ARTS Summer School

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to most asked questions.

If you cannot find the answer you are looking for, or find some information that is not updated, please let us know at [email protected].

In 2024 the summer school is open to 3rd year BA-students and MA-students from the fields of art education, contemporary art, curating, game design, new media, photography, visual communication design, visual culture, film making and scenography. 10 Aalto students will be selected to attend the course. You can apply via this link.

The course will be held August 18-30 2024 at the Otaniemi campus.

The existing partner universities have their own selection method which varies accordingly, so please get in touch with your school’s faculty or responsible person.

The summer school is organised for students within our existing partner universities: Politecnico di Milano, Italy ; National Film and Television school UK; Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Ireland; Univerisity of Lusofona, Portugal; TU Delft, Netherlands; Parsons School of Design, The New School, NY; NYU Game Center, Tisch School of The Arts, New York University; Technologico de Monterrey, Mexico; Singapore University of Technology and Design and National Institute of Design (NID), India.

This year, the course is open for 3rd year BA and MA students from the fields of art education, contemporary art, curating, game design, new media, photography, visual communication design, visual culture, film making and scenography.

To apply please send your portfolio (max 5 pages) and a short motivation letter (max 1 page, about 400 words) to the contact person responsible for the nomination in your own school.

As the summer school has different themes each year the activities vary accordingly. The 2024 summer school program will be published later.

During the 2022 and 2023 edition, under the theme ‘Circular economy and co-design’ and ´Living with woods´ the students spent the weekend in Nuuksio National Park near the city of Helsinki and had guided tours of the campus, Aalto House and Kuusijärvi.

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no available spots for students outside the participating universities.

The program fee for students from Summer School partner universities is 200€. There is no enrolment fee or accommodation costs. Students are, however, expected to pay for their flights and for their meals. Aalto University offer two-week public transportation HSL-card.

The course is free of charge for Aalto students.

No, students of all ages can participate.

Most of the activities take place in accessible locations. Please describe any special needs (e.g. regarding logistics, accommodation, etc.) you may have in your application form or directly to your course coordinator as early as possible. They will do their best to meet your needs.

In an agreement between the participating Universities it was decided that late BA (3rd year) and MA students.

Online course material is open access for anyone.

No, unfortunately you won’t get a certificate from finishing the online course.

You will get an official Aalto University certificate and/or a transcript of records at the end of the course, or in case that is not possible, a hard copy will be mailed to you after the course.

Once you have been accepted to a course and you have paid the course fee (if the course is fee based), the course coordinator will send you an invitation along with the letter of acceptance.

Aalto University Summer School courses are held on Aalto University Otaniemi campus in Espoo, unless otherwise indicated in the course information. The campus is connected to Helsinki by metro (10 min) and to the airport by metro+train or bus (45-60 min).

The accommodation is arranged in Unihome Töölö Towers during the summer school.

Töölö Towers are located in Töölö near Helsinki city centre. Metro takes you from Töölö to Otaniemi campus in Espoo in about 15 min.

We’ll send your information to Töölö Towers in advance, and you’ll get your room when you arrive. Check-in starts every day at 15 pm and the reception is open until 22 pm. Check-out is at 11 am. You can book extra nights on your own expense contacting the staff at Töölö Towers at [email protected].

Yes. Please be sure to purchase travel insurance from your permanent place of residence, before you travel. If you are an EU/EEA citizen or resident, you may take advantage of the European Health Insurance Card, which you need to get before you travel. Please be aware of its limitations, e.g. that it does not cover private healthcare costs.

We do indeed have a Code of Conduct and all students at Aalto University Summer School are expected to follow it.

Otaniemi offers you great wifi service free of charge, and almost all forms of accommodation have free wireless connections, whether it is an Airbnb, hostel or a hotel.

You will get more out of the courses, if you have your own laptop but there are PC labs available for you to use. Otaniemi offers great wifi service free of charge!

Information on travel to and from Finland:

Travel to and from Finland (valtioneuvosto.fi)

Travel notification

We recommend that every student makes a travel notification, either to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland or to a similar agency in your home country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can contact you if in case of emergency or crisis if you have done the travel notification. In addition, please find out where the closest consulate /Embassy of your country is situated

ICE Number

Add phone numer(s) to your phone with ICE (In Case of Emergency) prefix. Setting an ICE number to show in your phone's lock screen is advicable.

Insurance

Please be sure to purchase travel insurance from your permanent place of residence before you travel. If you are an EU/EEA citizen or resident, you may take advantage of the European Health Insurance Card, which you need to get before you travel. Please be aware of its limitations, e.g. that it does not cover private healthcare costs.

VISA requirements for short time studies (less than 90 days)

Students from non-EU/EEA countries (Great-Britain, Mexico, Singapore and USA) are free to travel to Schengen area and Finland to study for less than 90 days without VISA
You can read more here: Studying in Finland | Maahanmuuttovirasto (migri.fi)
If the authorities at the border need an approval that you’re coming to study short time at the summer school, the contact person is summer school coordinator Matti Jänkälä: [email protected]

Accepted travel documents