IB Pathways
One of the workshops at the Aalto ARTS' Väre building.

Aalto University · Finland

Design and Media

Visual communication, industrial and digital design studied together, crossing art, media and technology, with a Nordic, human-centred and sustainable approach to design.

Teemu · CC BY-SA 4.0

Where
EspooFinland
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027
Apply by
22 January 2027
Admission
SelectivePre-assignment · 43 places
EU/EEA fee
Free
More facts
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027

Deadlines

  1. 22 January 2027

    Aalto's own application closes (not the joint application), 15:00 Finnish time
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

  2. 29 January 2027

    Passport or ID copy due, 15:00
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

  3. 1 April 2027

    IB predicted grades due, 15:00
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource
All dates for this programme (4 more)

  1. 7 January 2027

    Aalto's own application opens, 08:00 Finnish time
    DetailsSource

  2. 28 May 2027

    Round B (IB) results published at the latest
    DetailsSource

  3. 6 July 2027*

    IB results released
    DetailsSource

  4. 13 July 2027

    Final IB grades due and deadline to accept your place, 15:00
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

* Last year’s date, not yet confirmed.

Every date in Finland

What it is

You work across visual communication, industrial design and digital design, starting with design fundamentals, strategic identity and sustainable design, and moving into thematic studios. Teaching is hands-on and process-based, mixing workshops, seminars and group projects with feedback sessions, and the third year ends with a bachelor's thesis; exchange and internships are encouraged. Later you choose a track such as Collaborative and Industrial Design, Fashion and Textile Design, Creative Sustainability, New Media, or Visual Cultures and Contemporary Art. Graduates work in communication, interaction, product, service and strategic design, or continue to a master's.

What you need

  • IB grades do not count: preliminary assignments, intake assignments and an interview decide.
Requirements in full

Every IB applicant at Aalto

IB applicants go in admission round B, ranked on IB grades with national scoring tables. HL and SL score the same; engineering options need advanced maths at 6. No English test needed.

Where it says so

Its entry requirements

Check it on aalto.fi

How places are decided

    • Pre-assignment
    • Interview
    Preliminary assignments (pass/fail) due 29 Jan 2027, 15:00; intake assignments due 31 Mar; interview 3–7 May. Scored out of 100; grades do not count.
Sources (3)
  1. Design and Media at Aalto — checked 2026-09-26
  2. Entry requirements
  3. IB applicants at Aalto

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