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:
‘Put in the Effort, and You Will Learn a Lot’
Roosevelt Ogah is a first-year student of the master’s programme in Economics and Economic Policy at HSE University. He studies on the research track ‘Microeconomics and Macroeconomics’ and demonstrates very high academic performance. In his interview, he shares his experience of studying abroad for the first time and some tips on how to achieve high results in studies.
‘The Process was Challenging, yet Well-Organised’
Samuel Okai, 28, from Ghana, is a master's student of Strategic Corporate Finance in his final year at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, majoring in assets pricing. In this interview, he shares his admissions experience and speaks about learning at HSE University, while offering some tips for those ready to succeed in their studies.
‘High Grades Open Up Many Opportunities for You Here’
Bai Xinyi, 24, comes from Ankang, a small city in China. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Economics and Economic Policy, with a focus on Behavioural Economics, in the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. Below, she speaks about the application process, shares some details of her favourite courses, and reminisces about talking to friendly passers-by in the streets of Moscow.
‘If You Can Show that You Are Willing to Speak Russian, People Are So Friendly’
Jiayi Xu is a first-year student of the Master’s in Comparative Social Research at HSE University in Moscow. Having now spent five months living and studying in Moscow, Jiayi shares her thoughts about life in Moscow so far, her love of visiting the library, and the differences between education in China, the US, and Russia.
‘Winter in Russia is a Season of Romance and Cold, Solemnity and Vitality’
Over 450 international students from all over the globe currently study at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. Some of them have recorded video greetings, talked about celebrations in their home countries, and shared their ideas on how to spend the winter holidays in Russia.
‘We and Our Chinese Colleagues Have a Common Approach to Solving Modern Challenges’
During a visit to China, an HSE University delegation headed by Vice Rector Victoria Panova arranged to extend cooperation agreements with Fudan University and East China Normal University (ECNU). Particular attention was paid to expanding students’ and teachers’ academic mobility between universities.
HSE Holds Table Tennis Championship among International Students
Mixed-sex teams representing eight university faculties took part in the HSE Winter Tennis Cup, an interfaculty table tennis championship for international students. The team of the Faculty of Mathematics won the competition. The tournament was organised with the support of the Department of Internationalisation and the Department of Physical Training.
'It Is Crucial for HSE University to Strengthen the Positions of Russian Education and Science'
Delegations from Nanjing University and Renmin (People's) University of China have recently made their first visits to HSE University to explore potential areas of cooperation. The Chinese universities have expressed interest in initiating collaborative research projects, educational and academic mobility programmes.
Enhancing Cooperation between the Countries: East China Normal University Delegation Visits HSE
The delegation of the East China Normal University has visited HSE University’s Moscow campus. The representatives of both academic institutions confirmed their mutual interest in developing cooperation. The East China Normal University was the first Chinese institution to cooperate with HSE University. This partnership has been developing for quite a while, with the first memorandum signed on June 30, 2011, followed by two agreements on student mobility.
Russian Speaking Club: Practicing the Language and Meeting New Friends
For HSE Preparatory Year students, the Russian Speaking Club is a way to improve their language proficiency in a relaxed atmosphere. At this year’s first such event, they discussed online communications and social media. Michael Dzodzoe from Ghana and Leen Sabbagh from Syria shared their impressions with the HSE News Service.