“Africans in Russia": Students about the Advantages of Studying, Reasons for Admission and Future Career

Since its creation, the educational program “Population and Development” has enrolled a total of 127 students, coming from 29 different countries and from this number six countries represent the continent of Africa. The African countries are made up of the Republic of Ghana, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Cameroon, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Kenya, and the Republic of the Sudan. Amongst these countries, Ghana has the highest student population share at 62.5%, and next to Ghana is Nigeria at 32.5% of the entire African student population. We talked to African students who study at “Population and Development” to find out where they learned about the educational program, what they like most about studying process and how the knowledge gained at the HSE can help them in the development of academic career.

The number of African students enrolled in this program has steadily increased since 2017. Most African students studying under the “Population and development” program receive financial aid from the Russian government, which covers their tuition fees, and they also obtain a monthly stipend. The prospects of interaction with highly qualified teachers, internships in leading Russian laboratories and a chance to build a successful academic career open up for students.  Each student of the educational program gets the opportunity to develop existing and acquire new theoretical knowledge and applied skills that can be used to solve demographic problems in Africa. 

About Getting to Know the Program

“To be honest, I had no intention of pursuing a master's degree until a program alumnus got in touch with me and raved about the program's excellence and the tremendous job opportunities it offers after graduation. I decided to participate in the program after doing more research since I liked it. I wanted to learn more about how population and development are related because sociology is my background. I believe that my expectations have been somewhat met” - Adeola Oluwatobi Oyewole, 2nd year student 

“One of my university classmates approached me with the suggestion that I apply to HSE University. So, yes! From a friend, I learned about HSE University. My decision to enroll in the program was influenced by my discovery, when browsing the HSE university website, that population and development were closely related to my first degree in country planning.” - Damilola Gift Ogundele, 2nd year student

“I had always wanted to enroll in a master's degree program, and when the time arrived, after spending a very lengthy month browsing the internet, I accidentally discovered HSE University. The university had numerous programs taught in English, so I found out more about them and applied. My background was the only thing that drove me to sign up for the “Population and Development” program. They offered several fascinating classes that, in my opinion, were relevant to what I want to do in the future. As I couldn't have obtained anything better from other universities than what HSE is giving me, I believe that picking HSE university and “Population and Development” was the perfect decision.” - Mary Oluwatosin Lawal, 2nd year student. 
 

"Population and Development" Graduates

About the Most Interesting Moments in Studying

“First of all, I like diverse curriculum and the diverse range of topics covered in the program, which allows me to explore new areas of study and gain a broader perspective on my field of interest. Secondly, access to resources. There are ample resources that support our learning, such as libraries, online databases, and academic support services. Thirdly, interactive learning environment. The program fosters an interactive and collaborative learning environment that encourages students to participate actively in class discussions and group activities. This helps to build my communication and teamwork skills while also deepening my understanding of the course material.” - Abubakar Gariba Ismaila, 1st year student

“First and foremost, I enjoy the challenging classes, and each challenging class represents a quantum leap for me. I also appreciate the program's professors' commitment to helping their students at any time. I like how we get to see the local perspectives on some population and development issues.” - Gideon Kwesi Tsikudo, 1st year student

“I like the easy administrative processes, as well as the students are able to give feedback on the quality of lectures being held by the lecturers. I also like that there is the option of hybrid classes full of discussions.” - Susan Amarachi Adiele, 1st year student

“The fact that most of our lectures has been held online this module has help reduce the stress of moving to and fro in this bad weather. I also like the factor that the school try to engage the student's in other extra curricula activities that help them gain other knowledge aside those obtain from the classroom. The flexible nature of the exams system is also worth recommending.” - Waki Magrambe, 1st year student

About the Role of HSE in the Professional Future

“Soft skills learned at university such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving will help boost my confidence for success. The knowledge and experience from HSE will help me in my career and in life in general. Besides, research has shown that higher confidence results in greater career advancement.” - Gideon Kwesi Tsikudo, first-year student

“I looked forward to gaining substantial knowledge, widening my horizon and developing important skills. From my personal assessment, I could tell that indeed my expectations have been met and I believe that I may end up exceeding my expectations.” - Abubakar Gariba Ismaila, first-year student

Application process for International Students are open.  More info