Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education (NoVA), Master of Arts (Art and Design)
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Description
Graduates of the Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education will be able to:
1. Apply and assess theories and practices of contemporary art education, digital communication studies, visual design, and visual culture when working with different audiences and stakeholders.
2. Initiate, plan, carry out, and critically evaluate artistic, educational, and entrepreneurial projects in cross-cultural, international, and transdisciplinary environments.
3. Lead and support cultural, artistic, and educational development work with different institutions, stakeholders, and partners.
4. Identify, analyse, and suggest solutions for complex issues through practices of creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and arts-based methods.
5. Reflect and re-evaluate past and present practices in Nordic ecosystems of art, education, and visual culture.
6. Recognize and cultivate socially, culturally, and environmentally responsible practices in art, education, entrepreneurship, and digital culture.
7. Partake in developing, evaluating, and expanding the professional domains of art, education, and visual culture in contemporary societies.
Language of instruction
The language of instruction is English.
Tuition fees and scholarships
The programme follows each university's own tuition fee policies. As a general rule, students who are not citizens of EU or EEA member countries are tuition fee liable, but can also apply for scholarships offered by universities. Read more about tuition fees:
The programme follows each university's own scholarship policies. As a general rule, students who are not citizens of EU or EEA member countries are tuition fee liable, but can also apply for scholarships offered by universities. Detailed information about the scholarship for the second year will be confirmed when the student is accepted into the program. Read more about scholarships:
Structure of studies
Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education (NM NoVA) is a double degree programme between Aalto University (Finland) and Aalborg University (Denmark) in which students achieve a comprehensive understanding of Nordic practices and traditions in art education, visual culture, and cultural work. Through NM NoVA education, students acquire relevant practical and theoretical competencies in art, education, and culture for working in cross-cultural and international environments. NM NoVA graduates will be able to respond to the demands of the changing world, where cultural, artists and pedagogical practices and professions are finding new ways and methods for meaning-making, interaction and creative solutions.
As a double degree programme, students spend one year in each degree awarding university. This means that students beginning their studies at Aalto University will spend the second year of their studies at Aalborg University and vice versa. All graduating students receive two degrees: one from Aalto and one from Aalborg. All students admitted to NM NoVA must commit themselves to this one-year mandatory mobility.
NM NoVA offers a mix of problem-based and student-centred, hands-on experience with theoretical and practical studies in art, education, digital communication, and entrepreneurship. The key content areas of NM NoVA studies are:
· Visual and Digital Culture and Communication Developed in the Nordic region
Students explore creative and critical approaches to design and art making, coupled with a deep responsibility for openness, caring, and equality. Students learn about social and cultural competences in ICT & online communication and engage in developing creative approaches to online education.
· Contemporary Approaches to Nordic Art Education and Learning
Students learn about Nordic approaches to art and education, specifically emphasizing democracy, egalitarianism, socially just pedagogical skills and practices, human rights, and social and cultural sustainability.
· Project management, Administration, and Entrepreneurship
Students acquire skills in project management, administration, finance, and entrepreneurship in cultural and educational contexts. Students engage with project-driven and problem-oriented teaching as well as collaborative and participatory learning.
These areas of study are integrated in joint courses (both online and in person) between Aalto University and Aalborg University and in project modules where students work with external stakeholders and partners.
The program is open for international students.
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.
Specialisations
The first year of studies is relatively similar for all NM NoVA students. When beginning their second year of studies in the partner university, students may choose from the following three study tracks:
· Internship: In this study track, students spend most of the second fall semester in an internship and use the internship as the basis for their thesis work. This track suits students who are interested in developing context-specific expertise in art, education, digital communication, and/or entrepreneurship.
· Visual Project: In this study track, students use the second fall semester to combine short internship with elective courses. This might mean, for example, organizing workshops or social media practices to test out their educational, artistic, communicational, or entrepreneurial ideas that the student examines further in their thesis. This track suits students who are interested in emerging theories and practices in art, education, information studies, and entrepreneurship.
· Theoretical Project: In this study track, students utilize the second fall semester to further develop the theoretical framework of their thesis by working with relevant faculty projects. This study track suits for students interested in continuing their studies in doctoral education.
Internationalisation
As a double degree Nordic Master, international collaboration and cooperation is a significant part of NM NoVA education. NM NoVA’s student body consists of students from Aalto University and Aalborg University and most of the major specific studies are co-taught between these two universities, both online and in person. In addition, NM NoVA includes a compulsory mobility during the second year of the studies, during which students at Aalto study at Aalborg either by doing an internship, a visual project, or a theoretical project in Denmark and vice versa. Students admitted to NM NoVA must be able to conduct this compulsory mobility.
Webinar | Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education
Our programme representatives from Aalto and Aalborg introduce the programme and answer participants' questions regarding studies, career opportunities and more. Watch the webinar to get answers to some of your questions!
Further study opportunities
Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education double degree gives students an eligibility for doctoral studies.
Career opportunities
NM NoVA graduates will have strong intercultural understanding, experiences, and knowledge of educational, digital communication, and cultural practices and theories in Nordic countries. This cross-cultural study offers work opportunities both nationally and internationally in different art, educational, and visual communicational areas, institutions, organisations, communities, art and culture projects, and companies. Students may direct themselves toward teaching, producing, designing, guidance and consultant tasks on different levels of schooling, or in the fields of art and visual and media culture, social sectors and corporate life. Please note that the degree alone does not qualify as teacher competency as it is not a teacher training program.
Research focus
Visual and Digital Communication and Culture Developed in the Nordic region; Contemporary Approaches to Nordic Art Education and Learning; Project management, Administration, and Entrepreneurship.
Co-operation with other parties
In NM NoVA, students are gradually involved in projects with external stakeholders and partners in order to practice their educational and research skills in real-life situations. These collaborations take place both in Finland and Denmark, and involve cultural institutions, organisations, NGOs, and companies.
Admission Timeline (will be updated)
| December 1, 2022 at 9 AM (UTC +2) | Application period starts and online application form in Studyinfo opens |
| January 2, 2023 at 3 PM (UTC +2) | Application period ends and online application form in Studyinfo closes |
| January 9, 2023 at 3 PM (UTC +2) | Deadline for application documents to be uploaded to application form |
| January – March 2023 | Eligible applications undergo academic evaluation |
| March 29, 2023 | Admissions results published |
| April 20, 2023 | Deadline for accepting the offered study place |
| May 26, 2023 at 3 PM (UTC +3) | Deadline for submitting certified copy of degree certificate |
| July 31, 2023 | For applicants who applied with an incomplete degree: Deadline for graduation |
| August 17, 2023 at 3 PM (UTC +3) | For applicants accepted off the reserve list: Deadline for submitting certified copy of degree certificate. For applicants who applied with an incomplete degree: Deadline for submitting certified copy of degree certificate |
| End of August 2023 | Studies begin with orientation week at first-year university |
Who can apply?
Applications must fulfil general eligibility criteria before they are evaluated in the study options.
The general eligibility criteria are fulfilled if the application includes
- a degree granting eligibility to apply;
- an accepted proof of language proficiency and
- all the required application documents by the deadline.
The study options will evaluate complete applications that fulfil the general eligibility criteria according to their study-option-specific admissions criteria.
A Bachelor’s degree corresponding to a minimum 180 ECTS credits.
Students in their final year of their Bachelor’s studies are eligible to apply, provided they complete their Bachelor’s degree before the start of the program by 31 July 2024 and submit the degree certificate and official translation if needed by the given deadline.
The following Bachelor’s degrees (or closely related degrees) are eligible for application.
A bachelor's degree must be equivalent to 180 ECTS credits or three years of full-time study. The degree must give eligibility to apply for master’s degree studies at university in the awarding country. The awarding higher education institution has to be a recognised part of the official national education system of the country. It has to be accredited as a degree- granting higher education institution by the country where it is located or by a relevant international organisation (such as UNESCO).
It is not possible to apply to a master’s programme on the basis of a previous master's degree. Only bachelor’s degrees give eligibility for master’s programmes. An exception to this are ‘long-cycle’ master's degrees that have been granted without a bachelor’s degree, for instance, degrees awarded in Finland prior to the adoption of the two-cycle degree system in 2008 or licentiate of medicine degrees.
In addition to the degree granting eligibility to apply (i.e. bachelor's degree), it is possible to include one other higher education degree (e.g., master's degree) to the section Other Higher Education Degree on the application form. All the studies included in the application form must be supported by the required application documents. The same documentation requirements apply to all degrees. For further information, see Application form and the required application documents.
Students in their final year of their Bachelor’s studies are eligible to apply, provided they complete their Bachelor’s degree before the start of the program by 31 July 2024 and submit the degree certificate and official translation if needed by the given deadline.
In case you are not able to graduate or fail to deliver your degree certificate by the deadline, your conditionally granted study right will be cancelled.
If you apply with an incomplete degree, note that it may not be possible to graduate during the summer months. You should look into the graduation schedules and requirements of your own faculty or school in advance.
In the field of art and design, an applicant who does not have a higher education degree may apply on the basis of sufficient knowledge and skills, gained by means of other studies and/or work experience, that correspond to a relevant bachelor's degree. Other eligibility for higher education is not an option for applicants who have completed (or will complete no later than 31 July 2024) a bachelor's degree that makes them eligible to apply to a master’s programme. Applicants applying on the basis of sufficient knowledge and skills must provide evidence of their skills with documents such as work or study certificates (document instructions and application requirements are listed at Other eligibility for higher education)
How to apply? Will be updated
The application period for studies beginning in the autumn of 2023 runs from x 2023 to x 2024 at 15.00 (GMT +2).
The application consists of an electronic application form and a set of required application documents. Read the instructions for required application documents carefully.
Fill in the online application form in the Studyinfo.fi system during the application period. You can edit your application form within the application period. Application period ends 2024 at 15.00 (GMT +2). Late applications are not considered.
All application documents must be uploaded to your application form before x 2024 at 15.00 (GMT +2). The deadline cannot be extended.
Documents submitted after the deadline will not be considered in any circumstances; the final deadline is the same for all applicants.
Admission Services reviews your application and the required documents for the general eligibility requirements. Only eligible applications proceed for the academic evaluation. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
The application form and links to it are available only during the application period. One applicant can have only one application form, do not fill in several forms.
Application form (Studyinfo.fiOnce you have submitted your online application form, you will receive an automatic confirmation email with a request to submit the required application documents. Your application is incomplete until the required documents have been uploaded to the application system.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate If your degree is unfinished, you can leave the upload attachment section for degree certificate blank. The degree must be completed by 31 July 2024.
- Transcript of study records (Bachelor's degree)
- Official translations of the above documents if the originals are not in English, Finnish or Swedish.
- If you have, in addition to a Bachelor's degree, another university degree you wish to be taken into consideration in the admissions: degree certificate, transcript and official translations (if applicable) of the degree.
- English language test results or other accepted proof of English proficiency. If required, request the test administrator to send the official electronic score report to Aalto University as instructed.
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Motivation letter max 4000 characters (excluding spaces)
should include a description of personal interests for Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, including a proposed area of research, aim of study, and professional goals. In particular, the letter should indicate an understanding of opportunities for study a double degree in Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, what the applicant wishes from the programme and, in turn, what they are interested in bringing into the programme. The applicant’s name, address and phone number and the programme applied for must be indicated clearly on the motivation letter.
The lack of this application document will adversely affect the evaluation of your application.
Curriculum Vitae Applications must include the applicant’s CV indicating personal data, educational background, and work experience that is relevant to their application. This information may include educational and/or artistic projects, exhibitions, publications and articles, awards and grants, study trips and positions of trust. Applicants should upload their CV to the application system in a single PDF-file before submitting the application.
- Valid passport; or official government-issued identification card with photo and citizenship
- If you are exempted from the tuition fee in Finland based on your residence permit card in Finland, the front and back sides of your residence permit card.
- Do not include any additional attachments (e.g., letters of recommendation or extra-curricula training certificates). Additional attachments are not taken into account in the evaluation and they will only slow down the processing of the application.
Language of application documents
- All application documents must be submitted in English.
Will be updated
Admitted applicants must submit certified (attested) hard copies of the bachelor’s degree certificate, transcript of study records and official translations of these documents (if applicable)by the given deadline. Please note that only admitted applicants need to submit the certified hard copied documents after the admission results have been published.
Please send the hard copies of these documents to Student Services of School of Arts, Design and Architecture (contact information below) by mail or courier service. Read carefully and follow the instructions for certified hard copy documents.
Copies of study certificates (Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts of records) must be certified to be true copies of the original documents by the issuing university or a notary public. Each page must have the certifying official’s original signature, printed name, ink stamp and date. Copies of officially certified copies are not accepted, the certifying official’s ink stamps and signatures must be original. A multiple-page certified copy must be certified on the front side of every page.
The deadline for the officially certified study certificates is May 202 at 15.00 (GMT +3).
Submitting the certified copies and address
We strongly recommend using a courier service (e.g. DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEx) for shipments from outside the European Union (EU) instead of regular mail.
If you send the documents by courier service, use the street address:
Aalto University
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Otaniementie 14,
FI-02150 ESPOO, Finland
tel +358 9 47001
Write “Nordic Master programme in Visual Studies and Art Education” on the envelope.
If you send the documents by regular mail (not recommended from outside the EU), send them to the postal address:
Aalto University
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
PO Box 31000
FI-00076 AALTO
FINLAND
tel +358 9 47001
Write “Nordic Master programme in Visual Studies and Art Education” on the envelope.
All documents must arrive at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture by the given deadline (see deadline above).
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English Language Requirements
Will be updated
To be eligible to apply to the programme, applicants must demonstrate their proficiency in English with an accepted proof of language proficiency or by meeting the language test exemption criteria.
Here are presented the acceptable English language tests and their minimum scores:
IELTS Academic: overall score 6.5, and writing score 5.5 . For 2024 admissions, test results are valid if the test was taken on or after 202. Aalto University accepts also IELTS Indicator (Academic) test.
TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test): 92, and 22 for Writing or TOEFL PDT (Paper-delivered Test): Reading 22, Listening 22, and Writing 24. For 2024 admissions, test results are valid if the test was taken on or after 202. Aalto University accepts also TOEFL iBT® Home Edition test, but TOEFL Essentials or TOEFL ITP tests are not accepted.
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A): 62, and 54 for Writing. For 2024 admissions, these test results are valid if the test was taken on or after 202.
C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE): A, B or C. Only electronically verifiable tests taken after 2005 are accepted.
C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE): A, B, C or Level C1. Only electronically verifiable tests taken after 2005 are accepted.
1. Applicants who have completed a university degree instructed in English at a university that is physically located in one of the following countries:
- USA
- Canada
- UK
- Ireland
- Australia
- New Zealand
2. Applicants who have completed at least a 3-year university degree instructed in English in an EU/EEA country.
3. Applicants with upper secondary education and a Bachelor’s degree (issued or ongoing if the applicant is currently enrolled in the last semester) from a Nordic country shall provide proof of English proficiency, for example by providing transcripts from their upper secondary education.
When applying for an exemption, English as the language of instruction must be stated unambiguously on the certificate (e.g., school leaving certificate / secondary-school final certificate, degree certificate or transcript of records). If there are several instruction languages, the document must clearly indicate the amount of studies taken in English.
Also note that a minimum of one half of the degree must be completed in a country and higher education institution that meets the requirements for exempting the student from taking an English language test.
Study-option-specific Admission Procedure and Evaluation Criteria 2024
Applicants meeting Aalto’s 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 applications to Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
Phase I
| Academic performance | |
| What is evaluated |
Grades of the previous degree(s) |
| What we look for in an applicant?/Admission requirements | We are looking for applicants who demonstrate good academic skills and abilities to conduct both independent and collaborative study projects. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Relevance of previous studies | |
| What is evaluated | Contents and quantity of previous studies compared to demands/contents of study option applied to |
| What we look for in an applicant?/Admission requirements | We are looking for applicants with a relevant BA level degree or similar skills and motivation to study in Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education |
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| Other areas of competence | |
| What is evaluated | Work experience and other acquired knowledge and achievements, non-formal education. |
| What we look for in an applicant?/Admission requirements | We are looking for applicants who demonstrate a committed interest toward artistic, educational, and/or cultural work. |
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Curriculum vitae |
| Suitability | |
| What is evaluated | Applicant’s suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills. |
| What we look for in an applicant?/Admission requirements |
We are looking for applicants who:
Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education actively encourages applicants from widely diverse backgrounds, both from Finland and around the world. |
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Motivation letter |
Phase II
| Suitability | |
| What is evaluated | Applicant’s suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills. |
| What we look for in an applicant?/Admission requirements |
We are looking for applicants who:
Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education actively encourages applicants from widely diverse backgrounds, both from Finland and around the world. |
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Interview |
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 (2) phases:
Phase I
In Phase I, the applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria
- Suitability (Motivation letter)
- Other areas of competence (Curriculum Vitae)
- Relevance of previous studies (Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s))
- Academic performance (Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s))
Only the applicants who fulfil the requirements and are ranked highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to Phase II in the selection process.
Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria
- Suitability (Interview)
The second phase consists of an individual interview. Interviews will be carried out by Zoom. The length of the interview is 20 minutes.
Applications who fulfil the requirements and are ranked highest in Phase I will be invited to the interview. The invitation to the interview will be sent to the applicants at latest seven days in advance.
After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases I and II.
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
Motivation letter, max 4000 characters (excluding spaces) should include a description of personal interests for Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, including a proposed area of research, aim of study, and professional goals. In particular, the letter should indicate an understanding of opportunities for study a double degree in Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education, what the applicant wishes from the programme and, in turn, what they are interested in bringing into the programme. The applicant’s name, address and phone number and the programme applied for must be indicated clearly on the motivation letter.
The lack of this application document will adversely affect the evaluation of your application.
Curriculum Vitae
Applications must include the applicant’s CV indicating personal data, educational background, and work experience that is relevant to their application. This information may include educational and/or artistic projects, exhibitions, publications and articles, awards and grants, study trips and positions of trust. Applicants should upload their CV to the application system in a single PDF-file before submitting the application.
Language of application documents
All application documents must be submitted English.
Follow us!
Contact details
Juuso Tervo
Senior University Lecturer
Head of Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education (NM NoVA)
[email protected]
Visit the programme website at https://www.nmnova.com/ to learn more about NM Nova.
Contact information
Learning services of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services.
Admissions Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admissions Services.