Curriculum design at Aalto University

An aim of curriculum design is to plan a programme that helps students acquire the intended skills and competencies needed for the future and to acquire them within the target time frame. Gathered together on this site are Aalto University’s curriculum design guidelines and schedule.

What is a curriculum?

Curriculum design is a process that results in the curriculum produced by the academic community. The teaching community for the programme or for the applicable study module participate in the process, discussing and agreeing on what the students are to learn, how they will learn and in what order they acquire their learning. The joint discussion results in an overall description of: the intended learning outcomes of the programme; the goals and contents of the study modules; and the study units and study unit implementations on offer within a specific time period. These all constitute the curriculum.

These curriculum guidelines apply to: the planning of Aalto University bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programme curricula; study modules (such as majors and minors) that are included in degrees; and the selection of lifewide learning (LWL) studies offered through the Open University and FITech that are consistent with degree studies. In addition to the LWL studies consistent with degree education, Aalto University offers LWL studies that differ from degree education. Those LWL studies are confirmed through an academic validation process that follows separate guidelines.

Timetable for preparing the 2026–2028 curriculum

Aalto University follows a two-year curriculum. In the spring of odd-numbered years, curriculum design begins with setting the university’s joint aims, the making of programme assessments, and identifying development goals. Curriculum design ends when the curriculum is approved and published.

Curriculum design proceeds according to the instructions and schedule below, which shows what happens in each stage and what outputs (e.g. documents) the stages are meant to produce.

This timetable is to be followed by all Aalto schools and units. The schools and units will publish their own details about their internal timetables on this page.

Description of stage

The university launches the work of curriculum design by setting the joint goals for the design. The goals are grounded in the university’s strategy and include the development targets identified on the basis of educational assessments. The University Academic Affairs Committee and Learning Steering Group (LESG) play a central role in setting the university’s joint goals.

Learning Services (LES) prepares the curriculum design guidelines. The end result are the Goals for the curriculum design work and the current guidelines.

Implementation of the language guidelines: At this stage, the schools will have identified the programmes and majors responsible for producing the education in the national languages. Preparations begin for decisions on changing the languages of the programmes, and the programmes begin their development of the curricula.

Description of stage

In the spring of odd-numbered years, programmes begin the curriculum design process for the next curriculum period. They do so by making assessments and by identifying and synchronising their own development targets with the broad development targets of the university.

A programme that has identified the need to make major changes to the intended learning outcomes of its curriculum should already during the spring reserve enough time for collaborative planning and produce a description of the programme’s aims and learning outcomes. This stage must ensure that updates to the intended learning outcomes are included in the descriptions of the study options, which are produced by the programme for student recruitment as well as for other recruitment materials.

In the spring, it is worth agreeing on the teaching cooperation between the Aalto schools and departments, e.g. adding a study unit from a different department to the degree requirements of the programme, or making significant changes to study units that are in the programmes of a different unit. Possible school guidelines and contact persons are published in the school's schedule.

At this stage, it is worth discussing the school’s LWL selection: What selection of degree education will be offered for continuous learners, and what kinds of new continuous-learning content should be planned. The university's lifewide learning team supports the schools in planning the selection to be offered. Possible school guidelines and contact persons are published in the school's schedule.

Implementation of the language guidelines: during the spring, the programmes produce descriptions of the study options and identify key changes to be made to the curriculum and to information on the study options.

Documents produced in this stage

Documentation concerning the programme’s development targets
A draft of the intended learning outcomes, an updated description of the study option, and a possible description of the aim of the programme

Instructions for this stage

Description of stage

In autumn of odd-numbered years, the programmes and majors revise their respective intended learning outcomes; they revise as well their degree requirements, or descriptions of the study units composing a student’s degree. Those in charge of minor subjects plan the minor’s intended learning outcomes and degree requirements. This preliminary curriculum information is refined in the next stage before it is confirmed.

The programmes and departments also produce information on what study modules and study units will be offered, i.e. what study modules and study units will be taught in the next curriculum period. Any significant planned changes in the offering are reported.

The organisational units decide on which study units from their degree education will be offered (e.g. through Open University and FITech) as continuous learning study units; they also decide on what other information, if any, will be collected by the school concerning study unit quotas.

Learning Services informs all the schools and programmes about significant changes in the selection of study modules and study units.

Implementation of the language guidelines: The languages of instruction and the language of study attainments (‘language of learning’ in Sisu) are defined, and when possible implementations of study units taught in other languages will be held. Information on the study units’ languages of instruction, languages of study attainments, and languages of study unit implementation will be published for internal use on 12 December 2025.

The selection of study units offered by departments and other units, significant changes in the study units, a summary of the majors and minors on offer and any significant changes to them will be published for internal use no later than 12 December 2025.

Documents produced in this stage

Draft of the intended learning outcomes and degree requirements of the programme and the minor, containing a description of the language paths in multilingual programmes and in programmes with responsibility for instruction in a national language of Finland.
The selection of study units offered by departments or other units and significant changes in the study units
A summary of the selection of major and minor subjects on offer and significant changes in them

Instructions for this stage

Description of stage

Descriptions of study units and study unit implementations are also a part of the curriculum. The teacher responsible (i.e. ‘teacher-in-charge’, or ‘responsible teacher’ in Sisu) is in charge of its description. To ensure the alignment of the curriculum, the study unit planning should be done in cooperation with the programme’s teaching staff. The teacher responsible for an implementation gives their preferences regarding implementation class times, classroom bookings, and other needs. The study unit descriptions are updated and the time and location preferences are entered in the system.

It is important to make sure the intended learning outcomes of the programme and study units are mutually aligned, and also to ensure that the timing of the study units is workable from the student perspective of making smooth progress in studies.

This is the stage where the intended learning outcomes and degree requirements of the programmes are put into their final form. The selection of study units and study modules composed in the previous stage and the listing of significant changes help to ensure that the changes made by other units are noted in the programmes and that the curricula are ready to be brought to the academic staff for decision-making. LES together with the director of degree programme are responsible for putting on the finishing touches.

Implementation of the language guidelines: the teachers responsible indicate the languages of instruction and languages of study attainments when writing their descriptions of the study units and the study unit implementations. The director of degree programme and LES ensure that the languages of instruction are implemented as planned.

Documents produced in this stage

The degree requirements and the final versions of the intended learning outcomes of both the programmes and the minors.
Study unit descriptions
The study unit descriptions, the time and location preferences for teaching, and other information for planning the timetable

Instructions for this stage

Description of stage

The descriptions of study units and study unit implementations are finalised and it is ensured that the descriptions are ready to be given to academic staff for decision-making. The finishing work is supported by Learning Services and carried out by Learning Services together with the responsible teacher.
The finalised version of the curriculum is submitted for approval to the academic committees in accordance with the schedules and processes of the schools and of the other units that produce education.

Curriculum information on the degree programmes, study modules and study units is approved in the academic committees no later than 27 March 2026.

Documents produced in this stage

The approved curriculum: the intended learning outcomes of the programmes and minors, the degree requirements, and the descriptions of the study units and study unit implementations

Description of stage

Learning Services publishes the curricula of the programmes and minors on aalto.fi and the study unit descriptions on after they have been approved by the school academic committee.

From March through May, Learning Services plans the timetables for the next academic year based on the requests of teachers.

Curriculum information on the degree programmes, study modules and study units is published no later than 1 April 2026.

Description of stage

Study unit implementations, i.e. academic timetable information and study unit implementation descriptions are published on 1 June 2026. After that, the responsible teachers inspect the information pertaining to teaching in order that any corrections may be made over the summer well before the next academic year begins.

The selection of lifewide learning studies that are consistent with degree studies is published three times a year.

School level specifications to timetables and further guidelines

Will be updated during March 2025.

ARTS guidelines and instructions

Subject	Information
ARTS guidelinies and instructions	Curriculum Guidelines for Arts, Design and Architecture 2026-2028 ARTS Programme Review guidelines ARTS Programme Review KIDA template Will be amended during spring 2025
ARTS instructions for other Schools about teaching collaboration across Aalto schools	Using the courses of ARTS in programmes in the fields of technology and business and economics: new initiatives are agreed with the programme director and the teacher in charge of the course in question removing courses from the curriculum are announced to the teacher in charge of the course Significant changes in courses in the fields of technology and busienss and economics, that are agreed to be included in the programmes of ARTS: Changes are announced as soon as possible to the programme director / head of major
ARTS responsible roles in curriculum process	Dean's decision
ARTS support	ARTS LES Teacher services arts-les@aalto.fi - Dept. of Architecture les-arch@aalto.fi - Dept. of Design les-design@aalto.fi - Dept. of Art and Media les-dam@aalto.fi - Dept. of Film les-film@aalto.fi Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture support: Päivi Väätänen Pedagogical specialists Linda Mäkinen & Antti Huittinen (Digi peda)

ARTS Curriculum schedule

Will be specified during spring 2025

Schedule / DL	Phase
22.4.2025	Language guidelines implementation plan ready in the departments Admission quotas 2026
15.4.2025 at 12.15-13.30	ARTS EDU Workshop: OPS Kick off PRESENTATION
4-8/2025	Programme and major intended learning outcomes review and study year specific planning (Curriculum mapping) Programme development plans (Programme Review)
7.5.2025	TAITE General studies mandatory courses ready for decision making (material delivered to PC rapporteur)
21.5.2025 at 13.15-14.30	ARTS EDU Workshop: Degree Requirements PRESENTATION
11.6.2025	TAITE General studies mandatory courses decided, scheduled and informed to the departments
9/2025	ARTS EDU Workshop: Course descriptions
10/2025	End of October depending on Programme Committee meetings: Degree requirements ready Programme, major and minor intended learning outcomes Programme, major and minor content description Course portfolio ready (new and discontinued courses) Study module offering ready Minors offered (incl. new and discontinued) Significant changes in majors and minors (language, target groups, scope and level) Programme committee meeting window: 20 Oct - 5 Nov 2025
10.12.2025	Beginning of December Basic information on new courses Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content)
30.1.2026	Course Descriptions ready in Curriculum Planner new courses: teacher writes the description continuing courses: teacher updates the description scheduling: teachers in charge give proposals for scheduling and request for specific equipment in lecture halls model timetable: programme director / head of major draws up model timetable for the programme / major and sends it to LES according to departments practices
2/2026	Programme Directors prepare a summary of Programme Review conclusions, action plans and reflect on how they have been implemented in practice. Head of Department presents the results in Annual Review.
4.3.2026	Programme committee decisions on course descriptions to the Acadmic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture (TSAK)

Matter	Instructions
BIZ instructions for programmes and departments	Instructions for programmes and departments for curriculum design for the academic years 2026-2028
BIZ instructions for other Schools about teaching collaboration across Aalto schools	Using the courses of BIZ in programmes in the fields of technology and art and design: new initiatives are agreed with the head of deaprtment and the teacher in charge of the course in question removing courses from the curriculum are announced to the teacher in charge of the course Significant changes in courses in the fields of technology and art and design, that are agreed to be included in the programmes of BIZ: Changes are announced as soon as possible to the programme director / head of major
Support for the curriculum work in programmes	Pedagogical expert: Maura Ratia (maura.ratia@aalto.fi) Coordination of the curriculum process: Riikka Leikola (riikka.leikola@aalto.fi) Please find the contact information of the planning officer of the programme: /en/programmes#/?school=School%20of%20Business
Dead lines for the School of Business	Sep 19^th, 2025 Programme’s development plans ready Curriculum mapping analyzed and development actions agreed upon In master's programmes including progamme's decision on the scope of the thesis and if the programmes selects the 20 ECTS thesis, contact Riikka.leikola@aalto.fi Programme/department development workshops or meetings scheduled and pedagogical support booked Dec 1^st, 2025 Preliminary degree requirements ready /en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu Course portfolio ready Courses offered (icl. new and discontinued courses) Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content) Study module offering ready Majors and minors offered (incl. new and discontinued) Significant changes in majors and minors (language, target groups, scope and level) Jan 30^th, 2026 Course information and schedule proposals ready in Curriculum planner new courses: teacher writes the description continuing courses: teacher updates the description scheduling: teachers can give proposals for scheduling and request for specific equipment in lecture halls /en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-study-units-and-study-unit-implementations /en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner March 6^th, 2026 Degree requirements ready Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major / specialization and each minor Structure and content of each programme, major / specialization and minor /en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules Summary of development work ready Programme director offers the academic committee a summary of the planning process and development Curriculum map updated

Instructions for compiling curriculum information for programmes at the School of Chemical Engineering (CHEM)
During spring and autumn 2025, discussions will be held in the programmes regarding significant changes to the curricula, majors and minors for the curriculum period 2026–2028.
Agreement on educational collaboration at the School of Chemical Engineering	Decisions regarding the use of CHEM courses in the degree requirements of other schools, programmes and minors are made with the responsible teacher of the course, if not previously agreed upon. Responsible teachers of relevant study modules should be notified Notifications of the removal or significant changes to CHEM courses already in use by other schools should be made as early as possible to the responsible teacher of the respective study module.
Support for curriculum work in programmes	The curriculum work for the programme is led by the programme director. Pedagogical support for curriculum work: Pedagogical expert Jukka Välimäki Digipedagogical expert Suvi Toivonen Coordination of the curriculum work and language guidelines work: Kari Lehti Programme support: planning officers specified below Finnish-language CHEM bachelor's programme: Kari Lehti BSc TECH Chemical Engineering: Kari Lehti Bioproducts Engineering: Taru Korkalainen Biotechnology: Anna Mäkilä Chemistry and Materials Science: Taru Korkalainen Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering: Pekka Tolvanen Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering: Sirje Liukko
Schedule and deadlines for the School of Chemical Engineering	Preliminary degree requirements ready by 15.10.2025 Offering of study modules ready Offered majors and minors (incl. new and removed study modules) Significant changes to study modules (language, target group, scope and level) More information on drafting clear degree requirements By 31.1.2026 Course information ready in the system. New courses: teacher drafts the descriptions Continuing courses: teacher reviews and updates the descriptions Scheduling: teacher can propose a schedule and submit requests for teaching spaces More information on course information Curriculum Planner update instructions 28.2.2026 Degree requirements ready Learning outcomes for programmes, majors and minors Structure and content of programmes, majors and minors More information on programmes and modules Separate instructions will be given regarding timetable requests. March 2026 Deciding on the curricula for the curriculum period 2026-2028 The Degree Programme Committee will review the curricula at the beginning of March. Programmes and LES will produce a concise summary of key changes for decision-making. KTAK will confirm the curricula at the end of March. Curricula for 2026-2028 will be published on 1.4.2026. Timetable information for the academic year 2026-2027 will be published on 1.6.2026.

MATTER	INSTRUCTIONS
ELEC instructions for other Schools about teaching collaboration across Aalto schools	Using the courses of ELEC in programmes of the other schools: new initiatives are agreed with the head of deaprtment and the teacher in charge of the course in question removing courses from the curriculum are announced to the teacher in charge of the course Significant changes in courses of the other schools, that are agreed to be included in the programmes of ELEC: Changes are announced as soon as possible to the programme director / head of major
Support for the curriculum work in programmes	Pedagogical experts: Kirsti Keltikangas (kirsti.keltikangas@aalto.fi) and Marja Elonheimo (marja.elonheimo@aalto.fi) Coordination of the curriculum process: Tuula Noponen (tuula.noponen@aalto.fi) Please find the contact information of the planning officer of the programme: /en/programmes-hub#/?degree=bachelor,master&school=School%20of%20Electrical%20Engineering
Dead lines for the School of Electrical Engineering	Dec 1st, 2025 Study module offering ready Majors and minors offered (icl. new and discontinued) Significant changes in majors and minors (language, target groups, scope and level) Preliminary learning objectives for the programmes ready Preliminary degree requirements ready /en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu Course portfolio ready Courses offered (inc. new and discontinued courses) Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content) Jan 30th, 2026 Course information and schedule proposals ready in Curriculum planner new courses: teacher writes the description continuing courses: teacher updates the description scheduling: teachers can give proposals for scheduling and request for specific equipment in lecture halls /en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-study-units-and-study-unit-implementations /en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner Feb 28th, 2026 Degree requirements ready Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major / specialization and each minor Structure and content of each programme, major / specialization and minor /en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules

MATTER

INSTRUCTIONS

ELEC instructions for other Schools about teaching collaboration across Aalto schools

Using the courses of ELEC in programmes of the other schools:

new initiatives are agreed with the head of deaprtment and the teacher in charge of the course in question
removing courses from the curriculum are announced to the teacher in charge of the course

Significant changes in courses of the other schools, that are agreed to be included in the programmes of ELEC:

Changes are announced as soon as possible to the programme director / head of major

Support for the curriculum work in programmes

Pedagogical experts: Kirsti Keltikangas (kirsti.keltikangas@aalto.fi) and Marja Elonheimo (marja.elonheimo@aalto.fi)

Coordination of the curriculum process: Tuula Noponen (tuula.noponen@aalto.fi)

Please find the contact information of the planning officer of the programme: /en/programmes-hub#/?degree=bachelor,master&school=School%20of%20Electrical%20Engineering

Dead lines for the School of Electrical Engineering

Dec 1st, 2025

Study module offering ready

Majors and minors offered (icl. new and discontinued)
Significant changes in majors and minors (language, target groups, scope and level)

Preliminary learning objectives for the programmes ready

Preliminary degree requirements ready

/en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu

Course portfolio ready

Courses offered (inc. new and discontinued courses)
Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content)

Jan 30th, 2026

Course information and schedule proposals ready in Curriculum planner

new courses: teacher writes the description
continuing courses: teacher updates the description
scheduling: teachers can give proposals for scheduling and request for specific equipment in lecture halls
/en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-study-units-and-study-unit-implementations
/en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner

Feb 28th, 2026

Degree requirements ready

Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major / specialization and each minor
Structure and content of each programme, major / specialization and minor
/en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules

Instructions for compiling curriculum information for programmes at the School of Engineering (ENG)
During the spring and autumn 2025, the programmes discuss significant changes for the curriculum period 2026–2028.
Aalto ENG instructions for other schools and departments about teaching collaboration across Aalto schools	Decisions regarding the use of ENG courses in the degree requirements of other schools, programmes and minors are made with the responsible teacher of the course, unless this has already been agreed earlier. Notifications of the removal or significant changes to ENG courses already in use by other schools should be made as early as possible to the responsible teacher of the respective study module.
Support for curriculum work in programmes	The curriculum work of the programme is led by the Programme Director. Pedagogical support for curriculum work: Pedagogical expert Heidy Tiits-Tikkanen (heidy.tiits-tikkanen@aalto.fi) Digipedagogical expert Karoliina Pakkanen (karoliina.pakkanen@aalto.fi) Programme support: Programme director, planning officer and coordinator (contact information, pdf)
Schedule and deadlines for the School of Engineering	The development plans and working versions of the learning outcomes of the programmes and majors will be brought to the degree programme meetings for discussion during autumn 2025. Preliminary degree requirements ready by 1.12.2025 Course portfolio ready Courses offered (incl. new and discontinued courses) - updated to Significant changes in courses (language of instruction, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, key content) Study module offering ready Majors and minors offered (incl. new and discontinued study modules) Significant changes in study modules (language, target groups, scope and level) Instructions for establishing a new course at the School of Engineering To establish a new course as part of the curriculum process, please follow these steps: Evaluate your course idea by considering the perspectives outlined in the Checklist to support designing a new course at the School of Engineering(pdf). Discuss your plan with the programme director and other key persons in your programme. Resources must also be discussed with the Head of the Department early on. Please agree with the Programme Director who will discuss the plan with the Dean and the Vice Dean for Education. You should agree with them whether your plan still requires a round of discussion, such as in the bachelor's or master’s programme steering group meeting (KOOR / MOOR). Discuss your plan with the Learning Services Planning Officer in charge of your programme's curriculum prepration. Add the new course to the Curriculum Planner tool, following the planning schedule for curriculum 2026-2028. If the new course is established in the middle of the curriculum period, you will receive additional instructions from the Learning Services Planning Officer of your own programme. More information on degree requirements (aalto.fi) Applying the language guidelines to teaching (aalto.fi) Ready by 31.1. 2026 Course information ready in New courses: teacher writes a description Continuing courses: teacher updates the description. Timetables: Teacher can suggest a schedule and give wishes for e.g. equipments in the classrooms. More information on study units (=courses)(aalto.fi) Instructions for Curriculum Planner (aalto.fi) Degree requirements ready Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major and each minor. Structure and content of each programme, major and minor. More information on curriculum of programmes and study modules (aalto.fi) Timetables: Instructions for suggestions for timetables will be given separately. March 2026 Decisions on curricula 2026-2028 Degree programme committees decide curricula in the beginning of March. The programmes produce a summary of the key changes for decision-making. Academic Committee for Engineering (IAK) confirms the curricula in the end of March. Curricula 2026-2028 will be published on 1.4.2026 Course timetable information for the academic year 2026-2027 will be published on 1.6.2026

Item	Instructions
Aalto SCI guidelines for programmes and departments	During spring 2025, programmes discuss significant changes for curriculum period 2026–2028.
Aalto SCI instructions for other departments and schools about teaching collaboration across units	Using courses organized by Aalto SCI in programmes new initiatives are agreed with the vice-head of the department responsible for education the teacher in charge of the course in question. Removing a SCI course from the curriculum: inform the teacher in charge about the removal. Teaching collaboration across schools and units is agreed on as soon as possible. Significant changes in courses in the fields of technology and art and design that are included in the programmes of SCI: The programme director / head of major is informed as soon as possible about these changes.
Support for curriculum work in programmes	Bachelor’s programme in Science and Technology: Information Networks, Enginering Psychology: Susanna Reunanen Engineering Physics and Mathematics: Susanna Ylhävuori Computer Science: Jaakko Autio Industrial Engineering and Management: Tarja Timonen Aalto Bachelor’s Programme in Science and Technology Data Science, Quantum Technology: Jaakko Autio Master's programmes Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences: Anu Kuusela Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics: Susanna Ylhävuori Master’s Programme in ICT Innovation: Riina Kontkanen Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management: Tarja Timonen Master’s Programme in Information Networks: Tarja Timonen Master’s Programme in Life Science Technologies: Päivi Koivunen Master’s Programme in Mathematics and Operations Research: Susanna Ylhävuori Master’s Programme in Security and Cloud Computing: Emma Tuomola Curriculum Planner support for departments: CS courses: Jaakko Autio, Anu Kuusela NBE courses: Päivi Koivunen MS and PHYS courses: Susanna Ylhävuori TU courses: Tarja Timonen Pedagogical support: Miia Forsten (miia.forsten@aalto.fi)
Aalto SCI deadlines	May-August depending on the the meeting schedule of the Degree Programme Committees. Programme development plans and preliminary learning outcomes for the programmes and majors ready Master's programmes: discussion at Degree Programme Committee meetings in August Bachelor's programme: preliminary programme learning outcomes and development plans of majors are discussed on 12 May, 2025. Learning outcomes of the majors are discussed in September. Aalto Bachelor’s Programme in Science and Technology: development plans are discussed in May. If necessary, discussions are continued in September. 28 November 2025 Preliminary degree requirements ready Planning the programmes’ degree requirements includes planning the model schedules. /en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu Minors ready Minors offered (including new and discontinued). Significant changes in minors (language, target groups, scope and level). Course portfolio ready Courses offered (including new and discontinued courses). All new courses are established by 28 November. Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content) Course portfolio includes planning quotas for open university students. Departments’ offerings for life wide learning (e.g. Fitech courses), which will be established in Sisu, are confirmed by the Academic Committee for Science according to the schedule below. 30 January 2026 Course information ready in Curriculum Planner New courses: teacher writes a description. Continuing courses: teacher updates the description. /en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner Timetables: Instructions for suggestions for timetables will be given separately. Degree requirements ready Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major and each minor. Structure and content of each programme, major and minor. /en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules Model schedules of the programmes. After the deadline, SCI LES checks curriculum information and prepares documents for decision making. March 2026 Decisions on curricula Degree programme committees decide curricula in the beginning of March. The programmes produce a summary of the key changes for decision-making. Academic Committee for Science (PAK) confirms the curricula in the end of March.

Curriculum design practices at Aalto University

The goal of curriculum design is a programme that helps students acquire the competence they will need in their field in the future and to acquire it within the target time frame. On this page, you can acquaint yourself with the Aalto University practices, processes, actors and roles involved in curriculum design.

Goals for the curriculum design work

The long-term goal in curriculum development is a research-based and future-oriented curriculum that guides students to graduate within the target time.

Environmental Engineering new flow channel in Otaniemi, with students and teaching staff

Curriculum design glossary

Below you will find definitions of the terms used in these curriculum design instructions.

Curriculum development

The aim of curriculum design is a programme that helps students acquire the competence they will need in their field in the future and to acquire it within the target time frame. In this page, we have described the stages of curriculum development and instructions for each stage. You can find also methods, tools and working templates to support the co-development and carry out each stage.

A group of people collaborate around a table covered with sticky notes and laptops in a modern office.

Curriculum information about programmes and study modules

This page describes what information goes into a programme and study module curriculum.

Curriculum information about study units and study unit implementations

Instructions and descriptions of curriculum information of study units and study unit implementations.

Formulating degree requirements clearly

Clearly formulated degree requirements make planning studies easier. This page contains instructions on how to formulate degree requirements clearly.

How to update course information in the Curriculum Planner

The Curriculum Planner is a tool for the courses’ responsible teachers to update their course information.

Teaching periods

At Aalto University, teaching is divided into five periods. As a rule, one period lasts for 7 weeks and includes an examination week. This page has the dates for the teaching periods in ongoing curriculum period and at the plannig season, also in the next curriculum period.

Learning Services contact persons

Learning Services staff (usually a planning officer or coordinator) support the programmes in designing the programme. Doctoral programmes are supported by the Doctoral education services staff (Research Services). Their contact details are available on the Student Guide. You may contact when necessary the person coordinating curriculum design for your school or unit. Below you can find the contact information for joint service specialists and for the Learning Services coordinators of curriculum design at the schools and units.

Design Methods class smiling faces during group work. Photo: Ayse Pekdiker

Our shared goals in curriculum design are strengthening the status of national languages Finnish and Swedish alongside English, strengthening the employability of international students in Finland and integrating the cross-cutting approaches of sustainability, radical creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset into the programmes.

3.3.2025 News

Students perspective to implementation of Aalto's language guidelines

8.10.2024 News

Updated: 17.6.2025
Published: 23.1.2023

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