Advanced Energy Solutions

There is an ongoing transition towards sustainable energy which combines smartness, flexibility and environmental performance with a customer acceptance and engagement. New energy system will be a complex combination of central and local resources. This calls for new thinking of primary sources, production, markets, transmission, use and customers as producer-consumers (prosumers).

The program has four majors. In each of them, You will be provided a solid theoretical background, complimented with interdisciplinary studies to broaden and deepen the understanding of energy challenges in our society.

Energy consumption in industry has a great impact on the sustainability of the energy system and the society as a whole. Understanding, managing and designing energy intensive industrial processes resource efficiently is a key issue in the field of energy. Major Industrial Energy Processes and Sustainability provides understanding of energy and process industry, their main challenges and the possibilities for development. The major addresses engineering knowledge involved in energy intensive industrial processes, heat and power processes, biomass conversion and energy efficiency in the industry. Students in the major gain a strong education of energy technology as well as a deep knowledge of the advanced areas.

The other majors of the Advanced Energy Solutions are:

• Energy in Buildings and Built Environment
• Energy Systems and Markets
• Energy Conversion Processes

Master of Science (Technology) degree is 120 ECTS credits. The degree consists of major studies, master´s thesis and elective studies. All the major subjects have a common module, the contents of which is from 15 to 20 credits, depending on the major in question. The main purpose of the common module is to give the student the basic understanding of energy systems and energy markets, and on the other hand there is a purpose to give the same starting point for all students regardless their previous back ground. The Major subjects will give main specializations for the students. The rest of the major contains typically 20-30 credits of mandatory courses of specialization, and the rest are elective studies of taken from a given list of courses.

The major Industrial Energy Processes and Sustainability, coordinated by the School of Chemical Technology, apply the following principles during the academic evaluation of eligible applications. These principles are revised annually.

The student selection process is competitive. The applicant’s suitability for the major is evaluated. The best applicants are granted admission.

The selection of students is primarily based on the application documents. Not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted, CHEM major does not have a minimum quota to be fulfilled.

The programmes reserve the right to interview the applicants if it is necessary to clarify the applicant’s motivation or other information in the application.

1. Content of the previous degree
B.Sc. or equivalent degree in the natural sciences or engineering of a relevant field. Relevant degrees are e.g. in the fields of process and chemical engineering, process systems engineering, oil and gas engineering, energy technology or pulp and paper engineering. Strong background in chemistry and other natural sciences is required.

This Master’s programme should provide genuinely new knowledge and enhance the career prospects of the applicant. Thus, applicants who already have a Master’s degree in the closely related field will only be accepted onto the programme for very specific reasons. These reasons must be stated in the application.

2. Study success
The applicant's success in previous studies (those that give basis for applying into the programme) will be evaluated based on the grade point average (GPA) and results in key courses. Preference is given to students with a GPA average equivalent to minimum of 3.0 (on a scale 1.0-5.0).

The time taken to complete previous studies will also be taken into account. Applicants, who have previously studied at Aalto University, e.g. as exchange students, will also be evaluated according to the grades in those studies and the number of credits obtained in comparison to the time taken for completion.

3. Recognition and quality of the home university
The applicant's previous degree will be evaluated based on the recognition and quality of the university.

4. Motivation and commitment
The applicant must demonstrate genuine motivation to study the chosen field and be committed to full-time studies with a plan to complete the Master's degree in two years’ time. The applicant is required to inform if applicant has a study right to another master or doctoral programme.

5. Other relevant achievements
The applicant's other relevant achievements may be considered if documented in the application.

These can be, for example:
- experience of work in the field of the programme
-participation in scientific research which has led to publications, posters
- for applicants whose Bachelor's degree is from a Finnish university of applied sciences, prior completion of required complementary studies with good grades (transcript required)
- other previous studies (transcript required)

6. Recommendation letter

Max. two recommendation letters can be attached to the application.

7. Language proficiency
The applicant must meet the mandatory language requirements of Aalto university. Student must be able to demonstrate that he/she is able to effectively use English as a working language. The studies are conducted fully in English.

There are several ways to fund your studies at Aalto University. Prospective non-EU/EEA students applying to Aalto University Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes as well as Nordic Master programmes are eligible to apply for scholarships awarded from the Aalto University Scholarship programme. Certain international joint degree programmes have their own tuition fees and scholarship schemes. By a decision made by the Vice President in charge of Education, Aalto University's scholarships are not available in the CCIS second application round.