2023 Admissions Now Open
The 2023 Admissions Campaign has started at HSE University. The range of available courses includes 89 bachelor’s and 182 master’s programmes across the university’s campuses in Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Perm. Among them are 13 English-taught bachelor’s programmes and 40 English-taught master’s programmes in such fields as architecture, Asian studies, IT, arts, history, mathematics, politics, psychology, economics, management, physics, chemistry, biology, law, literature and many others.
HSE University consistently places highly in various international academic rankings, and students from more than 100 countries study here. Below, three international students share their impressions of studying and living in Russia and explain why they chose HSE University.
Abdul Jalilu
My name is Abdul Jalilu and I am a second-year master’s student from Ghana. I enrolled in a preparatory programme at HSE University in the 2020/2021 academic year and later fully enrolled in the Master’s programme in Strategic Corporate Finance. I got to know about HSE University through my brother, who enrolled here some time ago.
I think HSE University is one of the best in Russia. I have gained a lot of knowledge, skills, connections, and experience here.
The university has world-renowned professors who are capable of making students achieve their academic dreams
Studying here also gave me an opportunity to work with people from other faculties. I had the opportunity to work with Oxana Budjko, Head of the HSE International Office, and Ella Khromova, Investment Director at Prima Capital in Moscow. And the HSE dormitory administrators have been so helpful to me in my dormitory.
My main challenge as a student here is how difficult some courses are. Microeconomics and Advanced Econometrics were very difficult for me and other students, I think because some of us did not do these courses during our bachelor’s studies.
I think the general perception of Ghanaians about Russia is good. Russians are united in whatever they do, however from my experience, some of them are not so open to talk to foreigners.
Yuxin
I decided to study in Russia primarily because of its rich culture, which I’ve been drawn to since childhood. I have read many famous Russian poems and prose works (including Crime and Punishment and War and Peace) and watched a lot of plays performed by famous actors.
Living in the south of China, I never saw snow. The first time I saw snow was in Moscow, and the scene fascinated me.
My first year at HSE University was very difficult. My profession is very complicated, and I was only in my second year of studying Russian, so it was more difficult for me than for others. At first, I didn't always understand the topic or assignments, so while others were resting, I studied on my own to learn both the language and mathematics at the same time.
I tried very hard to prepare for the exams and in the end, I surpassed myself and began to understand everything
My favourite places in HSE are the rooms at the top of Building D. I often study there, and you can see Pokrovka in all its glory through the window. I also like the glass lift on the first floor and the stairs in Building S. They look like a modern Hogwarts.
Ulyana Kustikova
I was admitted to the Bachelor’s in Business Informatics at HSE University in 2021. My journey to this university started when my dad and I found information about the university on social media. After reading several articles on the website, we decided it was the best university for me.
What I like most about this university is that the administration is supportive and the other students make my studies here comfortable and enjoyable. Most of the professors are young and their thoughts are modern, so it’s interesting to study with them.
You need to study really hard to pass your exams once you’re here, but it’s worth it!
I really like Moscow. The architecture is beautiful, and public transport is convenient, but you need to learn how to navigate the city.
My dormitory is in the city centre. It has a canteen and a kitchen, which is really convenient for me. I have both Russian and international friends. We come from different cultural backgrounds, but we share common interests.
Those interested in studying at HSE University should create a personal account to apply for bachelor's or master's programmes (switch to English in the upper-right corner).
More information is available on the International Admissions website.
For more student stories and up-to-date information on admissions, competitions, and discounts, follow HSEenter on Telegram.
See also:
‘This Night Is One Minute Longer Than Other Nights of the Year’
Eating fruit, wearing traditional outfits, and surviving the Moscow cold: Prep Year students from Vietnam, Iran, and Ghana talk about the New Year traditions in their countries and their plans for the celebration in Russia.
A Dance Studio as a ‘Power Place’ for an International Student in Moscow
Liu Minglin, 22, from China, chose to study at ICEF in Moscow for two reasons: his Russian friends’ recommendations and the contents of the programme curriculum on the website. Now in his final year of the International Bachelor’s Programme in Economics and Finance at ICEF, Liu Minglin shares his impressions of living in Russia and studying at HSE University.
‘I Will Soon Build the Confidence to Express Myself Well’
Learning Russian is one of the challenges international students face when they come to Russia. HSE University helps them not only with Russian classes, but with informal events such as the Russian Speaking Club, where they can absorb the language in a relaxed and non-competitive setting. The HSE News Service talked to the organisers and participants of the club about their impressions of the first meeting and plans for the future.
‘My Thesis Defence Was a Lively Discussion’
Han Zhang, from China, has worked at the International Laboratory for Evaluation of Practices and Innovations in Education at HSE University-Moscow since 2023. In October 2024, she successfully defended her PhD thesis on the relationship between collaborative peer editing and the quality of academic writing in a second language. She spoke with the HSE News Service about why she chose to join HSE University and how her research can be used to improve student writing performance.
Russia and China: A New Cooperation Trajectory Developed at HSE University
A unique approach to measuring human well-being has been developed at HSE University, opening up new opportunities for international collaboration. Russia and China, both of which have significantly reduced poverty in recent years, demonstrate a unique potential for joint efforts in this area. At an international forum in Kazan titled ‘SPROUTS: Russia and China–Mutually Beneficial Cooperation,’ HSE University representatives, including Vice Rector and initiator of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre Lilia Ovcharova, and Deputy Vice Rector Maria Nagernyak, emphasised the importance of integrating the efforts of the two countries.
HSE MIEM and Nanjing University Discuss Joint Projects in Engineering Sciences
Developing cooperation in engineering sciences was the key topic during the latest visit of a delegation from Nanjing University to HSE University. This time, the guests were hosted by the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (MIEM).
Mathematicians from Russia and China Meet at HSE University
From November 5 to 9, 2024, HSE University, in collaboration with the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications, is hosting a joint conference on algebraic geometry and mathematical physics. Over 30 mathematicians from leading universities in Russia and China are presenting on recent advancements in geometry and mathematical physics. The conference is held in a hybrid format.
‘Communication with Native Speakers Allowed Me to Look at the Language from a Different Perspective’
Students from HSE University–Perm completed language courses in Tianjin, China. The programme included not only classes with native speakers, but also cultural events, accommodation in a dormitory at Tianjin University, and trips to local attractions.
Diversity of Cultures, Values, Traditions: Orientation Session for International Students
At the end of August, HSE University held orientation events for first-year international students. Nearly 800 students from 70 different countries attended sessions at the HSE Cultural Centre to learn about the visa and migration processes for staying in the Russian Federation, the opportunities at HSE and the student life there. They also took a tour of the Pokrovka campus.
ICEF Students Share Impressions of China’s Top Summer Schools 2024
This summer, a total of 24 bachelor's and master's students from HSE ICEF travelled to China to attend summer courses at some of the country's top universities, including Fudan University, SWUFE, and SJTU. The ICEF News Service spoke with some of them to learn about their experiences.