Studying in IDBM

An equal number of business, design and technology students are selected annually from each of the three participating schools, with an annual maximum intake of fifty students overall. The students are expected to demonstrate high levels of achievement though previous studies, portfolios and/or relevant professional activity. Depending on their backgrounds, the students apply to one of the participating three schools of the Aalto University, which also award the program degrees.

The two-year 120 ECTS degree program contains four core modules, elective studies, and a master’s thesis. The program can be taken completely in English.

Structure of the studies

The core orientation module (15 ECTS) provides students with a theoretical basis for their studies, covering necessary tools such as project management and research methods, developing and sustaining creative environments, processes and organizations, and methods of administration and management. The module also comprises personal study planning.

Each of the three other core compulsory modules is carried out at one of the Aalto University Schools. The School of Art and Design module (15 ECTS) has a focus on strategic design and management, the School of Science and Technology module (15 ECTS) on technical product design, innovation and its processes, and the School of Economics module (15 ECTS) on design-intensive business operations. Alternative modules can be suggested as replacements.

Elective studies (up to 30 ECTS) are chosen from the curricula offered by the Aalto University and other alternatives, such as studies within exchange programs at other universities. The program furthermore includes a master’s thesis (30-40 ECTS (School of Art and Design 40 ECTS, other Schools 30 ECTS).

IDBM allows students to acquire specialist competence in one of four career paths: i) research, ii) administration and management, iii) expertise, and iv) entrepreneurship. IDBM takes place at the overlapping and meeting points between traditional disciplines, being integrative and cross-disciplinary in nature. The fulfillment of students’ individual learning and competence targets is ensured with personal study plans.

IDBM Projects

Integrated into the various modules are industry projects, commissioned by companies, lasting up to one academic year. In these projects small multidisciplinary teams address real-life needs of business enterprises. The recently commissioned projects have dealt with topics such as marketing operations, new product and service development, logistics and/or design operations, concept design, mapping future user environments, charting export markets, and establishing a design management policy for a company. The opportunities of rapidly developing fields like multimedia, electronic commerce and content production, among others, present a vast new area for possible studies and projects.

This collaboration project permits students to engage in practical work in a multidisciplinary team by contributing their own skills and expertise. This work is supervised by a project leader and an experienced specialist selected from candidates of the participating universities. Through the industry projects the participating companies will come into contact with young, innovative students, and obtain first-hand information on the most recent research and training in the field. During the course of the project, the company also has an opportunity to evaluate the students in view of a possible future collaboration.