Aalto University Summer School
Learn how to create immersive experiences that cross the digital and physical space with multidisciplinary teams of international students.
Participate in this unique summer course offered by Aalto Ventures Program and Flow Festival. Come together with participants from around the world to create multidimensional experiences. During three weeks of magical Finnish summer, you will go from an idea to a prototype, learn by doing, get to know and understand the globally renowned startup culture in Helsinki and visit one of Europe’s most prestigious music and arts festivals, Flow Festival.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Check out the 2018 summer school
Useful links
Program details
A variety of courses in arts, business, and technology are offered. Some courses are at the Master's level, however, 4th-year undergraduate students (and possibly 3rd-year) may be able to attend as well.
Students must take 6 ECTS credits in order to transfer back 1 half-course (3 units) to UCalgary.
Students can combine courses to make a total of 6 or more ECTS, as long as they are not offered at the same time. If students take less than 6 ECTS credits at Aalto's Summer School, it may be possible to combine it with courses taken at Aalto's regular semester exchange in order to still receive credit. Please contact the UCalgary Study Abroad advisor to inquire about this.
Courses have varying start dates, most courses are offered in July and August. Please see the course page to find the dates for your desired course. It is allowed to take multiple courses in the same or different teaching blocks, as long as there are no scheduled conflicts between class times.
-
Costs
Students are charged tuition for 1 course and fees at UCalgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. UCalgary students on exchange only pay for accommodation, transportation, and meals (no tuition would apply at the partner university).
While Finland may be expensive compared to Canada, it is much cheaper to go as a student! Costs for student accommodation and on-campus food are made very affordable with your student card and are typically cheaper than in Canada, and unique costs savings for students also help to make this an affordable and great place to study. Some examples:
- Lunch on campus typically costs less than 3 euros for a full meal of well-balanced, healthy fare.
- 50% discount on all public transport (both local and for long-distance travel). The monthly ticket for Espoo is about 30€, and for both Helsinki & Espoo, about 55€.
- Helsinki cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here
-
Funding
Did you know that you can take your University of Calgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree seeking student at the UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Various accommodation options are normally available such as shared apartments, private dorms, etc. Students can also arrange independent housing. More information about this will be available in the winter prior to the summer school.
The summer school courses are taught at Aalto's campus in Espoo (about 10 minutes metro from Helsinki's city centre); housing can be found in Espoo or other districts in Helsinki.
This program is open to regular, full-time students at the University of Calgary, who have completed at least 10 courses with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
About Flow Festival
Flow, the truly urban boutique city festival has been organised in Helsinki annually since 2004. The festival was born out of the founders’ passion for culture. In 15 years, Flow Festival has grown from a small club event to the trailblazing European music and arts festival it is today.
While the scale and breadth of Flow has changed throughout the years – more artists, more people, more everything – the founders’ original vision still stands every year: to create a festival they genuinely want to attend themselves.
Flow Festival is a carefully curated, high-quality festival with an innovative and content driven program that is an inspired mixture of popular culture and experimental arts. With a broad music and arts program, hand-picked food and restaurant services, thoughtfully designed and decorated festival area and an extensive sustainability program Flow has put a new benchmark on the European festival scene.
In 2018, the three-day sold out festival drew a crowd of 84 000 visitors into the monumental former power plant area in the Suvilahti district of Helsinki.
Social activities in summer school.
Read about other FAQ on Aalto's summer program.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Flavien Niederst
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.