Articles
So Much Better Than a Boring Old Slideshow — This Is What Studying in an MBA Program Is Like
Annamari Typpö
Aalto MBA
Shape Your Future
The Aalto MBA program is a journey of transformation. It is a life changing program for experienced professionals and managers who want to reach their full potential and become business leaders with an innovative and sustainable mindset.
New lenses are needed to look at the complex problems facing the world, and a new mindset and skills to tackle them. In the Aalto MBA program, the dialogue between sustainability, radical creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking – the core of Aalto University’s strategy – is present throughout the program. The creative problem-solving abilities, new knowledge, tools, and perspectives gained during the program will support you in your personal and professional growth and enable you to become a change agent in your own organization.
The Aalto MBA program holds the 'Triple Crown' of accreditations – the three most respected international quality accreditations, granted to only around 1% of the world's business schools: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.
The program diploma is granted by Aalto University School of Business.
Shape Your Future
Aalto MBA is designed for ambitious people who want to accelerate their career. The world-class faculty, the immediately applicable assignments, and the broad experience of the participants will all play a central role in transforming your future.
Tailor Your Studies
We ensure that the Aalto MBA provides you with globally applicable knowledge and skills that are relevant and current. You can tailor your studies by choosing a mix of different, interesting elective modules or by concentrating on finance, entrepreneurship, or global business.
Graduate on Schedule
Our graduation rate is 98%. A flexible yet structured program design, together with the strong support of the MBA program team, enables you to successfully combine career responsibilities with intensive studies and graduate on time.
Part-time Structure – Full-scale Benefit
The Aalto MBA program is built around the four core business areas: strategy, leadership, finance, and marketing. The program will provide you with new perspectives and strengthen your business and leadership skills. You can dive deeper into finance, entrepreneurship, or global business by choosing one as your area of specialization.
The flexible program structure allows you to work full-time during your MBA studies. The learning process enables you to immediately apply your newly learned knowledge in your work, and the modular structure allows you to tailor the content to your specific interests and learning targets.
International Learning Experience
Aalto MBA is the most international MBA program in Finland. Each module is taught by a world-class faculty from Aalto University or one of the world’s leading business schools. Serving as great resources and mentors, our faculty has a wide range of experience in both academia and business. International cases and study groups are inspiring and interactive, allowing participants to share their expertise and find ways to apply learning in their own context. Elective study tours abroad contribute to developing cross-cultural competence.
Our Learning Philosophy
The Aalto MBA is designed to maximize interaction and participation. The approach focuses on integration of theory and practice and is adjusted to take differences in learning styles and preferences into account. A variety of methods facilitate learning, including presentations, group discussion, group projects, lectures, real-life case studies, simulations, and encounters with business leaders. Activities draw upon the wide experience of the participants, who represent different industries, functions, and educational backgrounds.
Our Impact
The Aalto MBA is first and foremost built on and driven by the impact it has – on our participants, their organizations, the academic community, and society at large. You and your organization will benefit from our goal-oriented and comprehensive learning experience with proven impact. We help nurture and develop your knowledge and skills, foster your self-confidence, and build individual learning paths and meaningful careers. A unique mix of fellow participants ensures that you create the best sustainable business networks.
Benefits
The Aalto MBA program gives you a comprehensive understanding of different key areas of business and improves your personal leadership skills.
Gain new knowledge, tools, confidence, and skills to support your personal and professional development
Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the key functions of business and management with an emphasis on sustainability
Enhance your strategic thinking and analytical skills by grasping the key management concepts and frameworks and choosing the appropriate ones to be applied in your organization
Improve your communication, presentation, and negotiation skills to make an impact
Build the lifelong networks, friendships, and connections that are vital for future business leaders
Develop a creative, experimental, and entrepreneurial mindset
Inspire and be inspired by others
Feel secure with your investment; strong support from a dedicated MBA team ensures your timely graduation
For
The Aalto MBA is designed for ambitious and experienced professionals and managers who want to take their career to the next level. Some are already in management positions but want to develop their skills further, some wish to become entrepreneurs or make a complete career change.
The program brings together people with diverse backgrounds in terms of work experience, nationality, and previous studies. On average, participants have 12 years of relevant work experience, ranging from 6 to 20 years.
Profile of Aalto MBA 2020-2023 Participants
Educational Background
158
Participants
Gender
37 years
Average Age
12 years
Average Work Experience
20
Different Nationalities
Contents and Schedule
To fulfill the requirements for the Aalto MBA diploma, participants must successfully complete studies worth 90 ECTS credits. Studies include ten core modules, three compulsory projects (Business Project, Sustainability Process, and Personal and Professional Development Process), and at least four elective modules. Typically, one module is worth five (5) ECTS credits.
The Aalto MBA is a two-year program starting in January. The program has a modular structure and follows a six-week learning cycle. One study module typically includes two evenings (Wed and Thu) and two full days (Fri and Sat) with a total of 28 contact hours. Each module contains a pre-assignment and a take-home assignment.
Program Structure
Pre-module period of three weeks
Individual preparation and pre-assignment
Four-day module
Contact learning with instructor and peers
Post-module period of three weeks
Individual take-home assignment
Year 1: Core Modules
The first year of studies is dedicated to core modules. The core modules are designed to provide participants with a wide understanding of the different key areas of business, and participants acquire skills that are essential for any manager. These modules are the building blocks of management education and help participants to integrate knowledge in the various management disciplines with hands-on practice. All these topics are approached and discussed at a managerial level.
- Communications
- Strategic Management
- People Management
- Financial Accounting and Analysis
- Managerial Accounting and Control
- Finance
- Economics
- Business Processes
- Marketing
- Data and AI in Business
Year 2: Elective Modules
The second year of the MBA studies focuses on the elective modules and finalizing the three projects. The Aalto MBA program Includes a range of highly topical elective modules. Elective studies allow participants to acquire and deepen knowledge and skills that match their individual interests and future career needs. If you complete at least three elective modules in Finance, Entrepreneurship, or Global Business you will be entitled to a specialization in your diploma.
Specialization: Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurship concentration develops a future looking, experimental, and entrepreneurial mindset. It exposes participants to creative thinking and an environment of entrepreneurial activity and spirit in both start-up and corporate contexts, and strengthens participants’ skills in creating strategic advantage. The modules offer tangible tools and knowledge as well as inspiration for people aspiring to start their own business.
Specialization: Finance
The Finance concentration focuses on financial decision-making. The modules provide participants with the deep skills, latest knowledge, tools, and best practices vital for understanding the interaction between strategy and finance and mastering transition in a constantly changing business environment. Electives focusing on finance will introduce participants to the central concepts and questions in managing an investment portfolio. Participants will also gain knowledge on corporate financial policy, valuation, and structured understanding of the M&A process.
Specialization: Global Business
The Global Business concentration offers an immersive international experience and an opportunity to study elective modules around the world. Participants will explore interesting topics, gain perspectives on different markets, and build their network globally when attending our partner universities’ MBA programs. Global Business participants are also entitled to take two additional elective modules (10 ECTS). This specialization has an additional fee. The travel and accommodation costs for elective modules abroad are not included in the fee.
Read more about the MBA program contents
During the second year of studies, we also come together for the Aalto Executive Summit and the final Capstone module. The annual Aalto Executive Summit brings together Aalto EMBA and MBA participants and alumni from around the world. During the Summit, you will learn about cutting-edge Aalto University research and innovations on current topics while enjoying a unique opportunity to meet business leaders and network with Summit participants.
Take Part in Memorable Study Tours and International Exchange
Participants can join optional study tours as part of the program. Designed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the international business environment, a Study Tour typically involves a four to five day study period abroad. Study Tours count as one elective module and have an additional fee.
Participants can also attend an exchange program at one of the Aalto MBA program's partner universities around the world. The exchange program length can vary from one module to four months. This option is tailored individually. Travel and accommodation costs for the exchange program are not included in the Aalto MBA tuition fee.
Dive Deep with Insightful Processes
The Personal and Professional Development Process supports your learning and development as a leader throughout your studies and beyond. The process supports you in building a sustainable base for continuous self-development.
The Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Process is integrated across the curriculum. The topic is covered broadly throughout modules and in the form of a learning diary. The process supports participants’ understanding of responsibility and sustainability in business and reflection on how these issues impact strategies, decision making, and value creation.
Turn Insight into Action during the MBA Business Strategy Project
The Aalto MBA program includes a Business Strategy Project, a consultancy project carried out in a small team with the final aim of developing an analytical solution or tool for a concrete strategic business challenge faced by an organization. The project aims to utilize the insights gained during the program, with project groups organized to maximize the use of their individual competencies and supported by skilled academic tutors from Aalto University.
Gain Access to the Alumni Network
All graduates automatically become members of the Aalto EE and Aalto University alumni community. Aalto EE and Aalto University continuously arrange events, company visits and meetings with fellow alumni. With more than 19,000 alumni worldwide, Aalto EE provides a valuable network for you to connect with your fellow alumni. We offer you access to the latest knowledge and an extensive global business network.
Visitor Program or Global Leader as a Pathway to MBA Studies
Before formally starting your Aalto MBA studies, you can take up to four MBA modules as a visitor together with the current MBA participants.
Global Leader is a compact and flexible program that can help you strengthen your strategic skills to manage interlinked functions in a multinational environment. Global Leader provides an ideal springboard towards studying for an Aalto MBA.
Entry Requirements and Fee
Entry Requirements
-
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
-
Minimum three years of relevant postgraduate work experience in manager/senior specialist/specialist position
-
Good command of written and spoken English
-
Two recommendation letters
-
Personal meeting
If you are not sure about meeting some of the requirements, please contact the Aalto MBA admissions team.
Tuition Fee
Application
Application Deadlines
Start Your Application Process
Start your Aalto MBA application process by completing a short preliminary application. After completing the form, our program team will contact you to provide more information about the program and guide you in the application process.
Further Application Stages
Scholarships
The Saastamoinen Foundation Scholarships
Saastamoinen Foundation scholarships are awarded to the most promising MBA participants. Scholarships are awarded based on applicants’ previous academic record, track record of career progress, and the potential for leadership and career advancement.
We especially encourage participants who are funding their MBA studies either partly or entirely privately to apply for the scholarship.
Please include an informal justification in your application documents describing why you should be considered for a scholarship (max. length 500 words).
All participants receiving scholarships are required to report on the progress in their studies.
The global business environment requires thinkers who are more skilled, innovative, and courageous than ever before. The Saastamoinen Foundation supports the ongoing development of Finnish working life and individuals, along with internationalism, in cooperation with Aalto EE, we are aiming for a better world through better leadership.
Eevi and Eemil Tanninen Foundation Scholarships
Eevi and Eemil Tanninen Foundation scholarships are awarded to the most promising participants from the Karelian and Savo regions.
Scholarships are awarded based on the impact on the Karelian and Savo regions, especially on economic and cultural activities.
Please include an informal justification in your application documents describing why you should be considered for a scholarship and what impact the scholarship would have regionally (max. 500 words)
All participants receiving scholarships are required to report on the progress in their studies.
Eevi and Eemil Tanninen Foundation's focus is on Karelia and Savo. It promotes and supports economic studies and other activities that support economic and cultural activities, as well as other international activities aimed at developing this area that take into account the historical significance of the area.