Laurea Master School: Degree Programmes Responding to Changing Working Life Attract Applicants

Laurea was the most appealing university of applied sciences in Finland across all master’s degree programmes in the autumn joint application round. The attractiveness increased by as much as 30% compared to the previous year, and three of Laurea’s master’s programmes ranked among the ten most popular master’s programmes offered by universities of applied sciences in Finland.

The master’s programmes offered by Laurea Master School are continuously developed to meet the evolving needs of working life and future competence requirements. Students can tailor their studies to support their individual career goals.

“In addition to gaining strong expertise in their own field, students develop the capabilities needed to renew working life and help build the future across sector boundaries”, says Director of Education Jani Merikivi.

In line with Laurea’s Learning by Developing approach, the programmes are closely connected to working life. Students apply their learning to real development challenges throughout their studies.

Changes in working life as the starting point for reformed curricula

The programmes beginning in 2027 will be delivered according to reformed curricula.

“Changes in working life have been a key driver behind the renewal”, Merikivi explains.

“Digitalisation and artificial intelligence, sustainability challenges, uncertainty in operating environments, and organisations’ need to adapt and transform are rapidly changing the skills and capabilities expected of future professionals and leaders.”

The curriculum reform has placed particular emphasis on strengthening future-oriented thinking, the effective use of information, change and development expertise, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to operate in complex environments.

“In the new structure, core competence studies are combined with shared research and development competencies and a broad range of complementary studies,” he says.

According to Merikivi, the development process drew on student feedback, graduate career tracking results and applicant data. In addition to students, alumni, working life representatives, RDI specialists and teaching staff all contributed to the reform.

New programme focusing on brand management proves popular among applicants

The programme focusing on brand management was among Laurea’s most attractive programmes and gained strong interest from applicants in its very first joint application round this autumn.

Launching in spring 2027, the programme has been developed in close collaboration with industry professionals and is based on needs identified in working life. The degree equips students for specialist and leadership roles in which brands are developed as part of strategic management, business renewal and value creation.

“There are many professionals in Finland who recognise the importance of brand management and whose career aspirations this programme supports,” says Ari-Matti Erjansola, lecturer in charge of the programme.

According to Erjansola, Finland has traditionally been an industry-driven country where investment in marketing has been lower than in many competitor nations. However, the importance of intangible assets has grown significantly, and the strategic role of brands is increasingly being recognised.

“Brand Management master’s programmes are already well established internationally and are offered in countries such as the United States, Spain, Italy and Germany. It was high time for Finland to have a degree programme in this field as well. The timing was right,” Erjansola states.

He believes that the popularity of the programme focusing on brand management will continue to grow in the coming years.