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Drawing and painting

Drawing and painting courses consist of two-dimensional expression carried out by various methods. The work involved emphasises the importance of practice, or ‘learning by doing’, but without losing sight of the connections to theory. The studies include working with drawing, painting and mixed-media. The student will gain increased awareness of the workings of visual perception and of different ways of describing the surrounding world and our relationship to it. The course also examines the role of ideas and concepts in art as well as art’s relation to design, its role in society and its significance.

Colour and perception

Colour and perception studies focus on visual perception and the theories about it. The English-language version of the course contains both theory and practical assignments. The course covers basic concepts about colour and the principles of colour perception. The course covers basic colour concepts and principles of colour perception. Colour composition and contrasts and their effects – mainly in two-dimensional expression – are studied by experimental means. 

Sculpture

Sculpture studies provide students with the skills needed to work with contemporary sculpture and design. Skills that students can apply in their own fields are emphasised, such as how to research new materials, working methods and methodologies. The ‘Ways of Making’ courses offer practical experience working in a sculptor’s studio, and ‘Metal Casting’ introduces foundry techniques. ‘Digital Sculpture’ introduces new and developing technologies in 3D art, and ways to combine these with traditional sculptural techniques. Conceptual and theory-intensive sculpture studies are also included within the contemporary art courses programme.

Printmaking

Printmaking involves the handcrafting of printing plates as well as the prints produced by various methods (copperplate, woodblock, limestone, mesh screen). Prints are regarded as original artworks. Basic courses in printmaking offer the rudiments in a variety of printing techniques and develop the student’s command of the tools used. The intermediate courses deepen the knowledge and skill levels of students in their chosen method and enlarge their range of artistic expression. As printmaking is a specialisation study, beginners are recommended to take it during their second year of Bachelor’s studies.

Art history and theory

Art history and theory courses aim to provide a general overview of the history and key theoretical questions and conceptions of art, design and architecture.

Other courses

Students educated in Finnish or Swedish

For students educated in Finnish or Swedish language studies are designed to be completed as part of the Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design) or another Bachelor’s degree. Students who have not completed the required language studies before starting to pursue the master’s degrees specified above must complete them either as elective studies or in addition to the studies required for the degree. In such cases, the language requirements are as follows:

Master of Arts (Art and Design):

• 9 credits: 3 cr in written and oral communication, 3 cr in the second national language of Finland, and 3 cr in one foreign language.

Students whose language of primary and secondary education is other than Finnish or Swedish

Students who have received their primary and secondary education abroad or whose language of primary and secondary education is other than Finnish or Swedish must demonstrate their foreign language proficiency either by completing three (3) credits of language and communication studies corresponding to the degree requirements in one foreign language, or by completing three (3) credits of language and communication studies in Finnish or Swedish.

Note: The language studies accepted for the degree vary based on the year the studies have started. See below the detailed language study requirements for your own degree.

Students who have a language of primary and secondary education other than Finnish or Swedish and who have begun their master’s degree studies before 1 August 2022 may complete the required 3-credit language studies in accordance with the previous degree regulations of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture until 31 July 2026.

• students pursuing a Master of Arts (Art and Design) and educated in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or educated abroad shall earn 3 credits in one language;
• students pursuing a Master of Science (Architecture)/(Landscape Architecture) and educated in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or educated abroad shall earn 3 credits in one language.

The language studies can be completed in any language of the student's choice and there is no CEFR level requirement for course completion (elementary courses and basic courses are also accepted).

After the transitional period (31 July 2026), the language studies earned for the degree must comply with the requirements set for those who have started their studies on or after 1 August 2022. 

Students with a language of primary and secondary education other than Finnish or Swedish who started their studies on or after 1 August 2022 shall complete their required language studies in compliance with the provisions of the Aalto University Degree Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees. 

The 3-credit foreign language requirement of the degree may be fulfilled by taking a course in one of the following languages: English (CEFR B2-CEFR C1), Spanish, Chinese, French, German and Russian (CEFR B1). From the course offerings of Aalto University's Language Center, you can recognize the courses accepted for the degree by (w, o), (w) or (o).

The study attainment may consist of oral or written communication studies or both. In addition, the foreign language requirement may be fulfilled by earning 3 credits in Finnish or Swedish at the proficiency level appropriate for the student’s skills.

In the case of language studies completed between 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2024, the proficiency level requirement may, however, be disregarded in the case of students who completed a language course at a CEFR level lower than the required level due to insufficient communication about the changed degree requirements.

The language studies for master’s degrees completed on or after 1 August 2026 must comply with the Aalto University Degree Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees (CEFR-level) and the specifications set forth in this decision.