Transfer to HSE University from Other Academic Institutions

Restrictions on transfers

Only persons with the status of a degree student under a programme of higher education on the date of the submission and review of their request for transfer may apply for transfers.

Transfers of first-year students from other academic institutions to HSE University may take place no earlier than their first interim examination at their initial institution. This means that, as at the date when a transfer request is made, a student should have passed these initial exams/tests.

According to the Procedures for the Provision of Places in HSE University Dormitories (Moscow), students who have transferred to a degree programme at HSE University’s Moscow campus shall not be offered places in an HSE University dormitory.

Timeframe for receiving requests for transfer and vacant places

HSE University has two periods during which students may transfer to a preferred degree programme. Applications for transfer must be submitted by the deadlines set by respective programmes.

Transfers are implemented in December and June of the current academic year within the deadlines set by respective degree programmes, as long as vacant (both state-funded and fee-paying) places for transfer are available. Furthermore, a third (additional) transfer period may be established by degree programmes (if required).

Vacant places for transfer and the actual timeframe for receiving applications are posted prior to the obligatory timeframe for transfer (November 30 and May 31, respectively), as well as prior to the additional periods for transfer, on the degree programmes’ websites in the sections “Число студентов и вакантные места”.

If no vacant state-funded places are available for transfer, transfers will only be possible to vacant fee-paying places (if available). However, if vacant places are unavailable for both types of transfers, students will be unable to transfer.

Necessary documents

To transfer to HSE University, the following documents should be submitted:

1. document confirming identity;
2. certificate of attendance or period of study "справка об обучении или о периоде обучения" /transcript (if transferring from a foreign academic institution);
3. document on previous education – certificate or Bachelor’s degree diploma (if transferring to a Master’s degree programme);
4. certificate on recognition of foreign education (if one’s educational document was received outside of Russia)*.

* Submission of this certificate is not required in the following instances: document of education and/or qualification is in line with part 3 art. 107 of Federal Law No.273-FZ; where recognition of a foreign education and/or foreign qualification is needed, which do not meet the terms set out in part 3 art. 107 of Federal Law No. 273-ФFZ, HSE University shall implement this procedure independently; submission of document of education in line with Art 6 of Federal Law No 84-FZ “On Key Factors of Legal Regulation of Relations in Education upon the Inclusion of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation and the Creation of New Subjects in the Russian Federation – the Republic of Crimea and Federally Designated City Sevastopol, and amendments to the federal law “On Education in the Russian Federation’, dated May 5, 2014.

Students of Russian academic institutions: certificate of attendance or period of study "справка об обучении или о периоде обучения".

This certificate should be drawn up based on the template used by the given academic institution and issued within 5 (five) working days from the date of the student’s request in line with Procedures for Transfer of Students to Other Academic Institutions, Engaged in the Provision of Programmes of Higher Education at the Corresponding Degree Level, as approved by Directive of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 607, dated July 12, 2021. Certificates should be up-to-date and include the results of interim examinations at the time when the application is submitted.

Certificate of attendance (i.e., “Справка об обучении”, “Справка о периоде обучения”, “Справка об обучении и/или о периоде обучения”, “Академическая справка”) should be drawn up on a template of the given academic institution and include the following information:

• in which year and on the basis of which document the student was admitted to the academic institution;
• number and date of directive on matriculation;
• student’s current academic status;
• list of courses studied and other curricular elements, featuring grades and total credit units.

Students from foreign academic institutions: transcripts (certificate of study) with the status of student and a list of studied courses providing performance in credit units, signed off by a responsible party.

Testing and competitions for transfers

Degree programmes may establish evaluation examinations. Their provision/exclusion shall be confirmed in the programme’s/faculty’s transfer rules, which should be posted on each programme’s website in the “Students” and “Transfer and Reinstatement” sections.

If submitted requests for transfer exceed the total number of vacant places for transfer, the relevant programme shall hold a competitive selection of students applying for transfer.

Decisions on transfer

A student’s readiness for a transfer to a programme should be confirmed by an evaluation committee, while the committee’s membership and timeframe is approved by the faculty dean /manager of the programme for an academic year in those instances set out in the Regulations on Evaluation Committees of programmes of higher education and evaluation procedures at HSE University.

A final decision on a student’s transfer shall be made by the Vice Rector, charged with coordinating academic activities at the University.

Check for vacant places and dates for receiving applications

Information published prior to the deadlines for transfer (November 30 and May 31, respectively) and prior to the additional transfer periods (if applicable) shall be published on the websites of respective degree programmes in the section “Число студентов и вакантные места”.

Obtain the necessary certificate at one's academic institution

Students of Russian academic institutions: certificate of attendance or period of study "Справка об обучении или о периоде обучения".

This certificate shall be issued on a template of the academic institution and issued within 5 (five) working days from the date of the student’s requests, in line with the Procedures for Transfer of Students to Other Academic Institutions Engaged in the Provision of Programmes of Higher Education at the Corresponding Degree Level, as approved by Directive of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 607, dated July 12, 2021. The certificate should be up-to-date and include the results of the student’s interim examinations at the time of the application’s submission.

Certificate of attendance (i.e., “Справка об обучении”, “Справка о периоде обучения”, “Справка об обучении и/или о периоде обучения”, “Академическая справка") should be drawn up on a template of the respective academic institutions and include the following information:

• in which year and on the basis of which document the student was admitted to the academic institution;
• number and date of directive on matriculation;
• student’s current academic status;
• list of all studied disciplines/courses and other curricular elements, featuring grades and total credit units (CU)

Students from foreign academic institutions: transcripts (certificate of study) with the status of student and list of courses studied, indicating performance in credit units, signed off by a responsible individual.

Attach documents and submit application for transfer

Applications for transfers can only be submitted through the service: “One-stop service for transfer”.

Scans of the following must be attached to the application:

1. document confirming identity;
2. certificates of attendance or period of study "Справка об обучении или о периоде обучения"/transcript (if transferred from a foreign academic institution);
3. document on previous education – high school diploma or Bachelor’s degree diploma (if transferring to a Master’s programme);
4. certificates confirming a student’s current studies on a subsidized place (not obligatory for submission and should be attached at the student’s own discretion);
5. certificate confirming recognition of foreign education (if one’s document of education was received outside of Russia)*.

* Submission of this certificate is not required in the following instances: document of education and/or qualification is in line with part 3 art. 107 of Federal Law No.273-FZ; where recognition of a foreign education and/or foreign qualification is needed, which do not meet the terms set out in part 3 art. 107 of Federal Law No. 273-ФFZ, HSE University shall implement this procedure independently; submission of document of education in line with Art 6 of Federal Law No 84-FZ “On Key Factors of Legal Regulation of Relations in Education upon the Inclusion of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation and the Creation of New Subjects in the Russian Federation – the Republic of Crimea and Federally Designated City Sevastopol, and amendments to the federal law “On Education in the Russian Federation’, dated May 5, 2014. .

** All documents should be written in Russian (documents in foreign languages should include an attached translation into Russian). Documents in English may be submitted to programmes taught in English.

Wait for the results of the document review

Applications are reviewed over the course of 3 (three) working days, following the date of submission. The data of the request’s submission is not considered the date of application.

Receive a notification with the results of the document review

If the document and application review outcome is positive, a request template and notification with the programme manager’s contacts shall be sent to a candidate’s e-mail. The request must be signed and sent as a scan to the respective manager at the programme.

Undergo evaluation examinations (if applicable)

Wait for a message from the manager about the timeframe and procedures for evaluation processes.

The timetable for holding entrance examinations (if applicable), indicating the time, place and format, as well as date for announcing results, is published in a special section of the degree programme’s website no later than 3 (three) calendar days prior to the start of the testing process and brought to the attention of student taking part in evaluation examinations, according to the contact information specified in the transfer request.

Prior to evaluation examinations, students should have the option of reading up on the programme and its curricular elements (if this is specified in the terms for evaluation examinations).

Wait for a decision

Receive from the programme manager information on the decision reached, with due consideration of the examination outcome.

If a positive decision is made, the evaluation committee will establish:

• list of curricular elements, which can be transferred towards a new programme at HSE University;
• list of courses to be studied or subject to re-evaluation;
• year of study to be pursued by student;
• type of place.

Make the decision on the transfer

If the evaluation committee reaches a positive decision on transfer, inform the manager of the programme where you plan to transfer about your decision.

Obtain a certificate from HSE University with approval of transfer and undertake all necessary steps in your initial institution

For students of other Russian academic institutions:

1. At your university, write up a request for dismissal owing to your transfer to HSE University (a directive should issued within 3 (three) working days form the date when the request is submitted). A transfer certification, which should be attached to the request, shall be sent by the degree programme manager to the e-mail address of the individual specified at the time of the request’s submission.
2. After the issue of the directive on your dismissal owing to your transfer to HSE University, request an excerpt of the directive (this should be issued by the initial institution within 3 (three) working days from the date of the directive's issue) and send it to the manager of the given programme at HSE University.

Students of foreign academic institutions

A student's further actions shall depend on the terms set by the initial academic institution for instances of student dismissals owing to their transfer to other institutions (including foreign ones), including the provision of applicable terms (need to submit a request for dismissal in light of transfer; submission of certificate of transfer, etc.)

Agree upon an individual curriculum and make tuition payment (upon transfer to a fee-paying place)

Upon receiving a positive decision, agree upon a draft version of an individual curriculum, as received from a degree programme manager, sign an agreement for the provision of paid educational services and pay the tuition (upon transfer to a fee-paying place).

Wait for the issue of a directive and start classes

The directive will be issued within 5 (five) working days from the date of the provision of an excerpt from the directive on dismissal and document on previous education, if the student is being transferred to a state-funded place/from the date when an agreement is signed, if the student is being transferred to a fee-paying place.

If so desired, candidates may address their request to the dean of the respective HSE University faculty, requesting to attend classes while the dismissal directive is being drawn up (a decision shall be made by the faculty dean).

Main information

International students receiving full scholarship provided by the Government of the Russian Federation may transfer to HSE University from another institution if their new programme belongs to the same group of fields of study or specializations* (they may choose a programme in the same field of study or any other field of study).

* Example: If you are pursuing a programme in Economics, which belongs to the field of study 38.03.01 Economics, you may transfer to another degree programme that falls within the same range of fields of study as your current programme, i.e. starting from 38.00.00. This means you will not be able to transfer to a degree programme in Design, whose field of study is 54.03.01.

Timeframe for transfer

Although transfers to HSE University take place in June and December, transfers of students from other academic institutions studying under quotas to HSE University are only possible during the June period, within the dates set by respective degree programme (as published on programme websites in the section “Total Students and Vacant Places” on May 31).

Necessary documents

To initiate the transfer, please prepare the following documents:

1. Transfer application
2. Letter of application from the country that sent you to study in Russia (embassy of the country that sent you to Russia or Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in your country of citizenship)
3. Passport copy and its notarized translation into Russian
4. Copy of you visa (if available)
5. Your transcript with grades
6. Your academic credentials: a high school diploma or a Bachelor's diploma (if you want to transfer to a Master's programme)
7. Certificate of recognition of foreign academic credentials (if your diploma was awarded outside of Russia)

Select a degree programme that belongs to the same group of fields of study or specializations as your current programme

The catalogue of Bachelor's degree programmes can be found here.

The catalogue of Master's degree programmes can be found here.

Fill in a transfer application via LMS

Please use the link to the Online Service for Transfer.

Receive an information letter with a request form

If a positive decision has been made after reviewing your application (within 3 working days), a request form and information about further steps will be sent to your email.

Sign the request and send it to the HSE University degree programme manager

Send an email with a scan of the request to the manager of the HSE University programme you are interested in.

Pass the examination (if needed)

Wait for final decision of your new programme

The manager of your new programme will inform you about the decision made regarding your transfer and send you the draft of your individual curriculum.

In case of a positive decision, the attestation commission will determine the following:

• The list of elements on the curriculum for which credits can be transferred from your previous programme
• The list of subjects to be studied or retested
• The year of study where you can continue your studies

The number of credits that can be included in your individual curriculum for one year is outlined in the educational standard according to which the educational programme was developed. If credits for certain courses cannot be transferred or if unlearned courses (sections of courses) are identified, these courses will be included in your individual curriculum in addition to the standard list of elements established for the year of study to which you will be transferred.

If the programme has made a positive decision regarding your transfer, please follow next steps.

Contact the embassy of the country that sent you to study in Russia or the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo where you were admitted

Contact the embassy of the country that sent you to study in Russia or the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in your country to receive a letter of application from the country that sent you to study in Russia.

Contact your current educational institution

Contact your current educational institution to receive a letter of application for your transfer to HSE University.

Provide the documents to the manager of your new programme

If your new programme approves your transfer, the programme manager will send your documents to the Department of Internationalisation.

Make sure to prepare the following documents for your transfer:

1. Scan of the application for transfer to HSE University
2. Scan of the direction for education (in Russian: Направление на обучение) issued by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
3. Letter of consent from your current university for your transfer to HSE University
4. Letter of consent from HSE University
5. Letter of application from the country that sent you to study in Russia (embassy of the country that sent you to Russia or Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in your country of citizenship)
6. Scan of the certificate of recognition of foreign academic credentials (if your diploma was awarded outside of Russia)

Wait for the decision regarding your transfer from the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation

A manager of the Department of Internationalisation will create and send a request regarding your transfer to the relevant department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

The Ministry of Education and Science normally reviews transfer requests in the third quarter of the year.

The transfer order can be issued only after receiving a positive response from the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

Have your individual curriculum approved and wait for the order to be issued (in case of a positive response from the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia)

If you receive a positive response from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, a relevant order will be issued for your transfer to a new programme.

Documents

Guidelines for Transfer of Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s, Specialist and Master’s Degree Programmes at National Research University Higher School of Economics and Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s, Specialist and Master’s Degree Programmes at Other Academic Institutions to National Research University Higher School of Economic

Procedures for Transfer of Students to Other Academic Institutions, Engaged in the Provision of Programmes of Higher Education at the Corresponding Degree Level, as approved by Directive of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 607, dated July 12, 2021

If you have further questions

e-mail us at: studcentre@hse.ru