Master's Programme in International Design Business Management - MSc in Technology (CHEM, ELEC, ENG, SCI)

General information

Study objectives

The multi-disciplinary International Design Business Management (IDBM) educates students with arts, business, science and engineering backgrounds as T-shaped professionals providing them with a strategic view into creative leadership and management of international design-centric businesses, operations, and product and service development.

The objective is to gain knowledge in multiple disciplines and to learn to connect one’s own disciplinary expertise to a wider multi-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary design business framework. The global approach of IDBM programme prepares students to work in multi-cultural settings and collaborate across national and cultural boundaries. Graduates of the IDBM programme will be able to manage and lead initiatives and other individuals in order to undertake new business ventures within global environments.

Programme overview: multi-disciplinary community and challenge-based learning

The International Design Business Management (IDBM) programme is the first teaching and research platform to bring together students from all Aalto University schools.

One of the key components of the IDBM programme is the Industry Project, a challenge-based assignment from a client organisation that you will undertake in small interdisciplinary teams during the first academic year.

In the programme, you will further have an opportunity to

• Discover and make full use of your own potential in interdisciplinary teams
• Acquire knowledge about current and future trends shaping organisations and societies
• Expand your competences achieved at the bachelor’s level by bringing in design and business perspectives to better recognise and understand how to create value for end-users
• Develop important interpersonal and communication skills through collaborative industry projects
• Gain insights to how design can be managed, as well as how its impact can be evaluated and analysed
• Learn from industry leaders how to create new ideas and execute them with design-driven strategies and processes
• Improve on vital project management skills to make you a more effective team player

Career opportunities

Broad career prospects: from entrepreneurs to internal innovators

IDBM studies prepare you for a career in the creative industries and in businesses and other organisations that draw on creativity, design and technology as key components of their competitive positioning.

After their graduation, our students embarking on a career in the private or public sector typically work in domains such as:

• service design
• business design
• design and technology strategy
• product and project management
• development of product and service offering
• academic or design research
• innovation management, marketing
• creative direction, export management
• trend analysis and forecasting

These career opportunities exist both in large multinationals and in small start-ups, in a variety of fields. All kinds of organisations are starting to recognise the importance of design to retain their relevance and create better value. These businesses typically leverage design to create new products and services, often involving the latest technology and business venturing and entrepreneurship. These activities have been further supported by the vibrant start-up communities in Aalto University.

During studies, the departments involved may offer the best students summer job/research assistant positions. Aalto University Career Services provides information on employers, job and thesis opportunities, and hints for job hunting for all Aalto students.

Content of the studies

All master students from the three tracks (Design, Science and Technology, Business) will study the same compulsory IDBM major courses during the first year of studies. The courses include topics such as creative teamwork, business model design, corporate entrepreneurship and global virtual teamwork. One of the core IDBM major courses is the six-month long Industry Project where multi-disciplinary student teams work together on real-life challenges provided by industry partners. The programme is taught completely in English. The master’s programme in International Design Business Management (IDBM) The first year of studies consists of a set of intensive compulsory study modules in all three schools and requires full time commitment. The second year of studies is more flexible to meet individual needs and interests.

In addition to the major studies, students are expected to complete specialisation studies in his/her own field. The amount of specialisation studies vary between IDBM study options. Further information: https://into.aalto.fi/display/enidbm and https://www.idbm.aalto.fi/.

Learning objectives

Graduates of the IDBM programme will be able to drive innovation and lead initiatives to undertake new business ventures within global environments.

This includes the ability to

• Use design approach in product, service and business development
• Lead and collaborate in multi-cultural and interdisciplinary teams, connecting one's own disciplinary expertise to a wider business context
• Drive change and development activities in organisations
• Communicate ideas and concepts both verbally and visually at operative and strategic levels
• Understand and utilise academic research in defining and approaching problems in systematic and systemic manner

Structure of studies

Admission to the IDBM programme is granted through six tracks in three different fields depending on the applicant's background and the targeted degree.

Field of Science and Technology, leading to a Master of Science (Technology) degree with the following study options:

Admission requirements

General admission requirements

The general eligibility requirements are the same for all Master's programmes in the field of science and technology. Please see also the requirements concerning language skills.

Eligible applications are then sent to the academic evaluation described in more detail below.

Programme-specific admission requirements

To be considered for admission, the applicant must fulfil the minimum requirements for the studies leading to a M.Sc. degree in Technology. The minimum requirements include good academic performance and previous studies compatible with the degree studies.

The following are used as criteria for academic evaluation:

• University or Higher Education Institution
• Degree and relevance of studies
• Academic study performance
• Motivation and commitment to the Programme
• Professional experience
• Interview

The applicants are evaluated and ranked based on the criteria below based on the submitted application documents.

1. University or Higher Education Institution

The applicant’s background will be evaluated based on the international recognition and academic quality of the previous university and degree programme.

2. Degree and relevance of studies

Applicant should hold a B.Sc. or equivalent degree in a relevant field. The compatibility and relevance of previous studies is evaluated in relation to the desired engineering specialization area as stated in the letter of motivation. Required previous knowledge:

IDBM CHEM:

To be considered for admission, the applicants should have completed a high quality Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or related fields.

Relevant degrees are e.g. in the following fields

• Chemistry or chemical engineering including process systems engineering and polymer engineering
• Oil and gas engineering, energy technology
• Biotechnology, bioengineering life sciences, bioinformatics, biomaterials, food science / technology / engineering, biomedical
• Polymer science / engineering, fibre science / engineering, pulp and paper technology / engineering
• Materials science and engineering, physics, nanotechnology and metallurgy
• Process and chemical engineering, minerals engineering.

IDBM ELEC:

To be considered for admission, the applicants should have completed a high quality Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field (excellent candidates with degrees in other fields such as natural sciences, mathematics, or computer science will be considered).

IDBM ENG:

To be considered for admission, the applicants should have completed a high quality Bachelor’s degree that includes:

• basic studies in mathematics and natural sciences, and
• a minor subject or a comparable study entity based on the aforementioned basic studies from a technical field or from a field clearly related to mathematics or natural sciences.

The applicant's degree certificate must clearly state both of these study entities.

IDBM SCI:

To be considered for admission, the applicants should have completed a high quality Bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas:

• computer science, information technology or a related field
• physics, materials science or a related field
• mathematics, operations research, statistics or a related field

3. Academic study performance

In addition to compatible previous studies, the applicants are expected to have very good previous study success (GPA and results in key courses).

The cumulative grade point average is calculated from the bachelor’s degree (or the degree giving the eligibility). Applicant’s grades from other completed studies of which the applicant has provided the appropriate documents by the end of the application period will also be evaluated.

4. Motivation and commitment to the Programme

Applicant must show his/her motivation for studying in the IDBM programme by providing a motivation letter. The letter is written in English into the electronic application system and the maximum length of the letter is 4000 characters (including space characters). The motivation letter should answer at least the following questions:

• Why I am applying for admission to the IDBM Master's Studies Programme?
• What I am expecting to learn or gain by participating in the IDBM Programme?
• What specialisation area studies would I choose and why?
• What can I contribute to fellow students and to the continued success of the IDBM Programme?

5. Professional Experience

Applicant’s professional experience is looked at broadly and is considered to include work experience relevant to the IDBM programme as well as experience in scientific and artistic work, entrepreneurship and /or other relevant civic activity. Professional experience will be evaluated based on the CV.

6. Interview

Based on the above evaluation criteria, the best applicants are invited for an interview. The maximum number of applicants invited to the interview is double the amount of the quota. The applicants’ practical skills and ability to communicate in English are evaluated and the applicants are required to give a short oral presentation in English on a subject given when invited to the interview. The applicants are asked a series of questions regarding their motivation, abilities, and attitudes. Interviews can be conducted by phone or Skype, if necessary.

The final acceptance of applicants will be made based on the interviews. The student can be admitted only to one Master’s Degree Programme in International Design Business Management.

Language of instruction

English

Further study options / Post-graduate study options

Eligibility for doctoral studies.

Tuition fees & scholarships

The tuition fee is 15 000 euros per year for non-EU/EEA students. More information on Scholarships and Tuition Fees page (aalto.fi).

Contact information

For enquiries regarding the application process, application documents and language tests, please contact [email protected]

For enquiries regarding the contents of studies in the IDBM programme in the field of science and technology, please contact Programme Manager Anna-Mari Saari [email protected].