Visual Communication Design, Master of Arts (Art and Design)
Espoo, Finland
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 20,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee only; EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not pay
Key Summary
About: The Visual Communication Design major at Aalto University trains students in practice-based research and studio work across information design, visual narratives, typography and data visualization. Students craft personalised paths with electives and cross-disciplinary study. The typical duration is 2 years full-time (120 ECTS). Tuition for non-EU/EEA students is €20,000 per year; limited tuition-waiver scholarships are available for top applicants.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work as creative director, graphic designer, design consultant, information designer, data visualizer, visual artist, content creator or teacher/lecturer. The programme links industry and research partners and prepares students for roles in editorial design, branding and visual storytelling.
The Visual Communication Design (VCD) major invites students to develop and redefine their design practice within wider societal and environmental frameworks. The programme emphasises practice-based research and combines theory with hands-on studio work. Students explore competence areas such as information design, visual narratives, and typography/written language, and are encouraged to shape personalised study paths through elective courses and collaborations across Aalto University.
Duration and credits
- Typical duration: 2 years, full-time
- Credits: 120 ECTS
Teaching & structure
- Year 1: reflection on individual work, building a reference framework, culminating in a studio project driven by the student’s interests (e.g., typeface, publication, animation, data visualisation, information design).
- Year 2: elective studies and the majority of time devoted to the master’s thesis, which can be a practical design project or analytical research demonstrating advanced skills and theoretical knowledge.
Tuition & scholarships
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens: €20,000 per academic year (Master’s studies). EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not pay tuition fees.
- Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships (tuition fee waivers) for fee-paying students; waivers are awarded to top applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria.
Admissions & selection
- Selection comprises two phases: Phase I (portfolio, preliminary assignment, designer statement, CV, and other competencies) and Phase II (interview for shortlisted applicants). Detailed, study-option-specific evaluation criteria and document instructions are provided on the programme page.
Organising school & research
- Organising school: School of Arts, Design and Architecture (Aalto ARTS).
- Research focus areas include Aalto Visual Communication Design (AVCD) and Information Design; the programme connects students with active research projects and industry/public partners.
As a graduate of the Visual Communication Design major, you will be prepared to work as a design professional in a variety of roles and contexts. Typical career paths listed on the programme page include:
- Creative Director
- Graphic Designer
- Art Director
- Teacher or lecturer
- Design Consultant
- Design Researcher
- Data Journalist
- Information Designer
- Data Visualiser
- Visual Artist
- Content Creator
Aalto University offers a limited number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers for fee-paying (non-EU/EEA) students. Scholarships are competitive and awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme’s evaluation criteria.
The programme is structured across two years (120 ECTS):
- Year 1: Focus on reflecting on and developing individual practice, building a framework of references, and producing a studio project driven by personal interests.
- Year 2: Focus on elective studies and the master’s thesis (the majority of the second year is devoted to the thesis). The thesis may be a practical design project or analytical research, allowing students to position their practice within a specific domain.