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Studies and Courses

When applying for exchange studies, you must submit a Study Plan / Learning Agreement with your course choices. Exchange students at Aalto University are expected to choose 30 ECTS credits per semester (autumn or spring) or 60 ECTS credits for an entire academic year. 

The Study Plan/ Learning agreement is a preliminary plan and does not guarantee course placement even if your exchange application is accepted. As almost all Aalto ARTS courses have limited or prioritized seats, you might not be accepted into all courses you have listed in your preliminary study plan. Therefore, you have to be prepared to make some changes to it after arrival, and it is good to have some alternative courses in mind. Please also discuss this flexibility with your home university before the start of the exchange.

Accepted exchange students can discuss their course selections with the major/programme staff before the exchange starts. The registration and final acceptance for courses takes place just before each teaching period begins. You will receive more information about this directly from your exchange coordinator.

Which courses should I choose?

Make sure you know which major/programme you have been nominated for at Aalto ARTS, and please ask if you are unsure. Choose courses primarily in the major for which you have been nominated, according to the course lists for exchange students in each major linked at the end of this page. This is very important as the preliminary study plan that you submit with your application will reflect your interest and motivation to study the specific subject you are applying for, and it will influence the decision of whether your application is accepted or declined. 

In addition to the courses in the major you are applying for, you can choose for example 1-2 courses from the list of joint courses that are open for all exchange students at Aalto. 

When choosing courses, please keep in mind that the Autumn term covers teaching periods I and II, while the Spring term covers teaching periods III, IV, and V. You can find the academic calendar for 2025-2026 here.

Please find further information about each course in our . Choose "continue without logging in", and search for courses in the search field. Click on the course version for the correct academic year (previous versions of the same course might also show in Sisu) to see more information about the course. You can find general information about the course, such as the teaching periods, learning outcomes, content and prerequisites under the first tab "information sheet". The study methods, assessment criteria and teaching schedule (which will be updated closer to the start of the academic year 25-26) can be found under the second tab "completion methods". All courses are subject to changes.

Courses for exchange students at Aalto ARTS

Department of Architecture

Master's programme in Urban Studies and Planning

Students applying to Urban Studies and Planning can choose courses directly from the programme's course curriculum 2024-2026. Please don't mind the topics "compulsory, alternative", as these instructions apply to degree students. Applicants can choose courses freely in the application phase, and accepted exchange students will then discuss and confirm course choices with the major staff before the start of the exchange. Please note that acceptance to specific courses is not guaranteed, so students should be flexible in their course choices. The course Urban Challenge Studio 1 is highly recommended for exchange students. 

Department specific information for all majors at the department of Architecture

Exchange students at the Department of Architecture (mainly students in the majors Architecture and Landscape Architecture) will be informed in detail about all studio courses available during the Studio Info Sessions. The studio info sessions take place at the beginning of each term. Exchange students can participate in 1 studio course / term. Application for the studio course is possible after the studio presentations.

Exchange students at the Department of Architecture (students in all three majors as well as in the Master's programme in Urban Studies and Planning) are also welcome to choose among theElective courses offered by the Master's programme in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture, with the following notes: 

• Only courses with a title in English are given in English
• ARK-E1016, ARK-E1017 and ARK-E1019 are only given in Finnish

Department of Art and Media

Bachelor's programmes in Art and Media

Master's programmes in Art and Media

Visual Communication Design

Students applying for the major Visual Communication Design can choose courses directly from the major's course curriculum 2024-2026 here. BA-level students are welcome to choose among MA-level courses. Please don't mind the topics "compulsory, alternative", as these instructions apply to degree students. Exchange students can choose courses freely in the application phase, and accepted exchange students can then discuss course choices with the major staff before the start of the exchange.

Sound in New Media

Not available in 25-26. Available every other year coinciding with the intake for new Master's degree students, next academic year available 2026-27.

Photography

Available every other year coinciding with the intake for new Master's degree students, next academic year available 2025-26. Students applying to the major Photography can choose courses directly from the major's course curriculum 2024-2026 here (excluding 2. year courses). Please don't mind the topics "compulsory, optional", as these instructions apply to degree students. Exchange students can choose courses freely in the application phase, and accepted exchange students can then discuss course choices with the major staff before the start of the exchange.

Department of Design

Bachelor's programmes in Design

Master's programmes in Design

Contemporary Design

Students applying to Contemporary Design can choose courses directly from the major's course curriculum 2024-2026 here. Please don't mind the topics "compulsory, alternative", as these instructions apply to degree students. Exchange students can choose courses freely in the application phase, and accepted exchange students will then discuss course choices with the major staff before the start of the exchange.

Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design

Students applying to Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design can choose courses directly from the major's course curriculum 2024-2026 here. Please don't mind the topics "compulsory, optional", as these instructions apply to degree students. Exchange students can choose courses freely in the application phase, and accepted exchange students will then discuss course choices with the major staff before the start of the exchange.

Joint courses for all exchange students

General Art Studies

Exchange students who have been accepted to the School of Arts, Design and Architecture may choose general art and theory courses offered by the Transdisclipinary Arts Studies (TAITE). Please note that they are very popular and have limited intake, and the places for these courses are drawn. You can plan to take any of them, but you may not be able to get a place on the course you would like to take. 

Interdisciplinary courses

Aalto University offers you a possibility to take some interdisciplinary courses. These courses are suitable for everyone regardless of the study field, no special prerequisites are set for these courses. You don't need any preliminary approval before registering for them. Take the opportunity to try something different during your exchange period!

In addition to these courses, you can also choose among our: 

• Personal Impact courses to boost your skills of self-leadership, personal development and well-being.
• Courses in Intercultural Communication.
• Courses in communication and social interaction, please check teaching language in Sisu.

Language courses

Finnish courses for exchange students and other language courses are organized by the Language Centre.

Courses from other majors

Exchange students should primarily select courses in the major they are applying for / have been accepted to. Taking courses from other majors or departments is sometimes possible. However, this always needs to be confirmed by the course teacher prior to registering for the course. Courses in other majors can be discussed when the student has been accepted for the exchange.