Curriculum 2020–2022

Student Guide

Master's Programme in Information and Service Management

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Degree structure

Programme studies 84 cr
- Incl. Master’s thesis 30 cr
Minor 24 cr
Electives 12 cr

MSc degree studies consist of the following study modules: Programme studies 84 ECTS credits, Minor studies 24 ECTS credits and Electives 12 ECTS credits.

In addition to the goals stated in (794/2004) 7 § the aim of the Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration is to provide students with

deep overall knowledge of the area of the specialised master’s degree programme, and very good knowledge of the minor subject or corresponding study entities included in the degree;
the knowledge and skills required in challenging managerial positions or positions demanding a high level of expertise, or as entrepreneur;
the ability to independently produce and apply knowledge in the field of business administration and economics, and preparedness for demanding international postgraduate programmes;
the ability to address ethics, sustainability, and international context; and
excellent communication and team working skills.

Programme studies 84 cr

Code: BIZ214
Credits: min. 80 ECTS cr
Programme Director: Professor Matti Rossi

Students in the Master’s programme in Information and Service Management learn:

data analysis, business intelligence, ability to use and develop it in organizations;
quantitative and data driven marketing;
analysis and development of business models for digital and service business;
leading people and projects;
services development and analysis; and
design research.

Degree requirements 120 cr

1. Programme studies minimum 80 cr

Common advanced studies

Mandatory, choose 2 courses from the following:

Course name	ECTS credits	Period
*)	6 cr	III
	6 cr	IV
	6 cr	I

^{The remaining course can be included in advanced specialisation studies in any area of specialization (A, B or C).}
^{* NOTE! Students who have started their studies before 1.8.2020 and have completed course 35E00750 Logistic Systems and Analytics or TU-E2000 Aalto introduction to services, can include this course as a core course instead of 35E03000 Sustainable Supply Chains}
^{*) Replaces course 30E02000 Business Decisions 2}

Advanced studies in major

Mandatory studies 42 cr.:

Course name	ECTS credits	Period
Capstone (Choose at least one, also both can be completed): * **	6 cr 6 cr	Cancelled in autumn 2020 and autumn 2021* can be substituted by IV-V
	30 cr
	6 cr	I-II, III-V
Maturity Test	0 cr

^{*) If you were planning to complete Capstone: DigitalISM Challenge as Capstone course, replacing course is 37E01500 Project Management and Consulting Practice. Replaces course 57E00600 Hackathon project and 20E00200 Hackathon projekti. Only one of these three courses can be completed.}
^{**) Replaces course 37E00550 Business Intelligence. Students may include only one of these in their degree: 37E00550 Business Intelligence (no longer offered) or 57E00550 Capstone: Business Intelligence.}

Elective studies

You can choose one area of specialization A, B or C. Choose at least 5 courses (min. 27 credits)

A. Business Analytics

Selecting at least two from the following courses is strongly recommended:

Course name	ECTS credits	Period
*)	6 cr	I
	6 cr	III
	6 cr	IV
**)	6 cr	IV

^{*) Replaces course 27E02000 Models in Marketing. Only one of these two courses can be completed.}
^{**) Replaces course 30E00800 Time Series Analysis. Only one of these two courses can be completed.}

Choose the rest from the following:

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Period
		6 cr	V
		6 cr	I
		6 cr	I
		6 cr	II, III
		5 cr	III-IV
		5 cr	I-II
		5 cr	I-II
		5 cr	III-IV
		6 cr	I
or or	^) ^)	6 cr 6 cr 6 cr
	Other suitable studies in ISM for example from another Department of School of Business, Aalto School or university ^**)	12 cr

^{*) Suitability for ISM programme elective is determined on a case-by-case basis and must be approved before the project begins. General requirements: the project must be conducted in English. Please see course description on WebOodi for more information}
^{**) Must be approved by the programme director. Please send an email with a link to the course description of the course you are suggesting to Matti Rossi, programme director, CC planning officer.}

B. Information Systems Science

Selecting at least 2 courses from the following is strongly recommended:

Course name	ECTS credits	Period
_^*)	6 cr	IV
	6 cr	II
	6 cr	II
	6 cr	I

Choose the rest from the following:

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Period
		6 cr	V (2021-2022)
		6 cr	I, III, IV
		6 cr	II (2021-2022)
		6 cr	V (2021-2022)
		6 cr	III
OR +	OR (+ ISM-C5000 Supplementary studies in ISM 1 cr if needed. See more info below) ³⁾	6 cr 5 cr (+ 1 cr)	I I-II
		6 cr	II
		6 cr	II, III
		6 cr	I
		5 cr	II
		5 cr	I-II
		5 cr	I-II
		5 cr	I-II
	**	6 cr	I
	*	6 cr	IV
		6 cr	III
		6 cr	IV
		6 cr	IV
		6 cr	V
		6 cr	III
		4 cr	V
		5 cr	III-IV
		6 cr	II
		6 cr	TBA
		6 cr	II
		5 cr	III-IV
or or	¹⁾ ¹⁾	6 cr 6 cr 6 cr
	Other suitable studies in ISM for example from another Department of School of Business, Aalto School or university ²⁾	12 cr.

^{*) Information Economy and Capstone: Business Intelligence can be included only once in the major studies: either in common advanced studies or in Information Systems Science studies.}
^{**) Replaces course 27E02000 Models in Marketing}
^{1) Suitability for ISM programme elective is determined on a case-by-case basis and must be approved before the project begins. General requirements: the project must be conducted in English. Please contact the faculty for details.}
^{2) Must be approved by the programme director. Please send an email with a link to the course description of the course you are suggesting to Matti Rossi, programme director, CC planning officer.}
^{3) In stead of Programming 1, it is possible to take CS-A1111 Ohjelmoinnin peruskurssi Y1 (5 cr). If wished, it is possible to supplement this course with ISM-C5000 Supplementary studies in ISM 1 cr.}

C. Supply Chain Management

Selecting at least 2 courses from the following courses is strongly recommended:

Course name	ECTS credits	Period
	6 cr	I
*	6 cr	Not lectured 2020-2021 III (2021-2022)
	6 cr	IV
	6 cr	V
	6 cr	II

Choose the rest from the following:

**	6 cr	III
	6 cr	TBA
	6 cr	II
	6 cr	III
	6 cr	V
¹⁾	6 cr
	6 cr	I
	6 cr	IV
	6 cr	II
	6 cr	II
	6 cr	I
***	6 cr	I
	5 cr	III-IV
Other suitable studies in ISM for example from another Department of School of Business, Aalto School or university ²⁾	12 cr.

^{*) Replaces course 35C00200 Purchasing and Supply Chain Management/ 35C00250 Hankintojen johtaminen. Only one of these three can be completed.}
^{**) Replaces course 35E00500 Quality Leadership. Only one of these courses can be completed.}
^{***) Replaces 27E02000 Models in Marketing}
^{1) Suitability for ISM programme elective is determined on a case-by-case basis and must be approved before the project begins. General requirements: the project must be conducted in English. Please contact the faculty for details.}
^{2) Must be approved by the programme director. Please send an email with a link to the course description of the course you are suggesting to Matti Rossi, programme director, CC planning officer.}

2. Minor studies 24 cr

3. Elective studies 12-16 credits

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

The programme study module includes a 30-credit thesis with a 6-credit seminar. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication.

The student takes also part in a thesis seminar, which is designed to help the students to prepare their thesis work. The seminar commonly consists of meetings, completing thesis, presenting the research topic to the seminar group and acting as an opponent for a fellow student’s thesis. Seminar lasts usually the whole semester, and it is organised during both autumn and spring semesters.

Seminar practices vary depending on the degree programme: please see the instructions for each programme in Sisu or MyCourses. For instructions on writing and handing in the thesis please see the page Completing your master's thesis.

1. When and how to start the thesis work?

The thesis work starts by participating in the Master’s thesis seminar. The thesis seminar is meant to be taken during the 2nd year of master’s studies and earliest during the first year's spring.
The thesis seminar includes three introductory lectures that are compulsory and organized twice per academic year: in the beginning of fall term and in the beginning of spring term. Thesis seminar also includes obligatory presentations and attendances to other students’ presentations. See course description ISM-E5001 Master’s Thesis Seminar for more information on the required attendances and the seminar MyCourses pages after you have registered for the course.
You can register for the thesis seminar with course code ISM-E5001 Master’s Thesis Seminar. Registration is open the whole academic year.

2. Do I have to have a topic ready before enrolling to the seminar?

It is an advantage if the student has at least some initial ideas of the topic when registering for the seminar. The supervisors help and discuss different topic options. The supervisor will accept the final topic.

3. Can I start the thesis work before the seminar or during the summer?

Yes, you can. However, you need to speak with one of the supervisors who may not be present the whole summer.

4. Do I have to attend the Master's Thesis Seminar?

Yes. Master's Thesis Seminar is a compulsory course in the Master’s degree. The thesis seminar consists of obligatory info sessions (3), presentations, oppositions and active participation in other students’ presentations. More information on required attendances is given on the introductory lectures and on the MyCourses pages.

5. How is the supervisor for the thesis decided?

The topic and method often affect which supervisor is most suitable. Typically BA students work with a BA supervisor etc. More information regarding how to find a supervisor is given on the seminar MyCourses pages and in the introduction lectures. If you would like to discuss with somebody before you start attending the seminar, you can contact programme director Matti Rossi.

6. Does the thesis have to be related to the focus area I have chosen or can I write it to another focus area? For example, if most of my courses are in Business analytics, can I still write a thesis related to Information Systems Science?

You can. The borders are not very severe.

7. How to choose a topic?

Some tips for choosing the topic is given in the seminar and MyCourses pages. You can find a list of the research areas of every supervisor on MyCourses. If you are working or you have worked somewhere, think if you can get an idea for the thesis from your work place. Maybe there is a problem or a current issue that could be handled in the thesis? Is there a course that you really liked? You could discuss with the teacher for some ideas. You can also have a look at the thesis written by our students at

8. Who approves the research topic?

The research topic is approved by the thesis supervisor. Please discuss with your supervisor the topic prior accepting commissioned work to make sure that there is a suitable theoretical approach that can be employed in the thesis.

9. If I want to do my thesis for a company/organization, how do I proceed?

Speak to your supervisor to make sure that the topic and thesis itself will meet the criteria set by the degree regulations.
Please note that the school/department does not provide agreement templates for company assigned thesis, this is between you and the company/organization.

10. Can thesis be written in Finnish?

By default, the language of the thesis is English. Please discuss this issue with your supervisor.

11. When do I have to hand in my thesis in order to graduate in a particular graduation date?

Please see for exact dates.

12. Finishing the thesis, hand in and evaluation process

Return the first version of your thesis to your instructor for comments. The instructor gives his/her comments and if needed, you should make the necessary corrections to the thesis. There may be also more iterations.
Once you consider the thesis is ready, get the permission from your instructor to submit your thesis (including the abstract which acts as the maturity test) for evaluation on MyCourses. Each thesis will be read and graded by two reviewers, by the reviewer who supervised the thesis and another reviewer. In addition, you have to submit your thesis to the electronic archive through eAge.
See further instructions in Completing your master's thesis on the left hand menu.

13. How do I complete the maturity test?

You can find information about maturity test on .

14. Can master’s thesis be classified confidential?

According to the decision by the Ministry of Education and Culture that Master’s theses may not be confidential (the principle of transparency) and therefore there is no possibility for keeping MSc theses as confidential.
All the theses are required to be uploaded to electronic publication archive Aaltodoc. Student can then decide whether the whole work can be accessed online or only the abstract page. However, all Master’s theses can be read either as an online form or as hard copy at the Learning Services. Thus, theses cannot include any confidential information.

Minor 24 cr

The minor study module of the Master’s degree is 24 credits and can be one of the following:

a module confirmed in the curriculum (a minor study entity offered at the School of Business) ,
a module completed in an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business or in another programme meeting the requirements set in the official exchange programme policy of the School of Business, or
a module earned at another Aalto University school or at another Finnish university e.g. under the agreement on flexible study rights (JOO agreement).

For a list of all the minors at Aalto University, see Minors

In some cases it is possible to complete two minors in the Master's degree. Please note that you can only choose the second minor if it fits into your degree or exceeds it by maximum of one course.

Exchange studies is a very popular minor among the students of the School of Business. If you are interested in completing exchange studies as your minor, please check out this short video:

Elective studies

You can choose elective studies to your Master's degree so, that the extent of the degree (120 credits) is fulfilled. You can exceed the extent of the degree by one course maximum.

Elective studies can include basic, intermediate or advanced level courses. You can use the module e.g.

To broaden your skills and knowledge via multidisciplinary studies:
- select courses in
- select -courses
- select courses in
To deepen your
To deepen or broaden your skills and knowledge in the field of business
- select additional courses in your degree programme or major
- select courses from other degree progarmmes or majors in the School of Business
- select additional courses in your minor
To gain work experience and working life skills via
To gain skills in self leadership and finding meaningfulness via
To broaden your degree with a second minor, if it fits in your degree
- Please not that you can only choose the second minor if it fits into your degree or exceeds it by maximum of one course. You can find the requirements of minors in Into

If you have mandatory language studies in your master's degree, they are included in the elective studies module. You have received information about these in the beginning of your studies, if this applies to you.

Students who have received their first cycle university degree from the Aalto University or from another Finnish university of from a Finnish university of applied sciences have principally demonstrated their language proficiency in the bachelor's degree or received an exemption. Therefore there is no need to demonstrate language proficiency in the master's degree
Students, who have received their first cycle university degree outside of Finland and whose is Finnish or Swedish, do demonstrate their language proficiency in the master's degree
Students, who have received their first cycle university degree outside of Finland and whose is other than Finnish or Swedish, do not demonstrate their language proficiency in the master's degree

If you are uncertain of whether you need to demonstrate language proficiency in the master's degree, please contact your programme's planning officer to get further information about the matter. Read also more about the language requirements for the maturity test in the page Completing your master's thesis > Maturity test.

Why should I study languages?

Updated: 1.7.2025
Published: 24.5.2022

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Student Guide

Master's Programme in Information and Service Management

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