International Students Find their Bearings in Moscow
This autumn, about 500 international students from more than 50 countries (1 and a half times more than last year), are starting courses at HSE. They will be studying on bachelor’s and master’s programmes, Preparatory Year, and as part of international student exchanges. To help them get off to a good start, HSE organised an orientation session on how to study and live in Moscow.
140 students took part in the first round of orientation activities which were run by the HSE International Student Support Unit. For two weeks they had close instruction about how study is organised, how to use LMS electronic support and other technical matters. They were shown around the main library and the Psychological Counseling Centre, were introduced to student organisations, like the debating society, the ‘buddies movement’ and MIEM Tourist Club.
Staff at the Unit explained migration regulations and Russian visa requirements to them and talked about security and specific aspects of life in Moscow. They had a meeting with staff at the dormitories who introduced them to the ‘house rules’.
Students of the School of Cultural Studies devised and conducted walking tours around the centre of Moscow. These excursions were very popular — 60 people went on one of them. And the buddies organised a team building welcome session in VDNH park.
Most of the instructions are published on the International Student Support web pages and in the International Student Handbook.
Students’ First Impressions:
Finn Corrigan, exchange student, University College London, UK
I think the buddy system was really great. Arriving knowing that you had someone to help you out and get settled in was very reassuring. The activities organised were really fun and it’s also really useful knowing other young people at HSE in Moscow to start with as they can tell us all the cool places to go!
The International Support team was really helpful and you all went out of your ways to help us and solve any problems we had, in what must have been an incredibly busy week for you. I think the fact that many of you knew our names within a few days shows just how much effort you put into helping us and making us feel welcome!
Alis Maria Endres, student of the 'Semester in Moscow' programme, Germany
The living in Moscow seminars were very good, I learned lots of useful things! Also, the Walking Tours with Cultural Studies students were a great way to get to know Moscow and meet other students. I was really pleasantly surprised how much you looked after the international students. You really helped us with everything! Thanks for that!
Prepared by Ksenia Shomnikova, International Student Support Unit
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