Aalto University School of Business


The Aalto University School of Business, is the largest business school in Finland. Founded in 1911, it is the second oldest business school in Finland and one of the oldest business schools in the Nordic countries. The school became part of Aalto University on 1 January 2010. It has been previously known as the Helsinki School of Economics, the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, and during 2010-2012 the Aalto University School of Economics.
Consisting of about 3,500 students and 500 researchers, the Aalto University School of Business is conducting research with relations with the business community.

History

The Aalto University School of Business was established in Helsinki 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. Nevertheless, the school has remained autonomous in its administration and internal affairs. Since its founding, 23,000 students have graduated. In 1950, the School of Business moved from Fabianinkatu to Runeberginkatu in Töölö. The school became a part of Aalto University on 1 January 2010, and fully transitioned to its Otaniemi campus in 2019.

Rankings and accreditations

The Aalto University School of Business has been accredited by all three major international organizations that certify business schools, a “triple-crown” accreditation possessed by only 55 other universities in the world. The school is also a member of the CEMS and PIM.
Since 2005, the Financial Times has ranked the CEMS program among the top masters in management programs in the world. The Aalto University School of Business is an active member of this joint program. Financial Times ranked Aalto University School of Business 29th in the European business school rankings in 2013, 78th in Global MBA programs, and 43rd in Master in Management programs.

Degrees and programmes

The school offers university degrees in economics and business administration at the bachelor's, master's, licentiate, and doctoral levels, along with MBA programmes targeted to business professionals hosted through Aalto University Executive Education.
The school has a two-step program structure, accordingly with the Bologna Treaty, with a three-year bachelor's degree followed by a two-year master's degree. New students start by studying towards a BSc degree in economics and business administration and on completion, are eligible to continue to study for the master's degree. A doctoral degree normally takes four additional years.

Bachelor's programmes

Since 2013, the school offers the following bachelor's programmes :
In economics and business management, students may choose one of the following as their major:
Accounting, business law, economics, finance, information service and management, management, marketing

Master's programmes

The school offers the following master's programmes :
Since 1995, the school has offered a multidisciplinary summer programme called the Information Technology Program. The school also offers a multidisciplinary Business Master Class summer course.

MBA programs

MBA and executive MBA programs are offered by the Aalto University Executive Education AEE with operations in Helsinki, China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Sweden and Iran. There is a tuition fee in the MBA program, unlike in the BSc/MSc degree programs. The MBA program is taught through two-week modules by visiting faculty from some of the best 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, Erasmus University, Indiana University, ESADE and INSEAD.

Admissions

Each year, around 400 students are admitted into the bachelor's programmes and around 200 students to the master's programmes. Bachelor's admissions are based mainly on an admissions test and the nationwide matriculation examination. Non-Finnish speakers and international students have the opportunity to gain admission through the SAT conducted in English. Applicants with an appropriate bachelor's degree may apply in the master's admissions to take only the degree of master of science in economics and business administration.

Partner universities

The Aalto University School of Business has exchange partnerships with over 150 universities in six different continents. Each year, close to 400 students go abroad on their exchange and the school welcomes over 350 incoming exchange students. The school collaborates with the leading business schools in Europe within the CEMS community. Partner schools include Imperial College in the UK, HEC Montréal in Canada, WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany, National Chengchi University College of Commerce in Taiwan, Yonsei University in South Korea, Peking University in China, Sophia University in Japan, Duke University, University of South Carolina in the US and Skema Business School and ESCP Europe in France. In the CEMS network, partner schools include HEC Paris, ESADE in Spain, the London School of Economics in the UK and Universität St. Gallen in Switzerland. Comprehensive list of partner schools.

CEMS Master's in international management

The CEMS includes 30 academic institutions from 5 continents, over 70 corporate partners and 4 social partners from around the globe.
Aalto University School of Business has been the Finnish member of the CEMS network since 1998. Their CEMS corporate partners are Kone and Nokia.
The School of Business offers a master's programme in global management where students can obtain two qualifications: MSc in Economics and Business administration granted by the Aalto University School of Business and CEMS Master's in International Management granted by CEMS, the Global Alliance in Management Education. Most of the CEMS MIM elements are fully incorporated in the Global Management master's programme.
CEMS MIM has a high recognition among the corporate sector. Consistently ranked among the top in the world by the Financial Times, the CEMS MIM unites multinational companies and international-caliber professors from leading universities and business schools.

Partnership in international management

The School of Business is a member of the PIM Network, which consists of 60 business schools worldwide.

Notable alumni