). New large-scale Aalto-level and national initiatives on quantum technology have also been recently established and the Finnish Quantum Flagship.The Greater Helsinki Area, in practice the Aalto main campus, is ranked as the second-best quantum technology clusters in the world, ahead of any non-European players.
The Department of Applied Physics has a wide network of national and international co-operation, including many joint projects with companies and research institutes. For example, the Department is part of the Helsinki Institute of Physics (HIP), which coordinates national efforts at CERN and hosts the Finnish node of the CECAM computational network. The University is a part of EUROfusion network.
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 multidisciplinarity environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.
Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated according to the below Evaluation criteria. The evaluation process is described under Evaluation Process. In addition to the obligatory application documents, this study option asks the applicants to submit also the documents listed under Documents required by the study option.
This is the master version of the programme-specific evaluation criteria and its Finnish and Swedish versions are its translations.
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree(s) and possible other university studies, pace of studies |
| What we look for in an applicant? | The applicant’s study success will be evaluated based on the grade point average (GPA) and results in key courses. Excellent previous study success is expected. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| What is evaluated? | Contents and scope of previous studies |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
The main admission requirement to the Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics is a high quality Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Bachelor of Science in physics, materials science or a related field. The applicant should have a strong background in mathematics and undergraduate physics (30 ECTS or equivalent in the latter). Advanced knowledge of condensed matter physics and/or practical experience with experimental and computational physics research techniques are considered an advantage. The contents of the applicant’s previous degree(s) and other relevant university level studies are evaluated based on the courses available on the official transcript of records. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s). |
| What is evaluated? | Recognition and quality of the applicant's previous institution |
| What we look for in an applicant? | The recognition of the applicant’s home university affects the final interpretation of the academic performance. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | International and national rankings of higher education institutions |
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s further applicability to the study option, motivation, commitment for studies, and professional written communication skills |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
Applicant’s motivation and commitment for studies is evaluated based on the motivation letter. Studies in the Master’s programme should provide genuinely new knowledge for the applicant. If the applicant already has a Master’s degree, the motivation letter should clearly indicate why another Master’s degree is necessary. In most cases, non-degree or e.g. open university studies are recommended instead of degree studies to complement the earlier degree or to improve one’s professional skills. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Motivation letter |
| What is evaluated? | Work experience and other acquired knowledge/achievements e.g. publications, competitions. Other possible related university-level studies. |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
Especially valued are academic internships, conference attendance Applicants will benefit of the following:
|
| Method of demonstrating competence | Curriculum vitae, publications |
During the evaluation of eligible applications, applications to Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics are first evaluated based on the following, critical criteria:
Only the applications who fulfill the requirements for these criteria will be evaluated against the full set of evaluation criteria.
After the evaluation of the remaining criteria below, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation of all criteria.
The admission process is competitive and only the best applicants are selected yearly. Not all applicants fulfilling the requirements can necessarily be admitted.
This study option (master’s programme) requires two sets of documents from their applicants:
The motivation letter should be written in English. The maximum length of the motivation letter is about 4000 characters. There are no specific instructions for the content of the motivation letter except for the general advice that you should write a separate motivation letter for each study option you apply to.
The lack of this document will adversely affect the evaluation of your application.
The lack of this document will adversely affect the evaluation of your application.
Curious about life at Aalto University? Chat with Aalto students on Unibuddy and join them for virtual Coffee sessions on Fridays!
Appealing opportunities for interesting summer jobs and the prospect of conducting a thesis in a preferred subject drew Evren Korkmazgil to enroll in the Engineering Physics master's programme at Aalto University.
It was his interest in nuclear physics that led Ilja Stanovohh to choose the Advanced Energy Technologies major.
The Department of Applied Physics pursues vigorous research in physical sciences and creates important industrial applications that hold great technological potential.
The Guild of Physics is the association for the Engineering Physics and Mathematics students at the Aalto University, although everyone else is welcome too. The Guild was founded in 1947 and currently has about 550 members.
Study in Finland at Aalto University, where science and art meet technology and business. Join a top-ranked, multidisciplinary community!
Finland is renowned for its excellent rankings in education and quality of life.
Learning Services of Aalto University School of Science
For enquiries regarding the programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Learning Services of School of Science
sci.admissions@aalto.fi
Admission Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services
admissions@aalto.fi
