PHASE I: Evaluation based on application documents
The applicants that fulfill the programme’s requirements of previous studies and languages are ranked according to the CEMS selection criteria.
1) Academic background (as documented by transcript of records)
- 60 ECTS of business related studies. To be considered for admission the applicant must have completed at least 60 ECTS of business related studies (corresponding to one year of full-time studies at university level).
- Academic performance
- Admission group 1: Applicants must demonstrate good academic performance. Applicants with a weighted GPA of previous degree lower than 3.50 (Finnish ECTS evaluation) are not eligible for admission.
- Admission group 2: Applicants must demonstrate good academic performance (evaluation is based on the GPA of the previous degree).
2) Language requirements: English (Language 1)
Proof of proficiency in English is required from both Admission group 1 and group 2 applicants according to the programme-specific language requirements. Acceptable proof of proficiency:
- Bachelor's or Master's level university degree completed entirely in English
- at an institution physically located in: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand, while residing in that country; or
- in a CEMS / Equis / AACSB accredited institution in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, or South Africa, while residing in that country (e.g. Aalto University School of Business);
The official language of such degree must have been English, and this must be clearly stated on the degree certificate or a statement issued by the university.
or
- One of the following language tests (minimum score):
- IELTS (Academic)/IELTS Online (Academic): (7.0), (*writing 6.0)
- TOEFL (iBT) / TOEFL iBT Home Edition**: (100), (*writing 22)
- C1 Advanced (B),
- C1 Proficiency (C),
- PTE Academic (68), (*writing 54)
* Additional writing section minimum required by Aalto University. Please check the general Aalto eligibility rules to see if this additional requirement applies to you: /en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes.
**Note: In TOEFL iBT Home Edition test a score of at least 20 in each section and 22 in writing section is required, in addition to the minimum score of 100.
Applications missing proof of English proficiency accepted by the programme will be rejected.
3) Language requirements: Language 2
Applicants whose mother tongue marked on the application form is other than English are not required to submit additional proof of language 2 proficiency.
Good proficiency (CEFR level B1 or above) in a language other than English is required from applicants, whose mother tongue marked in the application form is English. Acceptable proof of language 2 proficiency:
- School certificate of primary/secondary education completed entirely in the specified language. The official language must be clearly stated on the degree certificate, or a statement issued by the school.
- Bachelor’s degree from a programme in which the official language of instruction was other than English. The official language must be clearly stated on the degree certificate or a statement issued by the university.
- Certificate from a language test or course(s) in which the level of proficiency is clearly indicated.
4) CV in English
The comprehensive CV evaluation takes into account relevant education, work experience, and extracurricular activities, as well as international orientation as demonstrated by e.g. work, studies, or extracurricular activities abroad, participation in various international or inter-cultural activities in home country, and knowledge of and interest in learning foreign languages.
Work experience in the CV must be documented by enclosing corresponding work/internship certificates. English translations of these are not required.
Please do not include letters of reference or academic work, such as Bachelor’s thesis.
5) GMAT score (or comparable GRE score)
GMAT or GRE is obligatory in admission group 2 (minimum score 600 in GMAT, 555 in GMAT Focus edition or GRE score of 157 verbal reasoning - 158 quantitative reasoning).
