Admission procedure and programme-specific requirements
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 Master’s Programme in Visual Culture, Curating and Contemporary Art (VICCA) will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
Phase I
Artistic and/or design practice
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Assessed area
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Demonstrations of artistic and/or design work or assignments
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Admission requirements
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Artistic and/or design practice will be evaluated based on:
- A demonstration of intellectual and artistic curiosity.
- A demonstrated interest in transdisciplinary practice
- A demonstrated ability to move between theory, concepts and practice
- A demonstrated interest in research beyond traditional disciplinary categories
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Portfolio
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Suitability
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Assessed area
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Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills
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Admission requirements
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Suitability is understood in the Phase 1 as the following:
- An interest and ability to collaborate and work in groups
- An openness for new perspectives in research and practice
- Tenacity
- Independence of thought and practice
- Emotional maturity, empathy and communication skills
ViCCA actively encourages applicants from widely diverse backgrounds, both from inside Finland and around the world.
The admission committee will specifically look at the quality of writing (content, conceptual ability, style). We will also pay special attention to the ability to move between theory and practice, to generate thought-provoking ideas and compelling creative expressions of these. We are enthusiastic about applicants who already have an impacting engagement with the world at large.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Motivation letter
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Relevance of previous studies
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Assessed area
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Content and quantity in relation to the applied study-option-specific requirements
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Admission requirements
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BA level degree or similar skills and motivation to study the fields taught in the programme.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s)
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Other areas of competence
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Assessed area
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Work experience and other acquired knowledge/achievements, non-formal education
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Admission requirements
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The admission committee will also respond positively to applicants who are initiators and agents of change. We value active social and civil society engagement as well as organizing and networking skills.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Curriculum vitae, proof of employment
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Phase II
Suitability
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Assessed area
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Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills
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Admission requirements
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Suitability is understood in Phase II as it is in Phase I as the following:
- An interest and ability to collaborate and work in groups
- An openness for new perspectives in research and practice
- Tenacity
- Independence of thought and practice
- Emotional maturity, empathy and communication skills
Interview will enable a deeper inquiry into these aspects.
ViCCA actively encourages applicants from widely diverse backgrounds, both inside Finland and around the world.
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Method of demonstrating competence
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Interview
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Evaluation process
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 phases.
Phase I
In Phase I, the applications are evaluated based on the following criteria
- Artistic and/or design practice
- Suitability/Motivation letter
- Relevance of previous studies
- Other areas of competence
Only the applicants who 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
The final selection decisions will be made based on an evaluation conducted in Phase II. A shortlist of the applicants will be invited to the Phase II.
Phase II consists mainly of individual interviews. Each applicant will have 30 min for their interview. Applicant can use 10 minutes for a prepared presentation of one project, if required.
A possible assignment for the interview may also be the preparation of the presentation of a particular project. The applicants invited to Phase II will be informed about this at least one week before the interviews.
Study-option-specific documents requested
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:
Portfolio
In the portfolio, applicants include work that showcases their artistic, curatorial, design, or theory related practice and competence. The portfolio must contain three to five samples of the applicant’s previous activity. The portfolio consists of visual material, i.e., presentation of artworks, exhibitions or other projects, and/or text-based works.
Artworks and curatorial or other projects can be presented as installation images, drawings, photographs, other visual material and explanatory texts. The work contained in the portfolio must be catalogued, listing at least the title and/or theme, materials used, size, purpose and year of completion of each piece. The catalogue must also detail where and when the work has been exhibited, displayed or published and what was the role of the applicant. You may include a maximum of five images per work or project. If the work or project is text based or theoretical, a maximum of five pages can be used per work or project.
The applicant’s name, address and phone number and the degree programme applied for must be indicated clearly on the portfolio.
Portfolios can be submitted only in digital form. Applicants should upload their portfolio to the application system in a single PDF-file before submitting the application. The PDF-file may include links to videos (e.g. Vimeo, You Tube), see the instructions about the length of the videos below.
Maximum size for the portfolio is 1.0 GB. Name the file Portfolio-lastname-firstname.pdf. If your portfolio contains password protected video links, include the password(s) in your portfolio. If a portfolio is not uploaded to the online application form by the deadline, the application will be rejected.
If you include links to videos, you may include a maximum of five minutes of video material in total. If you include several or longer video works, edit them down so that their duration does not exceed five minutes. Include in your portfolio stills with explanatory subtitles and add a link to the webpage, where the video file is to be found. If the links are password protected please make sure that you include the password in your portfolio.
If you include interactive works, make a demonstration video of key aspects. If you include several interactive works, edit the demonstration videos down so that their duration is maximum five minutes in total. Include in your portfolio stills with explanatory subtitles of the demonstrations. Add a link to the webpage, where the video file is to be found. If the links are password protected please make sure that you include the password in your portfolio.
CV
Applications must include the applicant’s CV indicating personal data, educational background, work experience, 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.
Motivation letter
The maximum length of the motivation letter is 4000 characters.
In the motivation letter applicants must explain why they wish to apply to this degree programme, what their particular interests are in the field, and what their hopes and expectations are regarding studies at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. The plan should explain the applicant’s personal strengths, areas of interest, artistic and design visions, artwork perspectives and artistic objectives.
Language of application documents
The application documents must be submitted in English.