Studies

Studies in the master's degree programme in Machine Automation will provide students with the following competencies:

• to apply the knowledge acquired during advanced studies and a scientific approach to topical and concrete tasks

• to operate in different expert, development and management positions in working life
• to participate in societal debate pertaining to technology 
• to use English language, communication and cooperation skills in working life
• to apply their skills to scientific activities and societal debate in their field 

After completing the programme and achieving the defined learning outcomes, students will be eligible to pursue a PhD / Doctoral degree and continuous learning.

The structure of the programme

The total extent of the programme is 120 credit points, of which 90 credits is composed course work and 30 credits of the final project i.e. Master's Thesis. If thinking about a work load, each credit represents the average workload of 27 hours including lectures, exercises, assingments, home work and an examination. The programme consists the following study modules:

Common studies 20cr

The common studies aim at giving students a common ground for pursuing the studies and orienting them towards the major and minor modules that concentrate on more professional skills. Common studies consist of, for example, an introduction to control systems, robotics and automation and also the basics of Finnish language and the essential oral skills to participate in scientific debate.

Major studies / focus area 35cr

Major studies refer to the focus area that students choose when they apply for admission to the programme. Students are expected to commit to their major subject and it is not possible to change the major subject during the studies.The master's thesis is on a topic connected to the major.

Minor studies 25cr

Minor studies complement the major studies and offer students a well-rounded, holistic view of the selected focus area. 

Optional studies 10cr

Students may freely choose these studies from the overall curriculum.

Master's thesis 30cr

An independent scientific work written on a topic connected to the major studies.

Language

The official language of the programme is English, meaning that all the courses, exams and student services are arranged in English. Consequently, proficiency in both written and spoken English is an absolute prerequisite.  International students are required to submit an approved certificate of their language proficiency when applying for admission. See further details in the Requirements section. 

However, the course titled Finnish for Beginners (3cr) is compulsory during the common programme studies. It provides good basic knowledge of Finnish for everyday use and a brief introduction to Finnish culture.