Master’s Degree Programme in Futures Studies
Turku, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
22 Jan 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries €10,000/academic year
Introduction
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Will you be the next expert of the future?
The Master's Degree Programme in Futures Studies provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary and practical education in the field of futures studies. It is designed to educate foresight experts who help organisations to harness future opportunities and avoid unnecessary risks.
Futures studies is a newly emerging field of research. As the future does not exist yet, futurists study the future projections of and discontinuities in past trends and current views of the long-term future. Researchers in futures studies are interested in the probable futures, possible futures and preferred futures. As a societal action, futures studies aim to serve private and public decision-makers by outlining alternative long-term strategies in a changing operational environment. As an academic field of research, futures studies generate knowledge of the ways and processes of how individuals and organisations deal with the uncertain future.
Typical research questions in the field are focused on the epistemology of knowledge about the future, the methodological development of futures studies tools and analyses of alternative futures of a clear topic or a more general theme. Futures Studies is an interdisciplinary field, where wide topics are analysed and the results and approaches of more traditional disciplines meet.
The programme includes plenty of case studies and real-life experiences on using foresight methodology. They range from quantitative and qualitative methods to innovative and creative futures design techniques.
Here you will get a versatile toolkit for implementing foresight thinking for the benefit of a given organisation. You will qualify to a wide array of expert positions in the strategic and foresight units of private companies and public institutions. The programme also serves as an excellent basis for building a consultant business.
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Academic Excellence & Experience
The program is offered by the Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku. TSE has earned AACSB Accreditation (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the highest standard of excellence in business education worldwide. We have been accredited since 2019 and are committed to continually improve the quality of education we offer.
The two-year Programme is run by the Finland Futures Research Centre, which is the world’s premier hotspot of future-minded scholars. The Centre is specialised in futures studies and foresight and seeks to accomplish the ultimate goal of a responsible and sustainable future. The Centre researches alternative futures and the challenges and possibilities included in them. Academic research places special emphasis on:
- Foresight and futures research methodology
- Environmental and energy research
- Socio-cultural research
- Food and consumption
- Security
- Education
The Finland Futures Research Centre develops the scientific foundations and methods of futures studies. The Master’s Degree Programme utilises the resources, connections and personnel of the Centre to provide students with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and practical education in the field of futures studies.
The Master’s Degree Programme in Futures Studies is designed to educate futures experts. You will gain the theoretical and academic knowledge required for starting PhD studies as well as practical competencies for working in challenging positions in companies or the public sector.
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Admissions
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The extent of the programme is 120 ECTS, and the degree is designed to be completed in two years. Futures Studies as a major subject includes compulsory and optional courses that build the expertise of the student in, for example, futures studies methodology, strategic foresight and scenario building.
You will be free to choose a minor subject and/or optional studies within UTU that complements your career goals. Optional studies can include courses in futures studies, but can also widen your knowledge in new subjects or thematic areas. All students are expected to study languages (Finnish as well as English) and general methodological studies.
Master's Thesis & Topics
The thesis is a scientific research report comprised of both a theoretical section and empirical applications. The aim of the process is:
- to provide you with the tools to locate and critically evaluate scientific information,
- to train independent problem solving for demanding research questions,
- to train presentation and argumentation skills, both oral and written, and
- to attain expertise in the practices of researching, utilising and developing alternative and possible futures in the chosen field.
Examples of master’s thesis topics in futures studies:
- Images of the future of privacy: A privacy dynamics framework and a causal layered analysis of ideal types.
- The future of branded sportswear store formats in Germany 2030: Four images of the future.
- Futures of citizens’ political participation in Russia: scenarios for years 2014–2025
- Sustainable Development – the Key to Competitiveness CSR as an added value to Alstom’s corporate performance
- Futures of Finnish food system by 2050. The perspective of resilience
Program Outcome
Competence Description
As a student in the Programme, you will learn:
- To understand, compare and evaluate different futures studies cases and methods in relation to each other.
- To explore ethical questions in decision-making processes and learn how to incorporate sustainability goals to futures studies.
- How to design and manage demanding projects independently and apply the various methods of futures studies and judge the meaning and consequences of your methodological choices.
- To communicate the results of your projects and studies in a larger context.
- To express yourself clearly with the correct scientific terminology and achieve a significant understanding of your field of research.
Scholarships and Funding
The University of Turku supports merited and motivated students with generous scholarships. The university offers these scholarships to students pursuing Master's level studies who are subject to tuition fees.
Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, and you can apply for a scholarship by simply answering “yes” to the corresponding question in the online application form when you apply for the programme.
One type of scholarship covers whole tuition fees for two years for Master’s degree programmes. In addition to that, there is a scholarship for the best applicants that covers tuition fees and includes an additional grant of €5,000.
Approximately 30 % of the admitted students are awarded a scholarship by the University of Turku.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Job Options
When you graduate from the Master’s Degree Programme in Futures Studies, you will qualify for a wide array of expert positions in the strategic units of private companies and public institutions.
The Programme builds upon and enhances the knowledge attained by the students in their previous degrees and other experiences. Therefore, your career options are also strongly linked to your background. Possible job positions are:
Possible job titles are:
- Strategic planning executive
- Consultant
- Futures analyst
- Business development manager
- Development and planning officer in public administration
Career in Research
The Master of Social Sciences degree also provides you with eligibility for scientific postgraduate degree studies – doctoral and licentiate degrees. Degrees can be completed at the University of Turku, or you may choose to apply to any other university in Finland or abroad.
At the University of Turku, you can apply for a position at the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS). The Graduate School consists of doctoral programmes that cover all disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.
Together with the doctoral programmes, the Graduate School provides systematic and high-quality doctoral training. UTUGS aims to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional careers in research and other positions of expertise.
Student Testimonials
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.