The close collaboration between the scientific, business and arts communities is intended to foster multi-disciplinary education and research.

In addition to the Greater Helsinki area, the university also operates its Bachelor's Programme in International Business in Mikkeli and the Metsähovi Radio Observatory in Kirkkonummi.

In 2004, a workgroup led by Anne Brunila of the Finnish Ministry of Finance concluded that Finland had too many universities and other institutes of tertiary education which should be consolidated.

On 29 May 2008 the government announced that the new university would be named after the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in honor of his achievements in technology, economics and art.

In 1966, the University of Technology moved from Hietalahti in downtown Helsinki to its current Otaniemi campus, designed by Alvar Aalto.

During the rectorship of Yrjö Sotamaa the university was active in integrating design into Finnish innovation networks.

The board decides on the foundation's strategy, operation and financial issues, is responsible for any far-reaching plans and appoints the university president and vice rectors.

(Tech), Bachelor of Science in Technology), in Finnish tekniikan kandidaatti or TkK, before the DI or architect's degree.

Undergraduate studies are generally quite similar in between different programs with a considerable part being taken by a tuition of a solid base in mathematics and physics.

For example, the mean sum of mathematics and physics DIA exam scores was 7.2 in the year 2010, whereas the mean minimum sum of mathematics and physics exam scores for gaining admission to an Aalto program was 17.1–20.1, depending on the priority point distribution.

Aalto University has defined four fundamental competence areas: ICT and digitalisation, Materials and sustainable use of natural resources, Global business dynamics and Art and design knowledge building.

In addition to these, the university invests in three integrative multidisciplinary themes: Advanced energy solutions, Health and wellbeing, and Human-centred living environments.

[26] Researchers at Aalto University have achieved notability in, among other things, low temperature physics (holding the current world record for the lowest temperature achieved), the development of devices and methods for magnetoencephalography, mobile communications, wood processing, and neural networks, with professor Teuvo Kohonen initiating research in self-organizing maps.

Since 2019, all of the Aalto University schools have been primarily located in Otaniemi, Espoo, roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the center of Helsinki.

Several high-tech companies, the Finnish forest industry's joint experimental laboratory KCL, and business incubators Innopoli and Technopolis are also situated nearby.

It is also directly adjacent to Keilaniemi, with the Life Science Center and the headquarters of several notable Finnish companies, such as Kone and Fortum.

There are over one hundred student organizations on campus, which provide a range of opportunities to take part in pastimes of various kinds, from sports to music.

Aalto University retains ownership of the former campus of the School of Business, located in Töölö, Helsinki.

[citation needed] The students of technology (teekkarit) are especially noticeable, as they wear a distinctive hat with a tuft on many occasions (both formal and informal).

Their most widely publicised stunt took place in 1961, when a team of students smuggled a statue of Paavo Nurmi onto the 300-year-old wreck of Regalskeppet Vasa just days before its lifting from the bottom of the sea.

[54] Although student traditions vary in between the different constituent schools common activities started to burgeon early after the foundation of Aalto University.

[55] The event was such a success that the follow-up Aalto on waves is planned to arrange a trip by boat to South America.

It aims to encourage high-tech, high-growth, scalable entrepreneurship by arranging get-togethers to spark ideas and innovations and aid start-up initiatives among the Aalto students.

For the graduating students, the exhibition was an opportunity to interact with society, future employers, the media and other influential parties.

Aalto Festival consisted of a varying program with exhibitions, seminars, discussions, films, workshops and guided tours.

[60] Construction of the Otaniemi campus was started in 1950, in order for the first buildings to host the athletes of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

In 1993, the building was permanently rented to the university to act as a conference and continuing education center and later sold due to high maintenance costs.

All three constituent schools have played an integral part in educating many of the top names in their respective fields in Finland.

After the Second World War Finland's economy grew and Finnish companies became players in the international markets requiring highly educated expertise and leadership.

During the latter part of the 20th century the schools had to increase their student intake considerably to meet the demands of growing markets.