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Bioproducts Engineering, Master of Science (Technology)

Finland knows forests. Hundreds of years ago, it was charcoal and lumber. Then came pulp, paper, and complex engineering. Today, in Bioproducts Engineering, we鈥檙e working with totally new technologies 鈥 like nanocellulose, lignin particles and nonwoven composites 鈥 that will make everyday objects more sustainable and recyclable. Now bioproducts engineering needs ambitious and sustainability-driven engineers to lead this global industry into a new era. Whether your career takes you into the private sector, government or academia, the Bioproducts Engineering master鈥檚 programme will equip you with the skills, the industry and research connections, and the vision to do just that.
Lignin nanoparticles applied to multilayered films to create colourful coatings. Photo: Aalto University, Alexander Henn
Lignin nanoparticles applied as multilayer film to create colourful coatings. Photo: Aalto University, Alexander Henn

Degree:

Master of Science (Technology)

Application period:

1 Dec 2025 鈥 2 Jan 2026

Language of instruction:

English

Duration:

2 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant Bachelor's degree

Field of study:

Technology and Engineering

Credits:

120 ECTS

Organising school:

School of Chemical Engineering

Tuition fees:

For non-EU/EEA citizens, 鈧17000/y (Master鈥檚 studies) Read more

Apply to master鈥檚 programmes

Webinar | Bioproducts Engineering

Want to hear more about the Master's Programme in Bioproducts Engineering? In this webinar the programme representatives will introduce the programme and answer your questions regarding the studies in the programme.

Lignin nanoparticles applied as multilayer film to create colourful coatings. Photo: Aalto University, Alexander Henn

Description

The green transition is happening now, and the emerging specialist field of bioproducts engineering 鈥 rooted in Finland鈥檚 pulp and paper industry 鈥 is at a turning point. Bioproducts engineering needs visionaries who understand bio-based materials at the cellular level, and who use that expertise to design, manufacture and market reusable alternatives for plastics and other fossil-based materials.

In this major, you鈥檒l learn exactly how to convert bio-based resources like wood, plants, natural fibres, and organic waste into new materials. These and other bioresources are increasingly used in materials engineering - for example in packaging and textile innovation. The possibilities for new innovations are endless.

As a Bioproducts Engineering graduate, you will be able to:

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Use wood, plant fibres and other bio-based resources to make more sustainable materials, products, and solutions. You鈥檒l understand the structure of plant fibres at a molecular level and know how to apply that knowledge in industry. You will also learn the skills needed to engineer and run next generation biorefineries.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Understand what circular bio-economies are and how to build and assess them. Fossil-based resources pollute the atmosphere with carbon dioxide 鈥 and they鈥檙e running out.Circular economies reduce carbon output and reuse materials and productsas part of the solution.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Characterise biomass, polymers, fibres, raw materials and end products. You鈥檒l learn to use spectroscopy, microscopy, colloidal and other techniques to make better renewable products.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Design, conduct, and report research projects. You鈥檒l graduate with strong scientific research and communication skills. This will make you a valuable asset to the cutting-edge research that鈥檚 happening in bioproducts engineering worldwide.

Replacing non-renewable products and processes with renewable ones is one of the most urgent business goals across industries today. Building an engineering career in bioproducts means solving complex sustainability challenges, making a practical impact on how new products are created and brought to market -  and playing a key role in leading the green transition.

Language of instruction

In the Master鈥檚 Programme in Bioproducts Engineering, the language of instruction is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fee for this programme is 17,000 euros per academic year. Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.

Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships, in the form of tuition fee waivers, to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

The two-year Master鈥檚 Programme in Bioproducts Engineering comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits:

Major studies (60鈥65 ECTS)

Elective studies (25鈥30 ECTS)

Master鈥檚 thesis (30 ECTS)

All your required and specialisation courses should be completed in your first year. The second year will be dedicated to your elective studies and master鈥檚 thesis. You can choose practically any combination of elective courses 鈥 from Aalto or other universities in Finland and abroad 鈥 that supports your studies and suits your interests.

Your coursework will be focused on practical problem solving, with an emphasis on hands-on lab exercises. You鈥檒l work in teams to solve industry and research-related problems given by, for example, companies we work with. Some courses also organise trips to companies and research institutes. Your hands-on work will be complemented by lectures, seminars and more theoretical courses 鈥 and you鈥檒l also get to conduct independent experiments in Aalto鈥檚 world-class chemistry and materials labs.

More information about the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student Guide.

Specialisations

You鈥檒l build your study path based on your own interests and career ambitions. You can choose to specialise in a specific area if you鈥檙e already planning to work in a specific industry, or to complement your research interests or thesis. Or you can take a more generalist approach 鈥 which could benefit you in a leadership position at a larger company 鈥 and choose courses from all four specialisations.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Biomass Refining. These courses will teach you how biomass is processed into useful fibres and chemicals, about the recovery processes at bioproduct mills, and how to run a biorefinery investment project.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Fibre-based Packaging. This course group covers the packaging value chain and nanocellulose, the modification of packaging surfaces, and how paperboard is manufactured in detail.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Wood Material Science and Technology. Learn all about wood material science, the processes involved in making wood products, and the applied mechanics of wood materials.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Textiles. Dive deep into textile finishing, coloration, and fibres, as well as biopolymers.

You can see which courses are included in each specialisation in the Student Guide.

Get to know our professors

Luana Dessbesell aims to translate bioproducts research into commercial success

Professor Luana Dessbesell works on bridging the gap between academia and industry. Her research group Sustainable Bioproducts Innovation is a multidisciplinary group of people who seek to support the development and commercialization of new forest-based innovations.

Professor Dessbesell in a lab, wearing a green jacket

Get to know us: Associate Professor Michael Hummel

Michael Hummel had plans to stay in Finland for only a year or so. In the end, he enjoyed his work at Aalto so much that he decided to stay.

Michael smiling in Dipoli building
The people of the School of Chemical Engineering

Internationalisation

Aalto University is known for its international study and research environment. Every year, Aalto welcomes thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad. Many of our professors and researchers have international backgrounds and experience as well, which will help you tap into their international networks. International postdoctoral researchers often instruct students in the Bioproducts Engineering programme in their laboratory work.

At Aalto, you can improve your global competence by, for example:

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Completing part of your degree, like your elective studies, as an exchange student at one of Aalto鈥檚 international partner universities.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Choosing courses with an intercultural approach, learning foreign languages, or becoming a student tutor for international students.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conducting your practical training or the master鈥檚 thesis outside Finland.

鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Taking summer courses abroad.

Further study opportunities

The Bioproducts Engineering Master鈥檚 Programme prepares you for PhD-level studies. If you鈥檙e interested in getting your PhD, you can focus on research-based courses when planning your specialisation path 鈥 and get involved with our research groups while you pursue your master鈥檚.

Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering

Career opportunities

Finland鈥檚 long history in pulp and paper, and its growing expertise in bioproducts, has made it a hub for leading companies and bioproducts research. Bioproducts engineering is growing quickly, and engineers and researchers are needed to lead the industry as it pushes in new directions. As the green transition continues, demand for the skills to develop sustainable bio-based materials and processes will only increase.

Our graduates can work in advisory, managerial, engineering, and research positions across the chemical, cosmetic, agriculture and pulp and paper industries, just to name a few. There are also many bioproduct startups looking for new talent, like in textiles 鈥 or you can start your own company with the help of the active entrepreneurship community at Aalto.

If your interests are in research, many of our students get their PhD and become researchers.

Either way, our department鈥檚 tight-knit study environment 鈥 and its leading bioproducts research 鈥 will leave you with industry connections and strong skills to start your career. You might even get your foot in the door before you graduate, for example if you collaborate with a company on your thesis.

Research focus

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2) is a global leader in forest biomaterials research.

Our research teams are actively publishing academic papers and are deeply involved with the Finnish and international bioproducts industry. Their work covers nearly two dozen research groups who are investigating the latest in bioproducts 鈥 from nanocellulose to lignocellulose chemistry and cellular engineering. And you can get involved. The independent research you鈥檒l do while completing your major will give you a leg up in building a strong network, pursuing a PhD, or starting a challenging career at the frontlines of bioproducts research.

Interested? Read more about Bio2 and check out our research groups.

Co-operation with other parties

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems is working on many state-of-the-art projects with leading companies and research institutions:

CHEMARTS brings Aalto鈥檚 School of Chemical Engineering and School of Arts, Design and Architecture together to inspire new bioeconomy concepts through research projects and courses that combine ideas from engineering and design.

ClicInnovation is an alliance of 47 leading companies and research institutes working to put research results to use in international markets as quickly and efficiently as possible.

FinnCeres is a partnership between Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre making cost-competitive bio-based materials from lignocellulose, or dry plant matter.

Ioncell-F is an Aalto collaboration with Helsinki University developing Ioncell庐, a new technology that transforms used textiles, pulp, and newspapers into new textile fibres without harmful chemicals or water-intensive cotton.

ValueBioMat is developing renewable, recyclable bioproducts from materials like plant oils to replace plastics.

Read more about our collaborations and check out some of our research partners.

Evaluation criteria 2026

Evaluation process

The applicants are first evaluated based on Aalto鈥檚 general eligibility requirements found on /en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes. Applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria decided in advance for each study option.

The selection process for those who meet the general eligibility criteria is described next. First, the applications are evaluated based on the following (critical) criteria:

  • Academic performance
  • Relevance of previous studies
  • Suitability

Only the applications that fulfill the requirements for these criteria will be evaluated against the full set of evaluation criteria.

After the evaluation of the remaining criteria below, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation of all criteria.

  • Recognition and quality of institution

The programme does not have a minimum quota to be filled, and not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted.

Study option-specific documents

The documents required from all applicants are listed on /en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes. In addition, applicants to this programme are requested to provide the following study option-specific documents. In question concerning study option-specific documents, please contact the School of Chemical Engineering (studies-chem@aalto.fi).

Contact information

School of Chemical Engineering

Questions concerning the Master's programme and the content of the studies as well as application-specific attachments can be sent to the Learning Services of the School of Chemical Engineering

studies-chem@aalto.fi

Aalto University Admission Services

If you have any questions regarding the application process, application documents or language tests, please contact Aalto University Admission Services

admissions@aalto.fi

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