Study options

Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management

What opportunities do new technologies bring about for companies? How can the necessary changes be implemented? How to motivate employees to embrace change as a leader? The Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) programme answers these questions while educating future leaders and changemakers who know what it takes to create, lead and transform technology-based businesses.

Aalto University / students doing group work / photography Unto Rautio

Degree:

Master of Science (Technology)

Application period:

1.12.2021 – 3.1.2022

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)

HOW TO APPLY

The Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management is a unique combination of engineering, business and leadership studies. The recent growth in the importance of digital technologies and the on-going digitalisation of companies and society make the skills that our graduates have even more valuable. In particular, the ability to understand and integrate technology and engineering on the one hand, and business and management on the other hand is becoming increasingly critical.

Upon graduating from the Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management, graduates will have:

An integrative understanding of technology and business. You will understand how technologies and business processes are connected to value creation and building competitive advantage.
Strong leadership and people skills. You will be equipped to lead and develop organisations and motivate people to realise their inherent potential.
Practical problem-solving and strong analytical skills. You will be skilled in data crunching, building statistical models, and applying the data to solve problems and create business value.
A can-do attitude. You will be confident and willing to face challenges and tackle new tasks with determination.
An entrepreneurial mindset. You will be able to identify innovative opportunities for adding value for technology-based businesses.
Broad knowledge of various organisations. You will be able to apply the learnings to a wide scale of technology-based businesses from early-stage startups to large multinational corporations.
Hands-on experience. You will have practical experience in putting what you learn into action within the context of technology-based businesses.

Structure of studies

Industrial Engineering and Management is organised by the School of Science and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:

Major (45 ECTS)
Minor (20 ECTS)
Electives (25 ECTS)
Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)

The variety of courses provided is extensive, covering topics like entrepreneurship, innovation, finance and organisation design and leadership. There are several common core courses for all three majors, on which more information can be found in the next section.

The minor is chosen from a technical field and guarantees that the student acquires the appropriate level of knowledge in a technical discipline. The minor can be chosen from an appropriate field of engineering, where appropriateness depends on the student’s educational background. To learn more about choosing the minor, please visit the student portal Into (into.aalto.fi).

Students of the programme can also apply for taking part in the HealthTech Linkage programme, which is a joint programme between Aalto University’s School of Science, and University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Medicine. The program is interdisciplinary and highly interactive, bringing together a select and diverse mix of students from different backgrounds, such as engineering as well as health and medicine. As part of the programme, students solve innovation challenges for companies that represent different aspects of the HealthTech industry, such as health care services, medical device technologies and pharma. Visits to companies and joint social activities are also a core part of the course.

Specialisations

The programme offers three majors. No matter which major students choose there are several common core courses. Students are encouraged to choose their major before starting the programme. It is noteworthy to mention, however, that the majors have many overlapping themes and there is a variety of optional courses. Therefore, choosing a specific major does not bind the student to a fixed curriculum or a career path, but allows them the flexibility to develop their unique competency profiles.

There are three majors in the Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management:

How can companies grow and prosper while simultaneously preserving their adaptability, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset? What are the key elements to build a high-performing company culture? The major in Organization Design and Leadership focuses on issues of organisational design, motivation and leadership that are critical to the creation and transformation of technology-based businesses. Typical entry positions for students after graduation are in business development functions, consulting (in particular regarding change management), development of knowledge work practices, and functions that enable and support the development of human potential.

How do you organize and build operations and systems that are efficient and best contribute to the organisation’s goals and competitive advantage? What kind of strategies, actions, and techniques best support a company to achieve their environmental goals? Operations Management is a wide field with many diverse career paths. Operations manager is one example of a typical position, which may gradually lead to an executive role, such as COO (Chief Operating Officer), in a larger organisation. Because managing operations means prioritising and getting the right things done, it is excellent training for general management duties and it gives capabilities to run a new venture, as well. There are also several fields of specialisation in operations management enabling diverse positions in a variety of organisations from the very beginning of the career. Furthermore, expert positions in consulting, research or educational organisations are possible.

How do you identify, formulate and implement actionable steps that improve or sustain business performance? The major in Strategy puts particular emphasis on the development of strong analytical and judgment skills. It exposes students to a wide range of critical business situations that call for analysis and the exercise of judgment, and thereby develops a broad and holistic perspective on technology-based businesses. Majoring in Strategy offers students many attractive career options. Common entry positions after graduation include strategy and business development functions in corporations, management consulting, investment banking, founders/CEOs in startups, positions in venture capital and private equity firms or other organisations building and transforming technology-based business. Later in their careers our graduates often work as CEOs, members of top management teams, and investors.

>> To learn more about the IEM studies, see the programme curriculum (into.aalto.fi).

Studies in Industrial Engineering and Management are the best field for high-growth entrepreneurship.

Risto Siilasmaa, Chairman of Nokia, Founder of F-Secure, Alumnus of Aalto IEM

Internationalisation

The programme’s study environment is highly international and studies are conducted in multicultural groups. Students can participate in the international exchange programme at one of Aalto University’s many top-tier partner universities worldwide. Other options to gain international experience are to include a summer course or practical training abroad in the degree.

Apart from the studies, student life among IEM students is very welcoming and active. New students can join the IEM student organisation called Prodeko, which provides different activities, events and other opportunities to balance studies with free-time fun. Prodeko also organises networking events and mentoring by alumni of the programme. They also organize an annual seminar for students, alumni and faculty. For more information on Prodeko, please visit prodeko.org.

In addition to the invaluable support by Prodeko, the programme’s alumni act as mentors for international students, smoothing their integration into the IEM and Aalto communities.

As Prodeko members, students also join the international student organisation ESTIEM that organises events and activities around Europe for IEM students. It comprises over 60 student organisations across the continent and offers not only great networking opportunities but also possibilities to take on responsibility in different leadership positions – already as a student. Fore more information, please visit estiem.org.

Many of our students also participate in Slush, which is a yearly startup event (one of the largest in Europe) that is organized by students. Fore more information, please visit slush.org.

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.

Further study opportunities

The programme qualifies for doctoral studies (Doctor of Science in an applicable field). Several graduates of the programme have also launched successful academic careers and are now working at leading European or North American universities.

Career opportunities

Our alumni have taken expert and leadership positions in a number of different types of companies, ranging from start-ups to large multinational management consulting companies, as well as public and non-profit organisations. They have co-founded several startups that include some of the fastest-growing companies in Europe (for example Supercell, Relex), and have been involved in some of the major strategic decisions taken by a number of multinational companies (for example Nokia, Kone, Stora Enso).

Our department’s close collaboration with the industry and an active alumni network helps students build relationships with companies throughout the studies. Companies are involved in many courses, for example through guest lectures or company assignments, which allows students to establish contacts. The majority of students write their master’s thesis for a company, which often leads to employment after graduation. Typically, graduates work in expert, analyst, consulting or project management roles in their first job after graduation (see the description of the majors for more information about typical entry jobs).

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.

Research focus

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management conducts world-class research focusing on the creation and transformation of technology-based business. Examples of current areas of research include:

Digital platforms and the platform economy
Artificial intelligence (AI) in the corporate strategy process
Digital operations management
Forecasting in retail management
The impact of COVID-19 on global supply chains
Leading corporate venturing initiatives
Crowdfunding

Research is typically done in close collaboration with companies and the goal is to make an impact on real-life business practices. More information on the relevant research conducted can be found from the website of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. To see examples of practitioner publications, please visit the following articles:

Co-operation with other parties

The IEM programme is multidisciplinary in itself. We cooperate closely with national and international companies - ranging from start-ups to multinational enterprises – through e.g. guest lecturers and students solving real-world business problems. The faculty and students are also active in organising events, company visits and mentoring opportunities. The alumni are closely involved with the current generation of students and actively participate in events jointly organised by alumni, students and faculty. In addition, the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management has research cooperations with leading international universities.

Aalto University is well-known for bridging disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus brings 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.

Programme-specific admission requirements

Industrial Engineering and Management 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 Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Academic performance

What is evaluated?

Grades of the previous degree(s) and previous time-to-graduation

What we look for in an applicant?

We only admit applicants with outstanding academic performance. The degree certificate and/or the official transcript of university records should clearly indicate that the applicant has been among the best students (top 10-15%) in his or her home university:

For example, an applicant has achieved consistently the best grades throughout the degree studies (very high weighted average grade or GPA), which typically leads to graduation with distinction.
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.

We emphasize the grades achieved in the degree that first gives the eligibility for applying.

We seek students who will complete the programme successfully in due time. Therefore, the applicant’s previous time-to-graduation matters besides the GPA. If the applicant has several relevant degrees, all attached information will affect the assessment but we value consistent performance throughout the academic record. However, the level of the highest degree achieved is not a proof of academic performance in this context.

Method of demonstrating competence

Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s)

Relevance of previous studies

What is evaluated?

Contents and scope of previous studies compared to demands/ contents of study option applied to (see below)

What we look for in an applicant?

We prefer applicants who have a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in some field of engineering 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 markets and competition, operations management, organizational behavior and financial management.

Other Bachelor’s degrees may be suitable if the content of these studies, together with relevant university-level non-degree studies, is comparable to the preferred degrees. The application documents should unambiguously show sufficient amount of studies similar to typical Bachelor’s level engineering studies:

University-level engineering mathematics at least 25 ECTS
University-level computer science and programming at least 10 ECTS
University-level physics or chemistry at least 10 ECTS or additional 10 ECTS in computer science or data analytics
Minor or equivalent orientation in a field of engineering that differs from industrial engineering and management 25 ECTS

Even though the studies in the relevant subject areas would reach the minimum level, they may be inferior as compared to other applicants.

The degree in the Master’s Programme in IEM should also give the applicant genuinely new knowledge. We may not consider for further evaluation applicants that already have a master’s degree in the field of industrial engineering and management or an equivalent degree, or that have completed an equivalent combination of engineering and business studies.

In sum, the content of the previous degrees can affect the evaluation both positively and negatively. Deficiencies concerning business studies or typical engineering studies weaken the application. The number of degrees or amount of studies is not an advantage as such, and overlapping degrees create a clear disadvantage.

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 do not exceed 25 ECTS or the applicant does not have a B.Sc. in some field of engineering.

Recognition and quality of institution

What is evaluated?	Recognition and quality of the applicant's previous institution
What we look for in an applicant?	The applicant’s previous degree will be evaluated based on the international reputation and academic quality of the institution and the programme.
Method of demonstrating competence	International and national rankings of higher education institutions

Suitability

What is evaluated?

Applicant’s motivation and commitment for the degree studies

What we look for in an applicant?

Applicants should demonstrate a clear interest and willingness to pursue the degree. They should reflect on their willingness to study at Aalto University and on their capabilities and goals with respect to the objectives of our programme. Hereby applicants should keep in mind that once accepted into the programme, they will be part of a very active community of students and alumni with ample opportunities for involvement. They are thus encouraged to familiarize themselves with the activities and values of the Prodeko community.

If an applicant already has a M.Sc. or higher academic degree, he/she should describe thoroughly his/her motivation to join and graduate from the programme. To improve knowledge in management does not require degree studies because the Finnish educational system offers other possibilities for this. For example, non-degree or open university studies are recommended to complement the earlier degree or to improve one’s professional skills.

Method of demonstrating competence

Motivation letter and curriculum vitae

Other areas of competence

What is evaluated?

Other relevant skills, knowledge or achievements

What we look for in an applicant?

We look for evidence that support the applicant’s profile created by the evaluation of the previous criteria. Quality counts more than quantity. We appreciate excellent results in standardized tests as well as relevant work experience. Diplomas or certificates in non-formal or commercial programmes have little value.

We also highly value extracurricular activities and achievements that demonstrate a willingness and ability to contribute to the community and society.

Method of demonstrating competence

Letter of reference, proof of employment, results of language test in English, and GRE or GMAT test results

During the evaluation of eligible applications, Industrial Engineering and Management applications are first evaluated based on the following criteria:

Academic performance
Relevance of previous studies

Only the applicants 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:

Recognition and quality of institution
Suitability
Other areas of competence

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management is responsible for the academic evaluation. The Departmental Selection Board consists of academic faculty members of the department and it executes the evaluation. The Board reserves the right to decide on the exact interpretation of the previously described criteria.

Our requirements for the academic performance are very high. Since all the qualified candidates have outstanding academic performance, suitability as well as recognition and quality of institution are also significant. The evaluation process is highly competitive, and the admission quota limits the intake. Eventually, any difference between even applicants may become crucial considering the final ranking order in a tight competition.

In addition to obligatory application documents, the applicants to Industrial Engineering and Management are requested to provide the following programme-specific documents. The lack of the following application documents will adversely affect the evaluation of your application:

Motivation letter
- The motivation letter should be written in English. The maximum length of the motivation letter is about 4000 characters. You should write a separate motivation letter for each study option you apply to.
Official certificates and study records concerning other university-level degree or non-degree studies in addition to the Bachelor’s degree providing eligibility.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) in order to structure an application with numerous documents

An applicant can also include the following optional documents in order to support his/her application. These documents provide evidence that support the profile created by the required documents. Quality counts more than quantity.

Course descriptions of courses taken in relevant subject areas. These descriptions are highly important if you do not have a B.Sc. in engineering or you have only few business studies. In such cases, the lack of course descriptions may adversely affect the evaluation of your application.
Letter of recommendation (at least one).
- The recommendation should be written by a person who has supervised you in either academic or employment capacity. It should be specifically addressed for the Master's Programme in IEM.
Results of GRE- or GMAT-test.
Relevant letters of reference (work certificates) and other certificates of relevant activities. In case you have work experience or other activities that could support your application, include copies of these documents to your application.

Additional information for applicants with a degree from a university of applied sciences (especially in the field of IEM)

A degree from a university of applied sciences (UAS) belongs to the “other Bachelor’s degrees” stated in the academic evaluation criterion “Relevance of previous studies”. Therefore, read carefully the description of the criterion and pay attention to the following advice when preparing your application.

Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management or in other domains than engineering must show a minor or equivalent orientation in a field of engineering that clearly differs from industrial engineering and management. For example, logistics, knowledge management, business intelligence or ERP systems are not appropriate subjects in this context.
Concerning studies in mathematics, the most desired topics include discrete mathematics, matrix algebra, and probability and statistics.

Notice that the course names in transcripts do not always clarify the content unambiguously. It is the applicant’s duty to attach additional documentation on course contents to his/her application.

Please note also the requirements on the minimum GPA under Academic performance criterion.

Contact information

For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services at [email protected].

For enquiries regarding the programme-specific admission requirements or studies in the programme, please contact Learning Services at Aalto University School of Science at [email protected].

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Industrial Engineering and Management master's student Leonidas Karavanas Papadimos tells us about his experiences studying at Aalto

Department of Industrial Engineering and Management

We conduct world-class research and education focusing on the creation and transformation of technology-based business.

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Published: 31.8.2018
Updated: 24.11.2021

Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management

Degree:

Application period:

Language of instruction:

Duration:

Eligibility:

Field of study:

Credits:

Organising school:

Tuition fees:

Structure of studies

Internationalisation

Further study opportunities

Career opportunities

Research focus

Co-operation with other parties

Academic performance

Relevance of previous studies

Recognition and quality of institution

Suitability

Other areas of competence

Contact information

Chat with Aalto students

Student testimonial: Leonidas Karavanas Papadimos

Department of Industrial Engineering and Management

Study at Aalto

Get to know Finland and Aalto

Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management

Degree:

Application period:

Language of instruction:

Duration:

Eligibility:

Field of study:

Credits:

Organising school:

Tuition fees:

Structure of studies

Specialisations

Organization Design and Leadership

Operations Management

Strategy

Internationalisation

Further study opportunities

Career opportunities

Research focus

Co-operation with other parties

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Programme-specific admission requirements

Evaluation criteria

Academic performance

Relevance of previous studies

Recognition and quality of institution

Suitability

Other areas of competence

Applicant evaluation process

Requested documents

Additional information for UAS applicants

Contact information

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Student testimonial: Leonidas Karavanas Papadimos

Department of Industrial Engineering and Management

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The application period is open until 3.1.2022 15:00 (UTC+2)