Program Overview

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European Mining Course, Master of Science (Technology)

The European Mining Course (EMC) is a two-year full-time Master's program that aims to train experts with a wide range of skills and abilities to meet the ongoing demand for metals and minerals. The program is organized in international cooperation between three of Europe's leading universities in mining and resource engineering: Aalto University, Technical University of Leoben, and RWTH Aachen University.

Degree

• Master of Science (Technology)

Application Period

• 8 January 2026 – 27 February 2026

Language of Instruction

• English

Duration

• 2 years, full-time

Eligibility

• Relevant Bachelor's degree

Field of Study

• Technology and Engineering

Credits

• 120 ECTS

Organizing School

• School of Engineering

Description

The safe, environmentally sustainable, and cost-efficient supply of raw materials is essential for a prosperous global society. This industrial sector must meet the challenges today and in the future with the help of research and development. As the minerals industry grows, the need also grows for new personnel with expertise in mining and the processing and recycling of minerals.

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction of the program is English.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

• The EMC program fee is 17,000 euros per academic year.
• Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland do not pay the program fee.
• The program offers a small number of scholarships in the form of partial tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students.

Structure of Studies

The European Mining Course is a two-year full-time Master's program leading to a triple degree. The program is built on the strengths and complementary areas of expertise of the partner universities in earth science studies and research. During the two-year EMC Master's program, students study together at all three universities, one semester (30 ECTS) at each. The final semester is reserved for the Master's thesis, which can be completed at any of the three universities or in the industry, but under the supervision of all three universities.

Specializations

This Master's program is a study package that all students complete together. The Master's thesis includes a possibility of industrial placement and offers a great opportunity to specialize in a chosen topic within the field.

Internationalization

Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad each year. The European Mining Course targets students both from the partner universities and from all over the world. It is an international joint degree program with integrated, mandatory geographical mobility.

Further Study Opportunities

Graduates of the program are awarded a Master of Science (Technology) degree by Aalto University, which grants them a great foundation for doctoral-level studies at Aalto University or internationally.

Career Opportunities

Given the worldwide demand for professionals in mining and minerals engineering and management, graduates of EMC have promising career opportunities. Graduates are employed in industry, government organizations, and research institutions.

Research Focus

The EMC students get to work among the leading experts in the field, such as:

• Aalto University: Prof. Mikael Rinne (School of Engineering) and Prof. Rodrigo Serna (School of Chemical Engineering)
• RWTH Aachen: Prof. Bernd Lottermoser
• Montanuniversität Leoben: Prof. Nikolaus Sifferlinger

Co-operation with Other Parties

The European Mining Course has a long history that dates back to 1996 and has evolved over the years. Throughout the years, the program has remained a tight collaboration of the partner universities with strong support from the industry.

Admission 2026

The admission to the European Mining Course is organized once a year. The application period for studies beginning in the autumn of 2026 runs from 8 January to 27 February 2026.

Admission Timeline

• 8 January 2026: Application period starts
• 27 February 2026: Application period ends
• 6 March 2026: Deadline for application documents
• 17 April 2026: Admissions results are published
• 4 May 2026: Deadline for accepting the offer of admission
• 11 June 2026: Re-allocation of EMC scholarships ends
• 31 July 2026: Deadline to graduate for applicants who applied with an incomplete degree
• 14 August 2026: Deadline for certified, physical copies of application documents
• 24 August 2026: Studies begin

Who Can Apply

European Mining Course welcomes applicants from the partner universities as well as globally. All applications must be complete and fulfill the general eligibility criteria to pass to the EMC selection committee for academic evaluation.

General Eligibility

You are eligible to apply in Master's admissions if you have a Bachelor's degree. The Bachelor's degree must:

1. Be equivalent to 180 ECTS credits or three years of full-time study
2. Give eligibility to apply for Master's degree studies at a university in the awarding country
3. Be awarded by a higher education institution recognized as part of the official national education system of the country, accredited as a degree-granting higher education institution by the country where it is located, or by a relevant international organization (such as UNESCO)

How to Apply

The application consists of an application form, a set of required application documents, and additional, EMC-specific application documents. Fill in the online application form in the Studyinfo.fi system during the application period.

Instructions for Application Documents

Carefully scan the original documents in color and save the files in PDF format. Scan the documents in the correct orientation so that a horizontal document is displayed horizontally, and a vertical document is displayed vertically.

Language Requirements

The language of instruction in EMC is English. You must demonstrate your proficiency in English with an accepted proof of language proficiency.

Accepted Language Tests

• IELTS Academic
• TOEFL
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A)
• Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency
• National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI (English) by the Finnish National Agency for Education

Scholarships and Fees

European Mining Course has a joint program fee. The fee is 17,000 euros per academic year. The fee does not apply to citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.

Student Union Fees

• AALTO: The student union fee must be paid for all four semesters when you are enrolled in the program.
• RWTH: No student union fees.
• TUL: The student union fee must be paid for all four semesters when you are enrolled in the program.

Programme Fee

The program fee covers educational expenses such as courses, academic supervision, exams, and study counseling, as well as university support services.

EMC Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students

European Mining Course offers a small number of scholarships to fee-paying non-EU/EEA students in the form of partial program fee waivers.

Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarships

• AALTO: As Aalto is the first institution for all students, no mobility scholarships can be applied for the first semester.
• RWTH: During your studies, you will receive instructions to apply for a mobility scholarship for your second semester at RWTH Aachen.
• TUL: During your studies, you will receive instructions to apply for a mobility scholarship for your third semester at TUL.

FEMP Scholarships

Federation of European Mining Programmes (FEMP) supports EMC students with scholarships, helps with industrial connections, and gathers together the hundreds of EMC alumni.

Evaluation Criteria

Only the applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria for Master's studies and who have submitted all the obligatory application documents are evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria.

Relevance of Previous Studies

What we look for in an applicant: A high-quality Bachelor's degree in Engineering or in Sciences such as in Geosciences, in Mining Engineering, in Resource Engineering, in Civil Engineering, in Geology in Earth Sciences, in Environmental Engineering, in Chemical Engineering, in Metallurgical Engineering, or in Process Engineering.

Recognition and Quality of Institution

What we look for in an applicant: The applicant's previous degree will be evaluated based on the international reputation and academic quality of the university and the program.

Academic Performance

What we look for in an applicant: Academic performance will be evaluated on the basis of the Grade Point Average (GPA) and results in key courses.

Suitability

What we look for in an applicant: The applicant should be motivated to study in EMC and committed to full-time studies with a plan to complete the Master's degree in two years.

Other Areas of Competence

What we look for in an applicant: Applicants will benefit from experience in work where the Master's degree would be necessary, participation in scientific research leading to publications, special achievements in one's previous career or as an entrepreneur, prizes in competitions, or published writings.

Admission Results

The admissions results will be published on 17 April 2026. The applicants will receive an email notification once the results are published.

Applicant FAQ

We have collected some frequently asked questions by our applicants below.

Preparing Your Application

• Can I use education consultants to apply to EMC?
• Do you need to contact a supervisor before applying to the EMC program?

Who Can Apply

• Is there any age limitation?
• I am currently in the final year of my Bachelor's degree and am expected to graduate in June.

Application Documents and Technical Requirements

• How strict are the minimum scores for language tests?
• Do I need to proof English proficiency if I did my undergraduate in English?

Evaluation of Applicants

• On the basis of what applicants will be evaluated?
• How much GRE score is matter?

Internships and Working During Studies

• Is the internship paid or unpaid?
• And who will provide accommodation and food during the internship?

Scholarships and Fees

• What are the total fees for the program, for example for an Indian student?
• What are the funding options for our stay and study EMC?

Housing for EMC Students

• Does EMC provide assistance regarding accommodation?

Mobility and Visas

• Do we have to get a residence permit from the three countries or just Finland?