Aalto University

In 2004, a workgroup led by {{lang|fi|Anne Brunila|italic=unset}} of the Finnish Ministry of Finance concluded that Finland had too many universities and other institutes of tertiary education which should be consolidated. Following this, {{lang|fi|Yrjö Sotamaa|italic=unset}}, president of the University of Art and Design Helsinki at the time, proposed the merger of Aalto University's founding schools in his president's opening speech in 2005. {{lang|fi|Sotamaa|italic=unset}}'s line of reasoning was that this move would create a unique interdisciplinary university that was needed to create new innovative thought.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

The idea received attention within the Finnish Ministry of Education, which appointed {{lang|fi|Raimo Sailas|italic=unset}}, a leading official at the Ministry of Finance, to investigate the possibility of a merger. After Sailas' group reported that it considered the merger to be beneficial to the Finnish academic world and economy, the Finnish government decided to go on with the project on 11 November 2007.

On 29 May 2008 the government announced that the new university would be named after the Finnish architect {{lang|fi|Alvar Aalto|italic=unset}} in honor of his achievements in technology, economics and art. The Finnish minister of education at the time, {{lang|fi|Sari Sarkomaa|italic=unset}}, together with representatives of Finnish industries and professional organisations, signed the Aalto University charter on 25 June 2008 in {{lang|fi|Helsinki|italic=unset}}. On 19 December 2008 {{lang|fi|Tuula Teeri|italic=unset}} was selected by the board to be the first president of Aalto University.

Aalto University started operating on 1 January 2010. During the establishment of the university, Finland's university law was revised to permit the institution to collect endowments. The university managed to reach its goal of collecting 200 million euros in private donations. The sum was augmented by 2.5 times by the Finnish state.{{cite web|url=https://alumninet.aalto.fi/Portal/Public/News/ShowNews.aspx?NewsID=2694|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123144055/https://alumninet.aalto.fi/Portal/Public/News/ShowNews.aspx?NewsID=2694|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-11-23|title=Aalto AlumniNET|author=Mira Network AB}}

In a 2017 analysis by The Times Higher Education, Aalto University ranked 55th among technology challenger universities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.studyinternational.com/news/design-innovate-create-aalto-school-engineering/|title=Design, Innovate and Create with Aalto School of Engineering|date=2018-03-28|website=Study International|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-20}}

File:Tkkstudentsbackinthedays.jpg

{{Main|Helsinki University of Technology}}

As the Aalto University was founded the four schools of science and engineering were formed out of the departments of the Helsinki University of Technology (TKK), founded in 1849 by Grand Duke Nicholas I. It received university status in 1908. In 1966, the University of Technology moved from {{lang|fi|Hietalahti|italic=unset}} in downtown Helsinki to its current {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}} campus, designed by {{lang|fi|Alvar Aalto|italic=unset}}. At the time of creation of Aalto University, TKK had about 250 professors and approximately 15,000 students. This means the largest part of the Aalto University is formed from the former Helsinki University of Technology.

In 2011, the former University of Technology (then known as Aalto University School of Science and Technology) was split up into four schools, corresponding to the former TKK faculties: School of Chemical Technology (CHEM), School of Electrical Engineering (ELEC), School of Engineering (ENG), and School of Science (SCI).

{{Main|Helsinki School of Economics}}

The Helsinki School of Economics (HSE) was established in {{lang|fi|Helsinki|italic=unset}} in 1904 by the business community and was given the status of a university in 1911. It operated as a private university until 1974, when the state of Finland was given the financial responsibility of the university.

Following the merger, the university was briefly renamed Aalto University School of Economics, and is currently known as Aalto University School of Business (Aalto BIZ).

{{Main|University of Art and Design Helsinki}}

File:Leo Mechelin (cropped).png served as one of the first presidents of the school of art and design.]]

The University of Art and Design Helsinki has been the largest art university in the Nordic countries. It was founded in 1871. Media Centre Lume – the National Research and Development Center of audiovisual media – is also located in the university. The university awarded the following academic degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Arts.

The university has been active in establishing research projects and industrial collaborations via the private sector. During the rectorship of {{lang|fi|Yrjö Sotamaa|italic=unset}} the university was active in integrating design into Finnish innovation networks.

Following the merger, the university was briefly renamed Aalto University School of Art and Design. In 2012, the Department of Architecture, which historically has been a part of the Helsinki University of Technology, was moved to the school, and the name was changed to Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture (Aalto ARTS).

The department of photography at Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture (Aalto ARTS) is home to what is known as The Helsinki School, a selected group of photographers from Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture that has been the model for a new approach to education as well as a vehicle for collaborative thought and cooperation.{{cite web |title=The Helsinki School |url=https://www.helsinkischool.fi/ |access-date=2020-07-03 |archive-date=2020-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703120333/https://www.helsinkischool.fi/ |url-status=dead }}

The university, which is incorporated as Aalto University Foundation, is governed by the seven-member Aalto University Foundation Board. The board decides on the foundation's strategy, operation and financial issues, is responsible for any far-reaching plans and appoints the university president and vice rectors. Formerly working as the provost of Aalto University, {{lang|fi|Ilkka Niemelä|italic=unset}} was elected president of Aalto University in 2017. The first president of Aalto University was {{lang|fi|Tuula Teeri}}. The university is organized into six schools with their respective deans and administrative structures.

The university is organized since the beginning of 2011 into six schools formed out of the three merged universities. Each school has several departments and separate laboratories as well as a number of separate research and other units.

• School of Arts, Design and Architecture (Aalto ARTS)
• School of Chemical Engineering (Aalto CHEM)
• School of Business (Aalto BIZ)
• School of Electrical Engineering (Aalto ELEC)
• School of Engineering (Aalto ENG)
• School of Science (Aalto SCI)

• Aaltoes (Aalto Entrepreneurship Society), student-run entrepreneurship community
• Aalto University Learning Centre
• Aalto University Executive Education
• Factories – interdisciplinary collaboration networks:{{cite web|url=http://www.aalto.fi/en/research/multidisciplinary/factories/|title=Factories: workshops for novel expertise|publisher=Aalto University|access-date=28 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230183128/http://www.aalto.fi/en/research/multidisciplinary/factories/|archive-date=30 December 2011}}
• Design Factory
• Media Factory{{cite web|url=http://mediafactory.aalto.fi/|title=Media Factory at Aalto University}}
• Aalto Science Institute{{cite web|url=http://asci.aalto.fi/en/|title=AScI – Aalto Science Institute|date=2 February 2015|website=asci.aalto.fi}} – interdisciplinary research initiative
• Helsinki Institute for Information Technology (joint research unit with University of Helsinki)
• Helsinki Institute of Physics (operated jointly with University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta University of Technology and Tampere University of Technology){{cite web|url=http://www.hip.fi/|title=Helsinki Institute of Physics|access-date=2010-05-21|archive-date=2009-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926235847/http://www.hip.fi/|url-status=dead}}
• Metsähovi Radio Observatory as part of Aalto ELEC.

{{Infobox university rankings

| ARWU_W = 401–500 | ARWU_W_year = 2024 | ARWU_W_ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2024|title=ARWU World University Rankings 2024|website=www.shanghairanking.com|access-date=26 August 2024}}

| QS_W = 113| QS_W_year = 2025 | QS_W_ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2025|title=QS World University Rankings 2025|date=19 June 2024|website=topuniversities.com|access-date=26 August 2024}}

| THE_W = =196| THE_W_year = 2025 | THE_W_ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2025|title=World University Rankings|date=6 August 2024|website=timeshighereducation.com|access-date=26 August 2024}}

|USNWR_W= =296| USNWR_W_year = 2025|USNWR_W_ref={{cite web| url = https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/finland| title = U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2024-25| access-date = 23 November 2024}}}}

{{Main|Aalto University School of Chemical Technology|Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering|Aalto University School of Engineering}}

File:Mathematics lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology.jpg

All engineering programmes offered by the schools of science and technology lead to the degree of {{lang|fi|diplomi-insinööri}} (M.Sc.(Tech.), Master of Science in Technology), a five-year taught master's degree, which is fairly similar to the German {{Interlanguage link|Diplom-Ingenieur|de}} degrees. From 2005, according to the Bologna process, all students must also complete a bachelor's degree (B.Sc.(Tech), Bachelor of Science in Technology), in Finnish {{lang|fi|tekniikan kandidaatti}} or {{lang|fi|TkK}}, before the DI or architect's degree. However, the schools of science and technology do not offer programs terminating in a bachelor's degree; a student may only be accepted to study for the Master's level degree. The schools of science and technology require a bachelor's degree from foreign students studying in English, because only Master's studies are offered completely in English.

Undergraduate studies are generally quite similar in between different programs with a considerable part being taken by a tuition of a solid base in mathematics and physics.

Apart from numerous programs in Finnish/Swedish, various international Master's programs are offered exclusively for studies in English.{{cite web|url=http://studies.aalto.fi/en/programs/technology/|title=Aalto Game Changers. Change the world.|date=11 July 2013|website=aalto.fi}} The postgraduate degrees given are {{lang|fi|tekniikan lisensiaatti}} (Lic.Sc.(Tech.), Licenciate of Science in Technology) and {{lang|fi|tekniikan tohtori}} (D.Sc.(Tech.), Doctor of Science in Technology).

Finnish students are accepted mainly on the basis of result in the national DIA entrance exam. The exam variant taken by most entrants mainly tests quantitative ability in mathematics, physics and chemistry, but specialized tests are available for students applying to a number of programs. The score required for entry to the Aalto University varies much depending on the intended field of study, however, in general the scores required for the Aalto University are higher than for any other university granting entry through the DIA exam. For example, the mean sum of mathematics and physics DIA exam scores was 7.2 in the year 2010, whereas the mean minimum sum of mathematics and physics exam scores for gaining admission to an Aalto program was 17.1–20.1, depending on the priority point distribution.{{cite web|title=2011 Valintaopas|url=http://dia.fi/media/4005/dia_hakuopas270111_fi_fk_2.pdf|access-date=2011-07-13|archive-date=2011-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815191249/http://dia.fi/media/4005/dia_hakuopas270111_fi_fk_2.pdf|url-status=dead}} Aalto also contains five of the most selective programs with respect to the matriculation exam scores, out of approximately total of 50 university technology programs in the nation, of which approximately 30 are outside of Aalto, and the three most selective programs with respect to entrance exam and combined scores. The minimum scores required for these top programs are in the 95th–99th percentile range of the whole applicant pool, and approximately 98th-99.8th percentile of what would be the score distribution of the whole age group.

{{Main|Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture}}

The School of Arts, Design and Architecture has been a leader in art and design education in Finland for over 138 years. It is an international postgraduate university institution with students from over 50 countries. It offers doctorate, master and bachelor's degrees in a wide range of disciplines – fine art, design, new media, art education, visual culture, motion picture and production design. School of Arts, Design and Architecture is a pioneer in research and in developing interdisciplinary study programmes.

The school received its current name in the beginning of 2012 when the architecture department moved in from the School of Engineering (previously part of Helsinki University of Technology).{{cite web|url=http://arts.aalto.fi/en/current/news/view/2012-01-02/|title=School of Arts, Design and Architecture began operations at the start of the year|publisher=Aalto University|date=2 January 2012|access-date=29 January 2012}} The architecture programmes lead to the Master of Science degrees in architecture and landscape architecture.

In 2021, Aalto University was ranked the sixth globally according to the QS World University Rankings by the subject Art and Design.{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2021/art-design|title = QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Art & Design}}

{{Main|Aalto University School of Business}}

The School of Business offers degrees in economics and business administration at the Bachelor, Master, Licentiate and Doctoral levels, along with MBA programs targeted to business professionals. Many of the degrees and programs are offered in English.{{cite web|url=http://studies.aalto.fi/en/programs/business/|title=Aalto University Gets You More Than a Degree|access-date=21 July 2015|archive-date=19 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819120428/http://studies.aalto.fi/en/programs/business/|url-status=dead}}

In its degree programs, the school has a two-step program structure with a three-year bachelor's degree followed by a two-year master's degree. A doctoral degree normally takes four additional years. Financial Times ranked Aalto University School of Business 29th in the European Business school rankings in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/helsinki-school-of-economics/european-business-school-rankings-2013#european-business-school-rankings-2013|title=Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com|access-date=21 July 2015}}

Aalto University School of Business is located at the {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}} campus. The school offers two Bachelor of Science Programs (one in Finnish at the {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}} campus and the other in English at the {{lang|fi|Mikkeli|italic=unset}} campus) and 13 Master of Science Programs (12 are offered in English).

The Aalto University School of Business is the first business school in Finland and the first business school in the Nordic countries to have received all three labels of excellence from the world's leading business school accreditation bodies: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS. This Triple Crown status is an honor held by only few business schools worldwide. The school is also an active member of the CEMS (Global Alliance in Management Education) and PIM (Partnership in International Management).

Aalto MBA and Executive MBA Programs are NOT Master's degree programs. Both are organized by Aalto University Executive Education Ltd. MBA and Executive MBA programs are offered in {{lang|fi|Helsinki}}, China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Poland and have tuition fees, unlike the degree programs. The MBA program is taught through two-week modules by visiting faculty from some of the top business schools in the world, including Emory University, Rutgers Business School, University of South Carolina, Georgetown University, UCLA, Concordia University, Queen's University, Rotterdam School of Management, Indiana University, ESADE and INSEAD.{{cite web|url=https://www.aaltoee.com|title=Valmennusta, kehittämispalveluja ja koulutusta – Aalto EE|website=aaltoee.com|access-date=2019-04-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aaltoee.com/degree-programs|title=Aalto University Gets You More Than a Degree|access-date=18 April 2019}} Aalto University Executive Education Ltd also offers a double degree Executive MBA Program in partnership with Esade Business School. Financial Times ranked Aalto University School of Business 78th in Global MBA programs,{{cite web|url=http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/helsinki-school-of-economics/masters-in-management-2013#masters-in-management-2013|title=Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com|access-date=21 July 2015}} 85th in Executive MBA programs.{{cite web|url=http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/helsinki-school-of-economics/emba-ranking-2013#emba-ranking-2013|title=Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com|access-date=21 July 2015}}

Aalto EMBA was advertised as a Master's degree program in Taiwan, even though it's a non-degree program. Recruiting and hosting of the program infringed local laws. The issues were discovered in 2022 and the program was closed as a result.

File:Dome planck hfi.jpg

Aalto University has defined four fundamental competence areas: ICT and digitalisation, Materials and sustainable use of natural resources, Global business dynamics and Art and design knowledge building. In addition to these, the university invests in three integrative multidisciplinary themes: Advanced energy solutions, Health and wellbeing, and Human-centred living environments.{{cite web|url=http://www.aalto.fi/en/research/strengths/|title=Key research areas|date=18 June 2013|website=aalto.fi|access-date=23 November 2015|archive-date=11 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211140555/http://www.aalto.fi/en/research/strengths/|url-status=dead}}

Researchers at Aalto University have achieved notability in, among other things, low temperature physics (holding the current world record for the lowest temperature achieved), the development of devices and methods for magnetoencephalography, mobile communications, wood processing, and neural networks, with professor {{lang|fi|Teuvo Kohonen}} initiating research in self-organizing maps. Additionally, the first commercialised total synthesis, the synthesis of camphor, was invented by {{lang|fi|Gustaf Komppa}}, the first professor of chemistry at TKKKemia-lehti. {{cite web|url=http://www.kemia-lehti.fi/pdf/gustafkomppa.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2005-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928140713/http://www.kemia-lehti.fi/pdf/gustafkomppa.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-28 }} and the Nobel laureate (chemistry, 1945) {{lang|fi|Artturi Virtanen}} held a professorship in biochemistry at TKK. More recently, the university has notably invested in the research of nanotechnology, operating the largest cleanroom facility in Northern Europe{{cite web | title=VTT inaugurated Microelectronics and Nanotechnology Centre 'Micronova' | access-date=2009-10-08 | url=http://www.ercim.org/publication/Ercim_News/enw53/linden.html}} and one of the largest microscopy clusters in Europe.{{cite web|title=TKK Nanomicroscopy Center |access-date=2009-10-08 |url=http://nmc.tkk.fi/en/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717004627/http://nmc.tkk.fi/en/ |archive-date=2009-07-17 }} MilliLab, a joint laboratory of VTT and Aalto University, built one of the radio receivers in the Planck probe, which maps the cosmic microwave background for determining the age and composition of the universe.{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/2013032116811280|title=Planck-luotain laittoi käsityksen kosmoksesta uusiksi|access-date=21 July 2015}}

Aalto University has participated in nine centres of excellence during 2008–2019 ({{langx|fi|huippuyksikkö}}), selected by the Academy of Finland to represent the top research in the country, and receiving separate, fixed-period funding from the academy.{{cite web|url=http://www.aka.fi/en-GB/A/Centres-of-Excellence-/Aims/ |title=Aims | Academy of Finland |access-date=2011-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928203831/http://www.aka.fi/en-GB/A/Centres-of-Excellence-/Aims/ |archive-date=2011-09-28 }}

• Centre of Excellence in Generic Intelligent Machines Research{{Cite web|title=GIM – Finnish Centre of Excellence in Generic Intelligent Machines(2008–2013)|url=http://gim.aalto.fi/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=gim.aalto.fi|archive-date=2020-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231132347/http://gim.aalto.fi/|url-status=dead}}
• Centre of Excellence in Smart Radios and Wireless Research
• Centre of Excellence in Computational Nanoscience{{cite web|url=http://comp.aalto.fi|title=COMP|date=12 February 2015|website=comp.aalto.fi}}
• Centre of Excellence in Computational Inference{{cite web|url=http://research.ics.aalto.fi/coin/|title=COIN}}
• Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research{{Cite web|title=Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research {{!}} CoE-LaSR|url=https://laserscanning.fi/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research|language=fi}}
• Centre of Excellence in Low Temperature Quantum Phenomena and Devices{{cite web|url=http://ltl.tkk.fi/wiki/LT/CoE|title=CoE}}
• Centre of Excellence in Molecular Engineering of Biosynthetic Hybrid Materials{{cite web|url=http://hyber.aalto.fi/en/|title=HYBER|date=27 November 2013|website=hyber.aalto.fi}}
• Centre of Excellence in Molecular Systems Immunology and Physiology, together with University of Helsinki and University of Turku
• Centre of Excellence in Research on Solar Long-Term Variability and Effects, together with University of Oulu and Finnish Meteorological Institute

Currently, Aalto University participates in three Centre of Excellences (2018–2025):

• Centre of Excellence in Quantum Technology{{Cite web|title=Quantum Technology Finland – The National Centre of Excellence|url=https://qtf.fi/|access-date=2021-03-16|language=en-US}}
• Centre of Excellence of Inverse modelling and Imaging, together with University of Helsinki{{Cite web|date=2018-02-19|title=Centre of Excellence of Inverse Modelling and Imaging|url=https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/centre-of-excellence-of-inverse-modelling-and-imaging|access-date=2021-03-16|website=University of Helsinki|language=en}}
• Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, together with Finnish Meteorological Institute{{Cite web|date=2017-10-30|title=Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space|url=https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/finnish-centre-of-excellence-in-research-of-sustainable-space|access-date=2021-03-16|website=University of Helsinki|language=en}}

• BALTECH
• Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER){{cite web|url=http://www.cesaer.org/en/home/#|title=Home|author=Brainlane – SiteLab CMS v2|access-date=2012-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725194537/http://www.cesaer.org/en/home/|archive-date=2012-07-25|url-status=dead}}
• Consortium Linking Universities of Science and Technology for Education and Research (CLUSTER){{cite web|url=http://www.cluster.org|title=Cluster.org}}
• Cumulus{{cite web|url=http://www.cumulusassociation.org/|title=Cumulus}}
• Global Education for European Engineers and Entrepreneurs (GE4){{cite web|url=http://www.ge4.org|title=Ge4 Network}}
• The European Association for the Transfer of Technologies, Innovation and Industrial Information (TII){{cite web|url=http://www.tii.org|title=TII Technology Innovation International – Home}}
• T.I.M.E. Association (TIME){{cite web|url=http://www.time-association.org|title=ASSOCIATION}}
• ProTon Europe, the European Knowledge Transfer Association{{cite web|url=http://www.protoneurope.org/index2.php |title=ProTon Europe Innovation from Public Research - Home - ProTon Europe |access-date=2012-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814141438/http://protoneurope.org/index2.php |archive-date=2012-08-14 }}
• Partnership in International Management (PIM){{cite web|url=http://www.pimnetwork.org|title=Welcome to PIM|author=Administrator}}
• European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI){{cite web|url=http://www.sefi.be/|title=SEFI}}
• European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools (ECLAS){{cite web|url=http://www.eclas.org|title=ECLAS News}}
• European Association for International Education (EAIE){{cite web|url=http://www.eaie.org|title=European Association for International Education – EAIE}}
• Community of European Management Schools and International Companies (CEMS){{cite web|url=http://www.cems.org|title=CEMS}}
• The European Association for University Lifelong Learning (EUCEN){{cite web|url=http://www.eucen.eu/|title=Eucen}}
• University Consortium of Pori
• University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering (UNITE!)

File:Aalto yliopisto Otaniemi 2018.jpg, a mall 'A Bloc', and premises for Aalto ARTS and Aalto BIZ. On the right former is the Undergraduate Centre, the main building of TKK designed by {{lang|fi|Alvar Aalto}}.]]

File:Helsinki University of Technology auditorium.jpg}}'s landmark auditorium of the main building of the Otaniemi campus. The amphitheatre-like structure contains the main auditoriums, while its exterior can be used for plays and other activities.|thumb]]

The main university campus is located in {{lang|fi|Otaniemi}}, {{lang|fi|Espoo}}. The university also has activities in {{lang|fi|Töölö}}, {{lang|fi|Mikkeli}} and {{ill|Metsähovi, Finland|lt=Metsähovi|fi|Metsähovi}}.

Since 2019, all of the Aalto University schools have been primarily located in {{lang|fi|Otaniemi, Espoo|italic=unset}}, roughly {{convert|10|km}} from the center of {{lang|fi|Helsinki|italic=unset}}. The original buildings of the campus were designed by {{lang|fi|Alvar Aalto|italic=unset}}. Several high-tech companies, the Finnish forest industry's joint experimental laboratory KCL, and business incubators {{lang|fi|Innopoli|italic=unset}} and {{lang|fi|Technopolis|italic=unset}} are also situated nearby. It is also directly adjacent to {{lang|fi|Keilaniemi}}, with the Life Science Center and the headquarters of several notable Finnish companies, such as {{lang|fi|Kone}} and {{lang|fi|Fortum}}. The Aalto University metro station connects {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}} to {{lang|fi|Helsinki|italic=unset}} via the {{lang|fi|Länsimetro}} line.

The {{lang|fi|"Teekkarikylä"|italic=unset}} Student Village, home to over 2,000 students, makes up the majority of residences in {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}}. There are over one hundred student organizations on campus, which provide a range of opportunities to take part in pastimes of various kinds, from sports to music.

Aalto University retains ownership of the former campus of the School of Business, located in {{lang|fi|Töölö, Helsinki|italic=unset}}. As of 2019, the building is under renovation and primarily used by Aalto University Executive Education

The School of Business also maintains a Bachelor's Programme in International Business, which is taught in {{lang|fi|Mikkeli}}. The university also owns and operates the Metsähovi Radio Observatory in {{lang|fi|Kirkkonummi}}.

File:TFteknolog.jpg

The Aalto University students are known for active student life.

An integral part of many student traditions play the brightly colored overalls worn to many events. The color of the overall signals what the student studies (e.g. the economy students are recognized from dollar green overalls). The student community has also organised important charity events. In fact, the name for these events {{lang|fi|tempaus}}, has entered common language to describe any carnival-like charity event.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

The students of technology ({{lang|fi|teekkarit}}) are especially noticeable, as they wear a distinctive hat with a tuft on many occasions (both formal and informal). Technology students are also famous for, and Finland's leading practitioners of, student pranks ({{lang|fi|jäynä}}), similar in principle to MIT hacks. Their most widely publicised stunt took place in 1961, when a team of students smuggled a statue of {{lang|fi|Paavo Nurmi}} onto the 300-year-old wreck of Regalskeppet Vasa just days before its lifting from the bottom of the sea.{{lang|fi|Ilta-Sanomat}} 5 July 1961 {{lang|fi|"Vasan veijarit"}}, scan available at [https://web.archive.org/web/20040713124028/http://www.ttky.tut.fi/jaynat/nurmi.html archive.org dump of ttky.fi].

Although student traditions vary in between the different constituent schools common activities started to burgeon early after the foundation of Aalto University. The most noticeable student event of the first year of the university was Aalto on Tracks, where a group of 100 students came together to rent a private train which they traveled 10,000 km on from {{lang|fi|Helsinki|italic=unset}} to the Shanghai Expo enjoying multidisciplinary talks and workshops on the way.{{cite web|url=http://aaltoontracks.com/|title=Aalto on Tracks|access-date=21 July 2015}} The event was such a success that the follow-up Aalto on waves is planned to arrange a trip by boat to South America. Aalto on Tracks also spurred students of Tongji University to arrange Tongji on Tracks which essentially takes the journey of Aalto on Tracks in the opposite direction.{{cite web|url=http://sfc.tongji.edu.cn/index.php?m=article&a=detail&id=26&nav_id=47|title=欢迎来到同济大学中芬中心|access-date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041615/http://sfc.tongji.edu.cn/index.php?m=article&a=detail&id=26&nav_id=47|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

Aalto Entrepreneurship Society is a multi-disciplinary society uniting students and graduates of all disciplines of the university. It aims to encourage high-tech, high-growth, scalable entrepreneurship by arranging get-togethers to spark ideas and innovations and aid start-up initiatives among the Aalto students.

Aalto Festival (2015–2019), formerly known as Masters of Aalto (2012–2014), and the Masters of Arts festival, MoA (2002–2011), and Think 2000 was an annual event in May where the newly graduated of the multidisciplinary university met the public.

An extensive exhibition showcased a wide array of works: everything from distinguished theses, individual statements, concepts and products arising from commercial collaboration to works of art. For the graduating students, the exhibition was an opportunity to interact with society, future employers, the media and other influential parties.

Aalto Festival consisted of a varying program with exhibitions, seminars, discussions, films, workshops and guided tours.{{cite web|url=http://moa.aalto.fi|title=Masters of Aalto University 2014 / MoA'14|access-date=21 July 2015}}

Aalto University Student Union ({{langx|fi|Aalto-yliopiston ylioppilaskunta}}, {{langx|sv|Aalto-universitetets studentkår}}, AYY or AUS in short) is the student union of Aalto University. Every bachelor's and master's degree student enrolled in Aalto University is a member of the Student Union.

The purpose of AYY is to represent the students, look after their interests, and support the community of 15,000 students. AYY provides its members with a variety of services such as healthcare, recreation and housing. The student union is financed by membership fees, investments and profits from student housing.

Aalto University Student Union was formed in the beginning of 2010 through a merger between the respective student unions of the merged universities.

The Aalto University is also one of the two universities in Finland to host one or more nations, a Finnish type of student corporation. Aalto's only nation is Teknologföreningen (TF) and its goal is to unite Swedish-speaking students at university. The nation is housed in its peculiar building called {{lang|sv|Urdsgjallar}}. Since 1972, when the corresponding Finnish-speaking nation {{lang|fi|Tekniikan Ylioppilaat}} was abolished, there are no nations for the Finnish-speaking students, though the 15 regional nations at the University of Helsinki, both Finnish- and Swedish-speaking, do welcome Aalto students as members.[http://www.helsinki.fi/jarj/oyv/osakunnat/index.shtml Osakunnat – Nationerna.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502091419/http://www.helsinki.fi/jarj/oyv/osakunnat/index.shtml |date=May 2, 2013 }} Osakuntien yhteistyövaliokunta ry. Retrieved 1-12-2008. {{in lang|fi}}[http://www.polyteekkari.fi/index.php?k=10492 Suomalainen, M. (2007) Tunnetko jo osakunnan?]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Polyteekkari 12/2007. Retrieved 1-12-2008. {{in lang|fi}}

File:Retuperän WBK.jpg

In addition to the student union, Aalto university students have formed numerous associations for studies, cultural activity and sports. There are more than 150 associations maintained by university students.

Currently this list includes only the associations known to have English Wikipedia articles.

• The Polytech Choir ({{langx|fi|Polyteknikkojen kuoro}})
• Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho (Flying club)
• Helsinki Academic Male Choir KYL ({{langx|fi|Kauppakorkeakoulun Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat}})
• Otaniemi Underground Broadcasting System
• Aalto University Sports Club
• Aaltoes
• Teknologföreningen
• Kauppakorkeakoulun Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat

The housing area of {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}} campus, known as {{lang|fi|Teekkarikylä}} (technology student village), is owned mostly by the student union and partly by HOAS (Helsinki Student Housing Fund). The housing is characterised by the presence of foreign students of many nationalities. {{as of|2005|post=,}} the village offers housing for approximately 2,600 students.{{cite web|title=Student Union web pages for the student village |access-date=2007-07-21 |url=http://www.tky.fi/fi/tky/teekkarikyla/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706062907/http://www.tky.fi/fi/tky/teekkarikyla/ |archive-date=6 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}

Construction of the {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}} campus was started in 1950, in order for the first buildings to host the athletes of the 1952 Summer Olympics in {{lang|fi|Helsinki|italic=unset}}. Some of the building material originally used for the campus was acquired from the former Soviet Union embassy, which had been destroyed during World War II,{{cite web|title=History of Teekkarikylä |access-date=2007-07-21 |url=http://www.tky.fi/fi/tky/teekkarikyla/teekkarikylan-historiaa/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129041330/http://www.tky.fi/fi/tky/teekkarikyla/teekkarikylan-historiaa/ |archive-date=2009-11-29 }} as a result of bombings by the Soviet Union itself. The student housing has been used for housing athletes again in e.g. the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, sometimes to the dismay of the students that have to move out during the events. The quality of the Otaniemi student housing holds a high standard in international comparison.

Some student housing is also available in the vicinity of the other campuses.

The {{lang|fi|Otaniemi|italic=unset}} campus also contains the former student union building {{lang|fi|Dipoli}}, named as the second {{lang|fi|Poli}}, the successor of the first student union building in downtown {{lang|fi|Helsinki|italic=unset}}. {{lang|fi|Dipoli|italic=unset}} was designed by {{lang|fi|Reima and Raili Pietilä|italic=no}} and completed in 1966. In 1993, the building was permanently rented to the university to act as a conference and continuing education center and later sold due to high maintenance costs. It is regularly used for conventions, congresses and student parties.

{{Main|List of Aalto University people}}

All three constituent schools have played an integral part in educating many of the top names in their respective fields in Finland. After the Second World War Finland's economy grew and Finnish companies became players in the international markets requiring highly educated expertise and leadership. Both the schools of technology and economy catered to this need as the premier schools of their fields in the country. During the latter part of the 20th century the schools had to increase their student intake considerably to meet the demands of growing markets.

File:Gunnar Nordström.jpg|{{lang|fi|Gunnar Nordström}}
D.Sc.
Professor
Pioneering physicist

File:Virtanen.jpg|{{lang|fi|Artturi Ilmari Virtanen}}
D.Sc.
Professor
Nobel Laureate

File:Alvar aalto c1935.jpg|{{lang|fi|Alvar Aalto}}
M.Sc. (Arch.)
Architect

File:Wirkkala.jpg|{{lang|fi|Tapio Wirkkala}}
Designer

File:Teuvo-Kohonen-2.jpg|{{lang|fi|Teuvo Kohonen}}
D.Eng.
Professor
Neural Networks Researcher

File:Jorma Ollila.jpg|{{lang|fi|Jorma Ollila}}
M.Sc. (Tech.), M.Pol.Sc., M.Sc. (Econ.)
CEO of Nokia, Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell

• Aalto University Library
• Institute of technology
• List of universities in Finland
• Software Industry Survey
• Top Industrial Managers for Europe (TIME) network for student mobility

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|www.aalto.fi/en/}}
• [http://arts.aalto.fi/en/ School of Arts, Design and Architecture]
• [http://econ.aalto.fi/en/ School of Business] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205184913/http://econ.aalto.fi/en/ |date=2012-02-05 }}
• [http://chem.aalto.fi/en/ School of Chemical Technology]
• [http://elec.aalto.fi/en/ School of Electrical Engineering]
• [http://eng.aalto.fi/en/ School of Engineering]
• [http://sci.aalto.fi/en/ School of Science]

{{AaltoUniversitytemplate}}

{{Finnish universities}}

{{Top Industrial Managers for Europe}}

{{CESAER}}

{{Universities and polytechnics in Uusimaa}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|60|11|10|N|24|49|43|E|region:FI_type:edu|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aalto University}}

Category:Education in Helsinki

Category:Technical universities and colleges in Finland

Category:Modernist architecture in Finland

Category:Alvar Aalto buildings

Category:Forestry education

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1849

Category:Education in Espoo

Category:Engineering universities and colleges in Finland

Category:1849 establishments in the Russian Empire

Category:1849 establishments in Finland

Category:Alvar Aalto

Category:Universities and colleges formed by merger in Finland