Sustainable Metals Processing - Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering, Master of Science (Technology)
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Description
Without metals, there would not be modern cities, energy, transportation, smart phones and many other products that are today considered the standard for quality living. Metals have been, are, and will be one of the main pillars of a modern society and economy. Sustainable Metals Processing at Aalto University is the only major specialisation field in Finland focusing on sustainable production and recycling of metals and minerals. Students develop a deep scientific understanding in these fields and are set for a career where they can truly make a much-needed difference in the world.
Upon graduating from the Sustainable Metals Processing major in the Master’s Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering, graduates will have:
Extensive knowledge of raw materials, metals production, and their effects on the environment, economy and society. Graduates possess deep scientific and engineering knowledge of many types of primary and secondary raw materials, their suitability for processing and their societal, economic and environmental impacts.
A systems thinking approach into process design. Graduates are able to apply systems engineering principles to process design and use the best practices to develop processes and products with quantified sustainability in terms of high materials efficiency, low energy use and low environmental impact.
The ability to conduct scientific research. Graduates are skilled to conduct experimental studies on metals extraction reactors and unit processes at low and high temperatures, gather data and evaluate process performance.
Expertise to act as a metallurgical engineering expert. Graduates have the ability to apply engineering skills in industry to, for example, develop feasible metals extraction processes, methods to produce clean water and renewable energy or products that enable a high quality of living.
Language of instruction
In all majors in the Master’s Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering the language of instruction is English. It is also possible to complete some courses in Finnish or Swedish.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Aalto University’s tuition fee for master’s programmes taught in English is 15 000 euros per academic year. Tuition fees apply to citizens of countries other than those of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Aalto University has a scholarship programme to support non-EU/EEA citizens who study in a fee-charging degree programme. The scholarship may cover 100% or 50% of the tuition fee.
More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.
Structure of studies
Overall, the Master’s Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering – Sustainable Metals Processing comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:
Major dependent studies (63-65 ECTS)
Elective studies (25-27 ECTS)
Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.
Specialisations
Students in the Sustainable Metals Processing major are part of a larger student community in the Master’s Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering. All students take common compulsory courses totaling to 45 ECTS. The core courses introduce students to the atom-level basics of chemical phenomena, metal and minerals engineering and recycling, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy as well as process modeling. In addition, the Academic Learning Community course (3-5 ECTS) helps students set their personal goals for effective learning, collaborate in a multicultural and multidisciplinary learning environment and become familiar with laboratory work. The core courses are intended to be taken mainly in the first year of the programme.
Additionally, students choose a total of 20 ECTS from a wide range of specialisation courses that are divided into the following subareas:
· Thermodynamics of Materials
· Sustainability of Metals
· Ore Dressing and Recycling
· Pyrometallurgy
· Hydrometallurgy
· Chemical Engineering
Find more information about the studies and the degree on the Into pages.
Topics
The study field includes diverse multidisciplinary areas spanning from theoretical metallurgy, experimental studies and process engineering to knowledge-intensive design and optimisation of processes, equipment, plant operations and product applications. Circular economy principles are thoroughly integrated into the studies – students will gain an in-built sustainability approach to their profession.
To give a concrete example of some of the topics covered, below is a list of some courses from the programme’s extensive curriculum which students can choose:
· Circular Economy for Materials Processing (5 ECTS)
· Unit Operations in Mineral Processing and Recycling (5 ECTS)
· Applied Electrochemistry and Corrosion (5 ECTS)
· Reaction Engineering (5 ECTS)
· Fundamentals of Chemical Thermodynamics (5 ECTS)
Methods
The Sustainable Metals Processing major embraces experimental learning. Besides gaining a deep understanding of scientific principles, it is essential that students learn to apply them in a practical context. A concrete example of active peer learning and applying theory to create an actual service or product is the Technical Innovation Project course. In the course, students develop their entrepreneurial mindset and address a real research or design-related question.
Aalto University’s Master's Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering with Sustainable Metals Processing as a major has excellent links to industry and students gain an international network of peers and company representatives. Most of the Master’s theses are carried out as industrial projects for companies.
Personal Study Plan (PSP)
The Personal Study Plan (PSP) is a practical tool to define a student’s own study path, compiling an optimal selection of courses that are aligned with the student's interests and the programme requirements. The PSP is also a useful tool for students to keep track of their studies. At best, it shows where students are with their studies and sets concrete milestones for them to follow.
Projects with companies working in the field, interesting trainee positions and a passion for sustainability. Salli Aikio graduated in 2019 from the Master's Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering - Sustainable Metals Processing.
Alumna Salli Aikio: "I want to make an impact and build a better future through sustainable metals processing"
Projects with companies working in the field, interesting trainee positions and a passion for sustainability. Salli Aikio graduated in 2019 from the Master's Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering - Sustainable Metals Processing.
Internationalisation
Aalto University is known for its international study environment, with studies conducted in multicultural groups. The teaching methods support networking with people from diverse backgrounds – many of the professors and researchers have international backgrounds and experience, bringing their global networks close to students.
Developing one’s global competencies can include:
● Completing part of the degree, e.g. a minor, abroad in one of the international partner universities as an exchange student
● Choosing courses with an intercultural approach, learning foreign languages and/or becoming a student tutor for international students
● Conducting practical training or Master’s thesis outside Finland
● Taking summer courses abroad
● Benefiting from several funding options available for internationalisation
Further study opportunities
The Master’s programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering – Sustainable Metals Processing at Aalto is considered a great foundation for doctoral studies.
Career opportunities
A shift towards sustainable materials and manufacturing processes is occurring in all business and industrial contexts and thus there is a great need for metallurgical processing experts. Graduates are set for an exciting career – having meaningful work by solving problems of significant impact, accelerating the development of new clean technologies and getting a first-hand view of early prototypes years before they are launched to the market.
Typical career paths can be divided into three main categories:
· Working in the public sector in a managerial, planning, or research-related function
· Working in the private sector in a leadership, strategic, or research-related function
· Following an academic path and becoming a researcher in the field
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
More information about the research: https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-chemical-and-metallurgical-engineering
Co-operation with other parties
Students having Sustainable Metals Processing as their major are also part of the larger student community in the Master’s Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering. The programme has academic co-operation with other programmes at Aalto, such as the Master’s Programmes in Advanced Energy Solutions, Geoengineering and Water and Environmental Engineering, where students can enroll in specific courses and topics. There is also a co-operation with high quality international universities and organisations and students benefit from this vast network of industry and academia peers throughout their studies and onwards.
Students can include multidisciplinary studies to their degree by choosing courses from the fields of arts and business within Aalto University. They can also take courses from other Finnish universities.
Aalto University is well-known for bridging the disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus and freedom of choosing elective courses across the University bring students from different fields together. This spontaneous multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.
School of Chemical Engineering
Major Sustainable Metals Processing is a part of the Master's Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering at the School of Chemical Engineering. The School of Chemical Engineering combines natural sciences and engineering in a unique way. This allows the results of our research to be refined a long way and put into practice as ready products and processes. Each innovation secures both our renewable and non-renewable natural resources for the future.
The School provides education for a wide range of responsible future professionals. M.Sc. and Ph.D. graduates in technology work in diverse positions in Finland's largest industrial sectors, in the metal and electronics industry, wood processing industries as well as chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries. The research and teaching are supported by an extensive international academic and industrial cooperation network.
The focus areas of the education are the sustainable use and processing of natural resources and new materials, including their technical applications. In the studies towards the major, students acquire advanced knowledge in a specific area of biotechnology, chemical technology or material science and technology. The education leading to a master’s degree is based on the professional practices of fields requiring expertise in science and technology and on scientific research generating new knowledge. Students may choose their minors or elective study modules so that their degree is a combination of technology, business, and art, typical of Aalto University.
Students will adopt a responsible, goal-oriented and systematic way of working, and develop skills to work as experts in their area of specialisation both independently and in cooperation with experts of different fields, also in an international working environment. They will be able to express themselves clearly and unambiguously both orally and in writing and to tailor their communication to the target audience.
The School of Chemical Engineering trains Masters of Science (Technology) who have the skills and knowledge to work as pacesetters of the fields of biotechnology, chemical technology and material science and technology in various managerial, planning and research duties serving industry or related stakeholders, the scientific community or public sector. The studies of the programme provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for applying scientific knowledge and scientific methods independently and for continuing to doctoral education.
Graduates of the programme will have achieved the key scientific and professional working methods of their area of specialisation and will be able to continuously deepen their knowledge by acquiring, evaluating and processing scientific, technical and professional information. They will gain the knowledge and skills to understand the challenges of the field from the point of view of users and technical and social systems, as well as from that of the environment and be able to use this knowledge in developing new solutions, also as members of multidisciplinary teams.
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Requirements
Programme-specific admission requirements
Applicants are first evaluated based on Aalto’s general eligibility requirements (found on https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes). Applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are then evaluated according to the evaluation criteria below.
Applications are first evaluated based on the following (critical) criteria.
- Academic performance
- Relevance of previous studies
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.
- Recognition and quality of institution
- Suitability
- Other areas of competence
The programme does not have a minimum quota to be filled, and not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted.
Evaluation criteria for Sustainable Metals Processing
|
What is evaluated? |
GPA of the bachelor’s degree |
|
What we look for in an applicant? |
The applicant's success in his/her previous studies (those that give basis for applying to the programme) will be evaluated based on the grade point average (GPA). Applicants are required to have a GPA equivalent to a minimum of 3.0 (on a scale 1.0 - 5.0, 1.0 being the minimum passing grade). |
|
Method of demonstrating competence |
Transcript of records, degree certificate |
| What is evaluated? | Content and quantity of previous studies in relation to the applied study option-specific requirements |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
BSc or equivalent degree in a relevant field in the natural sciences or engineering. Relevant degrees (fields): Engineering, for example process and chemical engineering, minerals engineering, metallurgy, materials science, or chemistry. Examples of key subjects: Materials science, materials engineering, metallurgy, metals recycling, chemistry of materials Knowledge and skills: Preference is given to candidates with a strong background in sciences in combination with the above. In addition to the studies giving basis to apply to the programme, other possible studies are also evaluated. However, the study option should provide genuinely new knowledge and enhance the career prospects of the applicant. Thus, applicants who already have a master’s degree in a closely related field will only be admitted with well-justified reasons which should be explained in the motivation letter. |
| 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 applicant's previous institution (where the degree giving basis to apply was completed) will be evaluated based on the recognition and quality of the institution. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | International and national rankings of higher education institutions |
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s further applicability to the study option, motivation and commitment for the studies |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
The applicant must clearly demonstrate genuine motivation to study the chosen field. The applicant must also explain how his/her previous studies support studying in the chosen study option and why he/she would be a good candidate for the study option. Please see further instructions for the motivation letter below. The studies should provide genuinely new knowledge. If the applicant already has a master's degree, he/she should clearly indicate why he/she is applying to complete another master's degree. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Motivation letter |
| What is evaluated? | Work experience and other acquired knowledge/achievements e.g. publications |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
The applicant's other relevant achievements or experiences are evaluated if documented in the application:
|
| Method of demonstrating competence | Curriculum vitae, recommendation letters, proof of employment, publications |
Study option-specific documents
The documents required from all applicants are listed on https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes. In addition, applicants to this programme are requested to provide the following study option-specific documents (if applicable):
- The lack of this application document will adversely affect the evaluation of the application. In particular, we pay attention to your ability of critical reflection.
- Max. 1 page, should be written in English.
- Examples of questions to consider when writing the motivation letter:
- Why are you applying to this master’s programme and major?
- What do you expect to gain from your studies in the master’s programme?
- Why do you think you are a good candidate for this master’s programme? How will your previous education, work experience, knowledge and skills support your studies?
- What are the areas in terms of knowledge and competences you need to develop
most to successfully complete the selected studies? - What are your professional goals? In which sector would you like to work in the future? How do you think this master’s programme would support the development of your professional profile?
- Why do you want to study at Aalto University and in Finland?
- In case the applicant already has completed another master’s degree in a closely related field or if he/she has a study right to another master’s or doctoral programme, he/she is asked to explain why he/she is applying to complete another master's degree.
- Max. 3 pages, must be in English.
- Any experiences/achievements cannot be evaluated solely based on the curriculum vitae. Applicants always need to submit supporting documents (e.g. proof of employment).
- Max. 2 recommendation letters.
- The letters should be in English and written by a senior member of academic staff.
- Work experience in a field related to the study option.
- Scientific publications in a field related to the study option.
- Please, provide DOI or other clear reference of your publication
Complementary studies
Students admitted to the Master's Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering may be required to take complementary studies, max 20 credits.
The content and number of the complementary courses depend on your previous studies. The complementary studies will be set latest in September.
Contact information
School of Chemical Engineering
For enquiries regarding the application process, application documents and language tests, please contact [email protected] For enquiries regarding the content of the programme and studies at the School of Chemical Engineering, please contact Learning Services of Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering, [email protected]
+358 50 362 3017
https://www.aalto.fi/en/programmes/masters-programme-in-chemical-biochemical-and-materials-engineering