Architecture, Master of Science in Architecture
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Description
The program offers an opportunity for individual development of skills and knowledge in a range of specialization fields such as wood construction, building design and the reuse of buildings, human-centered design and wellbeing, computational design, preservation or urban design and planning.
The program is accredited and in line with the professional regulations of the EU directives.
All directions of specialization within the program prepare the students to pursue a career in architecture or related fields within Finland or abroad and enables them to work as an employee in the private or public sector, as independent entrepreneur or as post-graduate researcher.
Please see the intended learning outcomes of the study option from the Programme page.
Language of instruction
The language of instruction in Architecture major is English. However, part of the courses in the field of Architectural History and Renovation are taught in Finnish. The degree can be completed in Finnish, Swedish or English.
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 key focus in master's programme education is on developing and deepening of skills and knowledge obtained during the bachelor's phase. The topics include the history and theory of architecture, building design and Finnish building art as well as urban planning and design. Course and design studio teaching is enhanced by means of multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced teaching methods. A number of courses are based on a learning-by-doing approach and the working on real design assignments often in collaboration with the local community. In addition, experimental and design research-oriented courses are offered that allow the in depth exploration of specialized topics and the development of an individual expression and voice as a designer.
More information on the content of the education can be found in the Student Guide under Curriculum.
Specialisations
The program offers an opportunity for individual development of skills and knowledge in a range of specialization fields such as wood construction, building design and the reuse of buildings, human-centered design and wellbeing, computational design, preservation or urban design and planning. The program is accredited and in line with the professional regulations of the EU directives.
Internationalisation
Studies provide the opportunity for internationalization through, for example, exchange studies and international student competitions and study trips. The internship that is an optional part of the degree can be completed abroad and students can also do field work outside Finland. Some of the department staff are international and lecturers and guests from international schools of architecture visit the department. The department has international research and teaching projects with different universities.
Department of Architecture has international students, both degree students and exchange students. Teaching is provided partly in English and all students study in the same courses.
Further study opportunities
Doctoral programme in Arts, Design and Architecture Arts, or other universities in Finland and abroad.
Career opportunities
All directions of specialization within the program prepare the students to pursue a career in architecture or related fields within Finland or abroad and enables them to work as an employee in the private or public sector, as independent entrepreneur or as post-graduate researcher.
The majority of architects work as project architects in a company or as entrepreneurs in their own architectural agency, working with new or renovation projects. The public sector is another important employer, with job titles including zoning architect, permit architect, cultural environment manager, museum director and municipal architect. Architects work as academic researchers or teachers, such as professors or lecturers. Architects can also be construction managers, project designers or experts in the property field; senior inspectors or specialists in the environmental field or exhibition architects and curators in the field of art. The duties of an architect are steadily expanding from traditional design tasks to other fields that require comprehensive vision and creative problem-solving ability.
Duties of an architect
• Project planning
• Building design in all scales
• Construction, property development
• Urban design, urban planning/zoning of regional entities
• Museum work
• Building history inventories and surveys
• Administrative, teaching, management and research duties, expert tasks
• Furniture design, interior decorating, design, exhibition design
• Architectural graphics, IT, multimedia
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Research focus
The research done at the Department of Architecture produces knowledge about architecture, landscape architecture, urban studies and planning, design practice, the role of architecture in society and the future of construction. We also study architectural history and conservation. Furthermore, our focus areas include construction in the social and health sector, construction for a sustainable future, computer-assisted design methods, and humanitarian architecture. Our research profile covers both basic research in architecture and applied research answering the needs of the industry and public sector.
The research relates to multidisciplinary research areas at Aalto University, especially the human-centred living environments, supported by the Living+ Platform.
SOTERA is the research group for Health and Wellbeing Architecture Sotera – Research group for Health & Wellbeing architecture (aalto.fi)
Aalto WiT (World in Transition) LAB WiT LAB – World in transition
Group X Group X | Aalto University (groupxaalto.fi)
Co-operation with other parties
Aalto University and the departments involved in the programme collaborate with many high-quality universities worldwide.
Study-option-specific evaluation criteria in Master’s Admissions 2026
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 Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture - Architecture will be evaluated based on the following criteria
Phase I
What we look for in an applicant/admission requirements
Applicants should demonstrate/clarify
- their communication skills that is the ability to use visual means of representation of the discipline in order to communicate your design idea and its architectural expression.
- their technical skills that is the ability to translate your concept into an adequate material system and coherent construction logic.
- their understanding of context that is the ability to relate the architectural project to its physical, social, cultural and political environment.
- their understanding of space-making that is the ability to translate the architectural concept into an adequate spatial experience and spatial dynamics.
- the reasons for applying to Aalto University and the expectations and goals for studying in the programme (Motivation letter).
- their understanding of architecture and its relevance for the future of society (Letter of self-reflection & CV).
Portfolio (max 24 pages, pdf-format)
Maximum size for the portfolio is 100 MB. No links to additional information outside of the pdf will be considered.
Motivation letter (max 400 words, pdf-format)
Letter of self-reflection (max 600 words, pdf-format) with curriculum vitae, proof of employment, publications or other relevant material attached as appendix.
Name the file as: Portfolio-surname-firstname.pdf
Bachelor in Architecture or equivalent degree
Applicant should demonstrate a thorough knowledge comparable to the Bachelor education in architecture at Aalto University
Phase II
The applicants should demonstrate:
- critical reflection on your academic and professional achievements in relation to the objectives of the field of study
- an elaborated introduction into 1-2 projects showcased in the portfolio
- explaining architecture narratives, communication, and reflectivity
- an articulated understanding of the content of the field of study and maturity of design thinking
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:
Architecture major has an interview.
Phase I
In Phase I, the applications are evaluated based on the following criteria
- Artistic and/or design practice (Portfolio, Motivation letter, Letter of self-reflection & CV).
- Relevance of previous studies/degree (Degree certificates and Transcript(s) of records).
The applicant ́s portfolio is reviewed independently by at least three selection committee members and graded according to communication skills, technical skills, understanding of context and understanding of space-making. The selection committee members will review the motivation letter, transcripts and letter of self-reflection and evaluate it according to the given criteria.
The final grade for phase I is achieved by averaging out the grades of the various reviews by the selection committee members. Only the applications who fulfill the requirements in phase I evaluation will be invited to an interview.
Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on Suitability/Interview
Interviews are conducted online. After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases I and II.
Use of AI Tools – Application Guidelines
To ensure transparency and fair evaluation, all applicants must clearly declare any use of AI tools across all parts of the application.
A brief AI usage statement must be included with the application, specifying:
- in which parts of the application AI tools were used (e.g., renders, text, design development)
- and for what purpose
The documents required 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 required to provide the following study-option-specific documents:
Portfolio
The portfolio should demonstrate the academic excellence of the applicant with respect to the criteria listed above of the evaluation criteria. A coherent layout and consistent quality of drawings and images is expected. The size of the portfolio should not exceed 24 pages (max A3) and in case of team work the contribution of the applicant should be clearly stated. The portfolio should include a CV, a letter of self-reflection and a motivation letter of the applicant.
Portfolio must include at least three individual schoolwork, in addition to team works or/and office works.
IMPORTANT: All the material presented in the Portfolio should be made by the applicants themselves not a third party. This includes design concepts, rendering and text.
Maximum size for the portfolio is 100 MB. Name the file as: Portfolio-surname-firstname.pdf
CV
The CV should be maximum 1 page and include at least information on previous studies, work experience, software skills and prizes. The CV should be included in the portfolio.
IMPORTANT: Do not append recommendation or testimonial letters into your application. Aalto University does not consider outside opinions in student selections.
Motivation letter
The motivation letter max 400 words should state clearly the reason for studying architecture and the relevance of studying at Aalto University for development of applicant’s career plan. The motivation letter should be included in the portfolio. The motivation letter should answer the question Why do you want to study at Aalto University?
Letter of self-reflection
In the letter of self-reflection the applicant should reflect on his/her understanding of architecture and of the relevance of architecture for the future development of societies and the world we are living in. The letter should be of a maximum of 600 words and can use the curriculum vitae, proof of employment, publications or/and other relevant material as support material. The letter of self-reflection should answer What are your main characteristics as a student?
Language of application documents
Application documents should be submitted preferably in English but applications in Finnish or Swedish are accepted too. The interview is conducted in English only.
Read more about architecture
Ellen Heikkilä, student of architecture
"Design and planning are human-centric, which inspires me."
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The work and influence of Finnish architects has been essential throughout the ages in addressing social and cultural issues.
Building with wood is a climate-friendly option (external link)
Wood stores carbon and is a versatile, renewable and recyclable building material.
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Contact information
Learning Services at 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
Admissions Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admissions Services.
admissions@aalto.fi