Sound in New Media, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Please note! No intake in 2027. Next planned intake in 2028.

Description

The aim of the Major in Sound in New Media is to explore, discover and comprehend the emerging digital technology and its aural impact in society; to find and exploit the possibilities it opens to acoustic communication, sonic interaction and new interfaces for musical expression and to evaluate, understand and deal with the challenges it poses to art, design, and creative production in the auditory domain. Furthermore, the major aims at developing artistic and design thinking, enriching the attractiveness and communicative and aesthetic qualities of applied sound and music.

In a technology-saturated world, it is indispensable to understand and study the impacts that technology has on individuals, organisations and society. The Sound in New Media major brings together a multicultural group of students with very versatile skills and backgrounds. By tailoring the degree according to their interests and choosing from a wide variety of areas, the graduates of the major have unique competences to take on new and emerging professions within the broad spectrum of the field. These areas include sound and music computing, sound art and auditory culture, sonic interaction design, artificial intelligence applied to sound design and music, game audio and acoustic branding. The pioneering work of our alumni is an undisputed manifestation of the impact of the major within the aforementioned areas.

The major also aims to provide a supportive and constructive environment for artistic, technical, and professional development. An environment where learning from failures is just as important as learning from successes. The students are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones and get familiar with a variety of tools and skills, to understand the characteristics of auditory media. These tools and skills include creative coding, physical computing, digital fabrication, sonic interaction design, extended reality, generative composition methods and other emerging technologies.

Please see the intended learning outcomes of the study option at the Programme page.

Please see study-option-specific evaluation criteria.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English. Students can write their Master’s Thesis in English, Finnish or Swedish.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fee for this programme is 20 000 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.

Structure of studies

The education is project-oriented, combining practice with theory, hands-on with minds-on. The course modules emphasise interdisciplinary and collaboration, while individual skills are developed in intensive workshops, and through tutored studio work. Each student creates a Personal Study Plan (PSP), which defines their own study path, consisting of optimal selection of courses aligned with the student's interests and the degree requirements of the major.

The first year is dedicated to program- and major-specific studies, and during the second year a wide selection of other courses and minor subjects is available to choose from, in addition to completing the Master’s Thesis. Research methods and academic writing are a part of the curriculum, and more research courses can be chosen if the student is planning to become a researcher.

Sound and Physical Interaction research group (SOPI) provides a strong research practice and approach to Sound in New Media studies. SOPI research group is involved in managing the major in multiple ways, including developing syllabus and execution of new courses, providing students opportunities for collaboration through its international academic and artistic networks and facilitating students’ Master’s theses.

More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.

Specialisations

Each student creates a Personal Study Plan (PSP), which defines their own study path, consisting of optimal selection of courses aligned with the student's interests and the degree requirements of the major. During the second year a wide selection of elective courses and minor subjects is available to choose from. Majority of our students take also Music Technology courses from the Sibelius Academy, and these studies can be included to the MA degree.

Internationalisation

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 studies but also via multiple free time events, celebrations and extracurricular activities around the campus

The Sound in New Media major provides an excellent basis for an international career. A significant number of the department’s applicants, students, teachers and researchers are from abroad, and all courses are taught in English. Students and researchers are encouraged to network internationally and have the option to spend a part of their studies abroad through any of the exchange programmes offered by Aalto University.

Further study opportunities

Graduates of the Sound in New Media major are eligible to apply to continue their studies at doctoral level.

Career opportunities

The graduates of the Sound in New Media major have unique competences to take on new and emerging professions within the broad spectrum of the field, including sound and music computing, sound art, sonic interaction design, virtual and audio augmented reality, game audio and acoustic branding. The graduates of the major are able to follow professional paths within the creative industries, as independent artists, designers or entrepreneurs, as well as in public sector organisations. Furthermore, a few of our MA graduates work in academic institutions as researchers, lecturers and professors in Finland and abroad.

Research focus

Sound and Physical Interaction research group (SOPI) focuses on the emerging role of sound in designing new ways of interactions in digital environments. It includes the design and implementation of novel interfaces for digital media, communication, audio-visual production, music and interactive art with a focus on embodied engagement in interaction. The research builds on ideas from real-world physical interactions in digital environments, audio-tactile augmentation, embodied interaction, smart technologies and new interfaces for musical expression.

Co-operation with other parties

In terms of pedagogy and general learning objectives the Sound in New Media major has a lot in common with the Major in New Media and the Major in Game Design and Development. Furthermore, we have close collaboration with the University of the Arts Helsinki, especially with the Sibelius Academy. Majority of our students take courses from the Sibelius Academy Department of Music Technology, and these studies can be included to the MA degree. In other schools of Aalto University our closest partners are the Department of Signal Processing and Acoustics, as well as the Master’s Programme in Information Networks. Furthermore, a lot of grass-root collaboration is taking place with all departments of Aalto ARTS.

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.

arts-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