ADMISSION

Schedule

The application period for studies starting in autumn 2024 runs from 4 December 2023 to 19 January 2024.

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How to apply

The application consists of an electronic application form and a set of required application documents.

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Requirements

Only the applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked.

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Schedule

The application period for studies starting in autumn 2024 runs from 4 December 2023 to 12 January 2024.

Admission timeline for the main application round

4 December 2023 at 9.00 (9 am, GMT +2)

Application period starts and online application form opens

19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2)

Application period ends and online application form closes

19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2)

Deadline for application documents to be uploaded to application form (including references and language test results)

19-26 February 2024

Motivation video submission

Early April 2024

Admissions results are published

13 days from the admission result

Selected students with scholarship

Deadline for accepting the offer of admission (study place)

31 May 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3)

Selected students without scholarship

Deadline for accepting the offer of admission (study place)

31 July 2024

Deadline to graduate for applicants who applied with an incomplete degree

16 August 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3)

Deadline for a certified copy of the degree certificate to arrive at Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering Learning Services (for applicants conditionally admitted with an incomplete degree)
Deadline for officially certified study certificates

The application period for studies starting in autumn 2024 ran from 4 December 2023 to 19 January 2024. The application period for studies starting in autumn 2024 has ended. Late applications cannot be considered.

CoDaS programme received 1643 applications on the main application round. Due to the high number of applications received, an additional application round will not be held.

How to apply

The application consists of an electronic application form and a set of required application documents. Read the instructions for required application documents carefully.

Application

The application consists of an electronic Application form and a set of required application documents. Read the instructions for required application documents carefully.
Fill in the online application form during the application period. You can edit your application form within the application period. Late applications are not considered.
All application documents must be uploaded to your application form by the given deadline. The deadline cannot be extended. Documents submitted after the deadline will not be considered in any circumstances; the final deadline is the same for all applicants.
Your application and the required documents will be reviewed for the general eligibility requirements. Only eligible applications proceed for the academic evaluation. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
The application form and link to it are available only during the application period. One applicant can have only one application form, do not fill in several forms.
The application platform requires a modern browser. We recommend the latest version of Google Chrome as it ensures the best performance and security. The application platform also supports Firefox, Apple Safari and Microsoft Edge. While these browsers will allow you to run the application platform without problems, you may encounter performance issues or occasional glitches.
Supported browsers are: Google Chrome 84+, Mozilla Firefox 78+, Apple Safari 12+, Opera 66+, Microsoft Edge 44+.

Motivation video

After the evaluation of the applications, the best applicants will continue to the second phase of the application process and will be invited to submit a motivation video to complete their application. All applicants will be informed by email if they are requested to submit a motivation video or if their application was not good enough to be evaluated further. The applicants who are requested to submit a motivation video will receive the instructions and set of questions by email. After the evaluation of the motivation videos is conducted, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases 1 and 2.

University preference

On the application form, you are asked to list the Consortium Universities according to your preference where you would like to study on your first year and second year. Admitted students will be allocated to the Consortium Universities equally while considering students’ preferences.
Both Home University (first year) and Host University (second year) will be assigned for each student in the admission and will be informed to the student in the admission letter. Admitted students cannot change their Home University, but can apply to change the Host University during the first year of studies if there are open positions available.
University preference does not affect the admission decision to the programme or the scholarship decision.

General Eligibility

You are eligible to apply in master's admissions if you have a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor's degree must be equivalent to 180 ECTS credits or three years of full-time study. The degree must give eligibility to apply for master’s degree studies at university in the awarding country. The awarding higher education institution has to be a recognised part of the official national education system of the country. It has to be accredited as a degree-granting higher education institution by the country where it is located or by a relevant international organisation (such as UNESCO).
You cannot apply to a master’s programme on the basis of a previous master's degree. Only bachelor’s degrees give eligibility for master’s programmes. Exceptions to this are ‘long-cycle’ master's degrees that have been granted without a bachelor’s degree, for instance, degrees awarded in Finland prior to the adoption of the two-cycle degree system in 2008 or licentiate of medicine degrees.

Are you applying with an incomplete degree?

You can apply to the programme with an incomplete bachelor’s degree, provided that you will graduate by 31 July 2024. If you are accepted to the university, you must deliver a certified copy of your degree certificate by 16 August 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3). In case you are not able to graduate or fail to deliver your degree certificate by the deadline, your conditionally granted study right will be cancelled. If you apply with an incomplete degree, note that it may not be possible to graduate during the summer months. You should look into the graduation schedules and requirements of your own faculty or school in advance.
Only studies included in an official transcript of records submitted with the online application form by the deadline can be taken into consideration in the evaluation. Updated transcripts or any studies completed after the deadline cannot be taken into consideration.

Required application documents

All documents have to be uploaded to the online application form before the given deadline (see admission schedule). Documents received after the deadline are not considered. If an obligatory application document is not submitted as required by the deadline, the application will be rejected as incomplete. We recommend uploading all the documents as early as possible. Obligatory documents to be uploaded to the application form (in PDF format)

  • Scanned colour copy of the original Bachelor’s degree certificate (This document requirement does not apply to applicants with an incomplete degree. If your degree is unfinished at the application phase, leave the upload attachment section for degree certificate blank. The degree must be completed by 31 July 2024.)
  • Scanned colour copy of the original official transcript of study records.
  • If your degree certificate and the official transcript of records are not in English, scanned colour copies of authorised translations.
  • Copy of a valid passport or an official government-issued identification card with photo and information on citizenship. Upload a copy of the personal information page of the passport only (not all pages). Driver’s license does not have information on citizenship and is therefore not accepted.
  • Proof of place of residency.
  • Proof of English language proficiency. See the accepted language tests, other accepted methods of demonstrating English language skills and document instructions on language requirements .
  • Motivation letter (to be written directly on the application form, not as attached document)
    • The motivation letter should be written in English. The maximum length of the motivation letter is 500 words. The motivation letter should describe why you are applying to the programme and why you would be a good candidate. The motivation letter should also include which partner universities you wish to study in.
    • curriculum vitae

In addition, the student may provide the following documents to add value on their application:

  • at least one original recommendation letter (preferably academic)
    • Recommendation letters written by work supervisors are accepted as well in case some time has passed since graduation.
    • The recommendation letter can be attached to the application form as a pdf document or you can send a referee request from the application portal to your referee using References tab. The referee must submit their reference by the document submission deadline 19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2).
  • work certificates and certificates of other relevant achievements
  • copies of any publications
  • course descriptions of relevant courses taken
  • You can either copy the course descriptions from the university website or study guide or summarize them yourself. A list of most important topics covered will suffice.
  • the official transcript of records for other university studies which are not included in the mandatory part of the application

Documents that are in the same category (for example, a transcript of records that has four pages) should be scanned into one file. Please do not make a separate file for each page.
Admitted applicants must submit certified (attested) hard copies of the bachelor’s degree certificate, transcript of study records and official translations of these documents (if applicable) by the given deadline. Please note that only admitted applicants need to submit the certified hard copied documents after the admission results have been published. The deadline for the officially certified study certificates is 16 August 2024 at 15.00 (GMT +3). Please find more information here.

Translations

The documents must be in English. If the original degree certificate or transcript of records was written in some other language, you must submit an official translation of the document. The translation is official if it has been done by the higher education institution that awarded the degree or by a certified translator (authorised translator). The translations must have the certified translator’s stamp and signature. A Diploma Supplement issued in English can be accepted as a translation of a degree certificate (issued in a language other than English), if it contains all the same information as the degree certificate (at least the name of the degree, the name of the institution awarding the degree, the date of awarding the degree, and the name of the student.)

Proof of place of residency

A proof of place of residence (PPR) is a document verifying the country and the city you currently live in. The document must:

  • be issued within 12 months before the Codas document submission deadline
  • have your name on it and clearly (in print, in Latin alphabet) state your current country and city of residence, ideally also your full address, and
  • be available in English/translated into English by a certified translator (authorized translator).

The proof of place of residence (PPR) document can be, for example,

  • a residence certificate issued in accordance with your municipality’s normal registration rules, or
  • a certificate from your current place of work, study or training issued by your employer or the institution in question. CoDaS’ own PPR template is recommended.

Language requirements

No other methods of demonstrating English language skills than those listed below are accepted. Applications without the required proof of language proficiency will be rejected.

IELTS Academic

Minimum score requirements:

  • IELTS Academic: overall score 6.5, and writing score 5.5.

Aalto University accepts also IELTS Indicator (Academic) test and IELTS Online (Academic) test.
Only IELTS Academic tests are accepted. General-level tests are not accepted.
If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered in the admissions. You cannot combine scores from different test dates.
IELTS test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.

Submitting the IELTS scores

The official language test scores must arrive at Aalto University at the latest by 19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2).

  1. Upload a PDF copy of your IELTS test report to your application form, if you have received the report already.
  2. Mark your Test Report Form (TRF) number carefully to your application form. Make sure to type the number correctly. Your TRF number is required for verifying the scores.
  3. If you have taken the IELTS Indicator test, mark your IELTS Indicator Score ID to the application form.
  4. Send your electronic test report to Aalto University in the test administrator's service.
    - When booking the test, you can choose Aalto University as the Recognising Organisation to make your score available to Aalto University. The department is "Admission Services".
    - If you have already taken the test, contact your test centre and request the test administrator to send your electronic test report to Aalto University. See the instructions for sending IELTS results to nominated organisations (electronically) on the test administrator website.

The results are verified electronically.

TOEFL

Minimum score requirements:

  • TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test): 92, and 22 for Writing or
  • TOEFL PDT (Paper-delivered Test): Reading 22, Listening 22, and Writing 24

TOEFL iBT® Home Edition test is also accepted.
If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered in the admissions. You cannot combine scores from different test dates, e.g. TOEFL MyBest scores is not accepted.
TOEFL test results are valid for two years from the date of the test. Note that the test administrator ETS does not send TOEFL results after they have expired.

Submitting the TOEFL scores

The official language test scores must arrive at Aalto University at the latest by 19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2) directly from the test administrator. Only official test scores sent by the test administrator are accepted.

  1. Request your official score report to be sent from the test administrator to Aalto University reporting code 7364 (Score Report Recipient).
    A department code is not required (or you can choose any department). Aalto University will receive all results sent with the reporting code 7364. Make the reporting request early enough.
  2. Type your TOEFL iBT Appointment number to your application form (to "Language proficiency" section of the form). The number has 16 digits (e.g. 0000 0000 xxxx xxxx).
    Note that this is not sufficient for submitting the score, you must request the official score report to be sent with the Aalto University reporting code well in advance of the deadline.

The scores must be received electronically directly from the test administrator by the deadline. Unofficial score reports sent by applicants will not be accepted. The scores are usually available within 1 to 2 weeks of sending the score report request. Contact the test administrator if you have questions about score delivery times.
Aalto University receives the scores via ETS® Data Manager service.

Pearson Test of English Academic PTE A

Minimum score requirements:

  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A): 62, and 54 for Writing

PTE test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.
If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered in the admissions. You cannot combine scores from different test dates.

Submitting the PTE scores

The official language test scores must arrive at Aalto University at the latest by 19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2).
PTE test scores must be sent via the test administrator’s electronic service.

  1. Log in to your PTE account and send your results to Aalto University in the test administrator’s service.
  2. Mark your Score Report Code to your application form (to "Language proficiency" section of the form).
    The Score Report Code contains 10 characters that are letters and numbers. The code can be found at the top of the report under your name.

Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency

Minimum score requirements:

  • C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE): A,B or C
  • C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE): A,B,C or Level C1

No other Cambridge language tests than C1 Advanced (or CAE) and C2 Proficiency (or CPE) are accepted.
For C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency tests, electronically verifiable tests taken after 2005 are accepted.

Submitting the C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency scores

The official language test scores must arrive at Aalto University Admission Services at the latest by 19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2).

  1. Upload a PDF copy of your C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency results report to your application form ("Language proficiency" section on the application form).
  2. Mark your test taker's ID number (e.g. ABC1234567), Reference number (e.g. 173YU0034522) and Statement of results number to your application form.
  3. Log into the language test administrator's service and share your test results to Aalto University.

The results are verified electronically.

Degree students and exchange students from Consortium Universities

An English language test is not required if you have proven your English language skills in CEFR level B2 (CEFR - Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) while studying as a degree or exchange student at one of the Consortium Universities (Aalto, Grenoble INP-UGA, Tecnico Lisboa, TU Braunschweig or UPC BarcelonaTech).

You must submit an English language certificate issued by the Consortium University at the latest by 19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2). The certificate must state that you have proven your English language skills in CEFR level B2 while studying in the Consortium University.

University degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States while residing in that country

English proficiency can be demonstrated with a higher education degree in an English-medium programme completed at a university or university of applied sciences in:
an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States while residing in that country while studying.

A minimum of one half of the degree must be completed in a country and higher education institution that meets the requirements for exempting the student from taking an English language test. Note this requirement if your degree includes many transfer credits or you have an international double or joint degree.

The language of the degree must be stated unambiguously in the degree certificate or its appendix, or in the transcript of records or other official document issued by the awarding institution.

If there are several instruction languages, the document must clearly indicate the amount of studies taken in English. It is not sufficient, if the document states, for example, that the language of instruction is English and French.

Note the requirement of residing in the country while studying. A degree completed at an offshore campus outside the listed countries is not sufficient for proving your language skills even in case the degree is awarded in one of the listed countries.

Upload to the application form:

  • Scanned copy of the original degree certificate
  • Scanned copy of the original official transcript of study records
  • If the language of the degree is not stated unambiguously in the degree certificate or transcript of records, an official document of the language of instruction issued by the awarding institution.

The documents must be uploaded to the online application form at the latest by 19 January 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +2).
If your degree is still incomplete at the application phase, the degree must be completed and you must graduate by 31 July 2024. A copy of the degree certificate must be submitted according to the instructions at the latest by 16 August 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3).
After the publication of admission results, the admitted applicants must submit certified (attested) hard copy documents at the latest by 16 August 2024 at 15.00 (3 pm, GMT +3).

Selection criteria

Only the applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria for master's studies (see General eligibility) and who have submitted all the obligatory application documents are evaluated and ranked according to the selection criteria listed here.

The best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation of all the above criteria. The programme does not have a minimum quota to be fulfilled, and not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted.

Relevance of previous studies

What we look for in an applicant

A high‐quality Bachelor’s degree in communications engineering, computer science, electrical engineering or software engineering is required. Excellent candidates with degrees in other fields including but not limited to information systems, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics or physics will be considered if they have sufficient studies and proven skills and knowledge in the required areas.
In addition, the applicant must have solid knowledge obtained in university level studies in some of the following areas:

  • mathematics (linear algebra, calculus, probability theory, statistics, and discrete mathematics)
  • software engineering and programming skills
  • operating systems
  • basics of computer networks
  • basics of communications engineering
  • communication protocols (Internet and mobile)
What is evaluated

Contents and scope of previous studies compared to demands/ contents of study option applied to.

Method of demonstrating competence

Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s), course descriptions.

Academic performance

What we look for in an applicant

The applicant’s academic performance will be evaluated based on the grade point average (GPA) and grades in key courses. The programme is looking for applicants with excellent academic performance in their previous studies. This means that the applicant has achieved consistently excellent grades throughout the degree studies (very high weighted average grade or GPA).

What is evaluated

Grades of the previous degree(s).

Method of demonstrating competence

Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s), course descriptions.

Recognition and quality of institution

What we look for in an applicant

The applicant’s previous degree will be evaluated based on the international reputation and academic quality of the university and the programme.

What is evaluated

Recognition and quality of the applicant's previous institution.

Method of demonstrating competence

International and national rankings of higher education institutions.

Suitability

What we look for in an applicant

The applicant should be motivated to study the chosen subject and committed to full-time studies with a plan to complete the Master’s degree in two years. We are looking for applicants who are able to express clearly the reasons for applying to the CoDaS programme and describe why they would be good candidates for the programme. The applicant must show commitment to studying in two partner universities.
Applicants with a previous Master’s degree of comparable quality and content in the fields of the CoDaS programme or who intend to complete one, or who have a valid study right in this application target will not be accepted to the programme except for special reasons, which the applicant must explain in the application. The Master’s programme should provide genuinely new knowledge and further the career of the applicant.

What is evaluated

Applicant’s further applicability to the study option, motivation and commitment for studies.

Method of demonstrating competence

Applications as a whole including motivation video.

Other areas of competence

What we look for in an applicant

Relevant work experience, professional certificates and online courses can also be taken into accounting the evaluation, but they do not in general compensate for the absence of university-level studies covering the theoretical foundations of the required subjects.Applicants may also benefit of a participation in scientific research leading to publications and/or a recommendation stating applicant’s academic competence and suitability in the field of the programme.

What is evaluated

Work experience and learning gained otherwise or demonstration of skills such as publications, contests, non-formal learning etc.

Method of demonstrating competence

Curriculum vitae, letter of recommendation, proof of employment, publications, motivation video

Admission results

The admissions result of the main application period will be published in early April 2024. The applicants will receive an email notification once the results are published. Admitted applicants will receive an official electronic acceptance letter by email.
The admitted applicant must accept the admission offer at the latest by the deadline given with the admission decision. Instructions are sent by email. The admission offer will be cancelled if the applicant does not accept the admission offer by the given deadline.

Certified hard copy documents

Admitted applicants must submit certified (attested) hard copies of the bachelor’s degree certificate, transcript of study records and official translations of these documents (if applicable) by the given deadline. Please note that only admitted applicants need to submit the certified hard copied documents after the admission results have been published.

Please find more detailed instructions and country-specific requirements for the documents here.

Copies of study certificates (Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts of records) must be certified to be true copies of the original documents by the issuing university or a notary public. Each page must have the certifying official’s original signature, printed name, ink stamp and date. Copies of officially certified copies are not accepted, the certifying official’s ink stamps and signatures must be original. A multiple-page certified copy must be certified on the front side of every page.
The deadline for the officially certified study certificates is 16 August 2024 at 15.00 (GMT +3).
We strongly recommend using a courier service (e.g. DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEx) for shipments from outside the European Union (EU) instead of regular mail. We recommend using a courier service also within the EU to be able to track your shipment.

If you send documents from outside the EU:

  • Send the consignment of documents as a letter. Do not send it as a parcel.
  • Do not determine a value for the letter when sending it to avoid customs clearance.

    • If the country of dispatch requires the consignor to determine a value for the consignment of documents, mark the value as zero (euros or other currency).

  • The goods description for the consignment should be, for example, documents.

If you send the documents by courier service, use the street address:

Aalto University, School of Electrical Engineering
Student Services, room 1151
Maarintie 8
FI-02150 ESPOO
Finland
tel. +358 50 473 6696
Write “Codas Master’s Programme Admission” on the envelope.

If you send the documents by regular mail (not courier service), send them to the postal address:

Aalto University, School of Electrical Engineering
Student Services, room 1151
P.O. Box 15500
FI-00076 AALTO
Finland

You can also deliver the documents in person in a closed envelope to the Student Service Point of School of Electrical Engineering to the above-mentioned address during the opening hours .
Admission is conditional until the certified hard copy documents have been received. Conditionally granted study right will be cancelled if the certified documents are not received in the required manner by the deadline.
The certified documents will be compared to the electronic documents uploaded to the application system.

Requesting rectification to the admission decision

It is possible to submit a written request to rectify the admission decision within 14 days of the publication of the results. The purpose of the written rectification request procedure is to allow applicants to appeal against the admission decision on the grounds of a possible error in the decision-making, and thereby have an erroneous decision corrected. An admission decision may only be rectified if Aalto University has made an error in the admission procedure and the error in question entitles the applicant to have the admission decision rectified. The procedure is not for requesting feedback or additional information on the admissions results.

Your request for rectification has to contain the following information:

  • the study option that the rectification request concerns
  • the decision you wish to have rectified
  • a description of how you want the university to rectify its decision
  • the grounds for your rectification request
  • your contact information (full name, email address)
  • written authorisation to your representative (if you use a representative)

As defined in the Finnish Universities Act, the scholarship decision cannot be appealed to.
All requests for rectification of admission decisions must be delivered to the University Registry within 14 days of the application results, either to the Registry’s email address registry@aalto.fi or by post to its postal address: Aalto University, Registry, P.O. Box 11000, 00076 Aalto, Finland.

Admitted students

Admitted students will receive an admission letter from their Home University after accepting the study offer. The home university will also providfe guidance on moving to the country in question and enrollment process to the university.

The start of studies is determined by the semester schedule of the Home University. You can find the semester schedule for each Consortium University here:

All enrolled students must sign the Student Agreement after the arrival to the Home University.

Student Agreement template