Content and Structure

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About The Triple Degree Program

The EMC is a two-year triple degree program provided by Aalto University, RWTH Aachen University and MU Leoben. Students will be enrolled at all three universities during their studies. They study one semester at each partner university and move from university to university as a group. The EMC starts in September in Helsinki at Aalto University (Finland) with a focus on deposit characterization. Interesting courses cover geology, rock mechanics, economics, processing and recycling and are accompanied by an excursion to Northern Finland. After a 3-month break, during which students have the opportunity to do an internship in a company (e.g. one of FEMP's partners), students move to RWTH Aachen University (Germany) to learn about deposit sustainability. The third semester starts in October at the Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria) and covers aspects of deposit development and in-depth courses on mining. In the final semester, students develop their master's thesis project, which may be carried out in cooperation with a company. Upon completion, students receive a Master's degree from each university.

Semester 1

Start

September to December

University

Aalto University, Finland on Campus

Aalto covers aspects around deposit characterisation, focusing on economic geology and mineral economics, materials processing and synthesis and rock mechanics.

Economic Geology and Mineral Economics (5 ECTS)

Rock Mechanics (5 ECTS)

Field Experience and Project in Hard Rock Mining (2 ECTS)

Fundamentals of Minerals Engineering and Recycling (5 ECTS)

Fundamentals of Pyrometallurgy (5 ECTS)

Fundamentals of Hydrometallurgy (5 ECTS)

Project Communication (3 ECTS)

ECTS: 30

Semester 2

Start

April to September 

University

RWTH Aachen, Germany on Campus

RTWH Aachen offers courses connected to deposit sustainability. Courses address mine wastes, feasibility studies and mining and modelling.

Reserve Modelling and Estimation (5 ECTS)

Mine Ventilation (5 ECTS)

Mine Design and Simulation (5 ECTS)

Case Study: Mining Projects (5 ECTS)

Feasibility Studies of Mining Projects (5 ECTS)

Mine Waste (5 ECTS)

Excursion

ECTS: 30

Semester 3

Start

October 2025 to January 

University

Leoben, Austria on Campus

MU Leoben provides courses with a focus on deposit development, including underground mining, deposit modelling, and occupational safety.

Continuous Mining Methods and Conveying Technologies (3)

Open Pit Mining (4 ECTS)

Underground Mining (4 ECTS)

Sustainable Development (6 ECTS)

Occupational and Process Safety (3 ECTS)

Elective Studies (4 ECTS)

Mineral Economics (3 ECTS)

ECTS: 30

Semester 4

Start

February to August 

University

Industry Partner or university

The thesis semester consists of a 6-month, 30 ECTS full-time thesis.
The thesis can be done with industry partners or at research facilities within the universities.

ECTS: 30

Excursions

During the EMC program, you will be invited to participate in EMC excursions to mine sites, equipment manufacturers and processing plants to gain a deeper insight into the industry.

  • Leoben: You will visit the Erzberg open pit mine and the Breitenau and Mittersill underground mines.
  • Aachen: Offers trips to equipment manufacturers in the Ruhr area, quarries, salt mines and lignite mines.
  • Helsinki: A week-long excursion to northern Finland and/ or Sweden to visit open pit and underground mines and equipment or technology manufacturers will be organized for you.

These excursions are also a great way to build your network within the industry and form strong relationships with your cohort.

Our Partner Universities

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Aalto-University-LogoJPG
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Aalto-University-LogoJPG

Aalto University is a multidisciplinary research university created in 2010 from the merger of three leading universities in Finland (Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics and University of Art and Design Helsinki). The main campus of Aalto University is located in Otaniemi, Espoo, which is a neighbouring city to the capital Helsinki.

At Aalto, there are about 20 000 degree seeking students. The students are supported by approximately 5000 staff members of which 380 are professors.
 

RWTH_Logo_3.svg

Germany’s largest technical university and one of the most renowned in Europe. More than 560 professors and roughly 10,270 research and support staff are responsible for the education and research training of 47,000 undergraduate and graduate students, among which 14,160 are international students.

Teaching and research are characterised by an international, innovative and interdisciplinary approach and close links to industry​.
 

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Montanuniversität Leoben researches and teaches for a better tomorrow. With us, innovative ideas become sustainable reality. Our actions are aligned with five core values that guide and affect everything we do: energy efficiency, climate neutrality, sustainability, zero waste, and circular design.

Our university stands for top-notch student education in all bachelor's and master's programmes, and for excellence in research and science in our three areas of competence - advanced resources, smart materials and sustainable processing.

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