In this webinar, the major representatives introduce Aalto University, give an overview of the major, explain its structure and content, discuss career opportunities, and answer questions from the audience.
This major will teach you the advanced skills and the foundational knowledge needed to thrive in the fast-paced computing landscape. You will learn to excel in the theory and practice of advanced computing across a broad spectrum of systems, from internet-scale distributed platforms to emerging quantum computing infrastructures.
You will graduate with:
As a Computer Science masterâs student at Aalto, youâll be working with our active research groups and leading companies exploring the edge of human knowledge across algorithms, big data, cloud computing, web development, and cryptography. With this programmeâs rare combination of broad-based teaching and deep specialisation, youâll graduate prepared to start an exciting career in the domain of computer science that interests you the most â one that shapes the future and makes an impact on systems and applications people rely on every day.
The language of instruction in the Computer Science major is English.
The tuition fee for this programme is 17 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of 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.
The Masterâs Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences â Computer Science comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:
In year one, youâll take the required CS courses, then already begin drilling down into your chosen specialisation track. This specialisation will eventually lead you to your masterâs thesis research topic.
In year two, youâll commit to your thesis topic and select courses that support your research. In addition, while conducting your research, you will complete your company internship.
The studies make full use of modern teaching methods, including distance learning, small group learning and online feedback tools. Instead of traditional lecture-based learning, the Computer Science major emphasises collaboration and hands-on work, encouraging you to take the lead in your education.
Our curricula are designed for full-time students. While master's students often work part-time during academic terms or full-time in the summer, full-time work during academic terms is discouraged. Part-time work requires careful planning and extra effort, as not most courses are available online or every year.
While there may be courses that are available online, as a general guideline, studies at Aalto University School of Science require on-campus attendance.
The major's specialisations are structured into five different study tracks.
The Algorithms, Logic, and Computation study track equips you with a strong methodological and mathematical foundation that covers the modelling, design, and analysis of advanced algorithms and computing systems from massively distributed infrastructure to quantum computing. You can expect to gain strong programming skills, including with automated reasoning tools.
The Big Data and Large-Scale Computing study track provides you with the skillset to meet the challenges arising from the growing amount of data in our society. Using cutting edge tools â including the LUMI supercomputer, one of the most powerful non-distributed computer systems in the world â this track covers AI-powered big data infrastructures management, batch and stream data processing, algorithmics for data analysis, and computing and automation management for data science processes.
The Software Systems and Technologies track covers embedded systems and mobile computing, virtualization and cloud computing, and data centre networking and sustainability. The track provides you with a solid background on full-stack development with cloud-native tools and practices suitable for the complex computing systems of today.
The Web Technologies, Applications, and Science study track puts you at the centre of one of the most significant technological advancements since the inception of the computer. In this track, you will acquire the skills necessary to create contemporary web applications and services, as well as to manage the technologies required to scale the services and adapt them for various devices. Students enrolled in this track will play an active role in influencing the continuous evolution of the web, affecting the daily internet experiences of individuals globally.
The Secure Systems study track combines foundational knowledge in information security and cryptography with hands-on engineering skills. You'll learn to understand how the adversary thinks, to analyse cyber threats, and to design secure computing and communication systems. Topics include network and protocol security, cloud and operating system security, and mathematical cryptography.
You're not locked in to these specialisations â you can also pick courses from multiple different tracks to build a customised degree plan. Your elective courses â as well as taking on an optional minor subject â offer another layer of flexibility.
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student Guide. There may be some changes to the courses for the academic years 2026â2028 â the new curricula will be published in April 2026, when they will also be visible in the Student guide.
Top-tier teaching, flexible studies and an inspiring peer network are software engineer Hang Leâs favourite things about Aalto Universityâs Computer, Communication and Information Sciences Masterâs Programme.
The study environment in the Computer Science major is strongly international. During your studies, youâll work closely in classrooms and project groups with students from around the world. Many courses are led by international professors.
We also work with ELLIS, the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems, which has some of the best academic institutions and scientists under its umbrella.
The School of Science also offers many ways for students to develop their global competence:
And if youâre an international student looking to land a tech job in Finland after you graduate, Aalto offers Finnish language courses you can take as part of your elective studies.
The degree programme provides eligibility for scientific postgraduate studies in Finland. The skills learned in the programme create an excellent basis for doctoral studies at Aalto University, another Finnish university or top international universities. Doctoral graduates from Aalto University continue to researcher or other academic career or high-level business positions, among other things. Read more about applying for doctoral studies at Aalto University: /en/doctoral-education/how-to-apply-for-doctoral-studies
Studying Computer Science at Aalto is a great way to get a rewarding career in research started. The close collaboration with our research groups as part of your degree specialisation offers a clear pathway to doctoral-level studies, and we encourage students with that interest to continue down that road.
Prefer to work in industry? Youâll be working with companies and industry experts throughout your degree through guest lectures, your internship, talent events and joint course projects in collaboration with companies.
And thanks to our flexible curriculum â which also includes online, hybrid and independently paced courses â many Aalto students already start work during their studies and guarantee themselves entry positions before graduation. Another common route to employment is being hired by the company that you work with while writing your Masterâs thesis.
On the other hand, some students use Aaltoâs active entrepreneurship community as a springboard for founding their own startup, or continue on to research careers at universities or industry research labs.
Overall, career prospects as a graduate of this programme are excellent.
Job titles of our recent graduates include:
Some of our recent graduates now work at:
Companies: Accenture, BetterDoctor, Conformiq, Eficode, Ericsson, Espotel, EXFO, First American, Forcepoint, F-Secure, Futuremark, Futurice, Giosg, GM Wargaming, Jongla, Microsoft, Nitor Creations, Netlight Consulting, Nixu Corporation, Nokia, Nordea, OneSpin Solutions, Orbis, Palantir Technologies, Planixs, Qualtrics, Quintic, Reaktor, RedLynx, Santander, Seriously Digital Entertainment, SSH Communications Security, Smartly.io, Space Systems Finland, Supermetrics & Floweb, Trimble, Tuxera, Valas Media, Vincit, Wolt, and ZEF.
Research & government institutions: CNRS, Finnish Defence Forces, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and Inria.
Universities: Aalto University, Harvard University, Queenâs University Belfast, and the University of Helsinki.
Graduates from the School of Science at Aalto University have very good employment prospects in positions corresponding to their education. On this page, you can find information about employment and career development five years after graduation.
These studies are closely related to the world-class research being conducted at the Department of Computer Science, which spans 14 research areas working together to push computer science forward. Several of these areas map to one or more of the degree specialisations outlined above. Here are a few of the key areas of research youâll have the opportunity to contribute to as a student in this programme:
Computer science is a multidisciplinary field by nature â it is much harder to name a field in which it is not used than it is to name one where it plays an integral part. The School of Science operates closely with other Aalto schools and students from other Masterâs Programmes regularly frequent courses of the Computer Science major. Computer Science students can include a minor in their elective studies, which can be chosen freely from any Aalto school. Individual elective courses can also be taken from other programmes at Aalto University.
Computer Science applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated according to the below Evaluation criteria. The evaluation process is described under Evaluation process. In addition to obligatory application documents, this study option asks the applicants to submit also the documents listed under Requested documents.
The applications to Computer Science - Computer, Communication and Information Sciences (CCIS) are evaluated based on the following criteria:
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree(s) and pace of studies |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
The CCIS programme is looking for applicants with excellent academic performance in their previous studies. In study options where the number and quality of applications is high, this means that the applicant has achieved consistently excellent grades throughout the degree studies (very high weighted average grade or GPA). The applicantâs prior academic performance will be evaluated based on the grade point average (GPA) and grades in key courses. The time spent on the previous studies will also be considered. All the applicantâs previous university studies, including incomplete degrees and nonâdegree studies, will be taken into consideration when evaluating academic performance. Applicants from Finnish universities of applied sciences (AMK) International applicants |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| What is evaluated? | Content and scope of previous studies |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
Applicants are expected to have a high-quality Bachelorâs degree in computer science, software engineering, communications engineering, or electrical engineering. 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 in the required areas. The required university-level studies for Computer Science are:
Advanced studies in all areas of CS are advantageous for the applicant. The contents of the applicantâs previous degree(s) are evaluated based on the courses on the official transcript of records. Relevant work experience, professional certificates and online courses can also be taken into account in the evaluation, but they do not in general compensate for the absence of |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, course descriptions |
| What is evaluated? | Recognition and quality of the applicant's previous institution |
| What we look for in an applicant? | We expect applicants to have completed their previous degree in a high-quality university and programme. The recognition of the applicantâs home university also affects the interpretation of the grades when evaluating the academic performance. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | International and national rankings of higher education institutions |
| What is evaluated? | Applicantâs suitability to the study option, motivation, commitment to the studies, and written communication skills |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
The applicant should be motivated to study the chosen subject and committed to fullâtime studies with a plan to complete the Masterâs degree in two years. We are looking for applicants who can express clearly the reasons for applying to the study option and describe why they would be excellent candidates for the study option. Studies in the Masterâs programme should provide genuinely new knowledge for the applicant. If the applicant already has a Masterâs or a higher degree or is studying towards one, the motivation letter should clearly indicate why another one is necessary. In most cases, non-degree studies are recommended instead. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Application as a whole including motivation letter |
| What is evaluated? | Work experience, other qualifications and achievements |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
Beyond their academic record, applicants may have other experience, knowledge and qualifications that prepare them for the Masterâs studies and distinguish them among their peers. We particularly value demanding work experience related to the planned studies, participation in scientific research leading to publications, entrepreneurship, and special achievements such as success in competitions (e.g. Junction Hackathon). |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Curriculum vitae (CV), recommendation letters, proofs of employment, publications, other certificates, GRE or GMAT results (if available). |
This is the master version of the programme-specific evaluation criteria and its Finnish and Swedish versions are its translations.
During the evaluation of eligible applications, Computer Science applications are first evaluated based on the following criteria:
Only the applications who fulfil the requirements for these criteria will be evaluated against the full set of evaluation criteria. It is not possible to compensate for these criteria with other criteria. This means, for example, that motivation for Master level studies in this subject does not compensate for low grades or that relevant work experience does not compensate for higher education studies in the required subjects.
After the evaluation of the remaining criteria below, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation of all five criteria.
The admission process is very competitive and only the best applicants are selected yearly. Not all applicants fulfilling the requirements can be admitted.
Applications missing any of the required study-option specific documents i.e. motivation letter, curriculum vitae (CV) are rejected, and not evaluated against any of the evaluation criteria.
In addition to obligatory application documents, Computer Science applicants are requested to provide the following programme-specific documents:
*) The lack of this document will cause rejection.
In addition, these additional documents add value to your application:
Curious about life at Aalto University? Our student ambassadors are here to share their firsthand experiences and insights on student life, academics, and campus culture. Join us for interactive sessions, casual chats over coffee, and engaging discussions with current students and alumni.
Study in Finland at Aalto University, where science and art meet technology and business. Join a top-ranked, multidisciplinary community!
Known for its safe and welcoming environment, Finland offers unique cultural experiences and student life filled with quirky traditions that foster creativity and innovation.
We are an internationally-oriented community and home to world-class research in modern computer science.
Tietokilta ry (TiK) is the guild for computer science students. Tietokilta has about 800 student members of which most study a degree programme in computer science.
Learning Services at Aalto University School of Science
For enquiries regarding the programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Learning Services of Aalto University School of Science
masters-sci@aalto.fi
Admission services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services
admissions@aalto.fi
