International Relations: European and Asian Studies

Programme basic courses:

• Global Political Economy
• World Politics and International Economic Relations
• Comparative Analysis of Integration Processes in the World

The programme embraces four specializations:

• Russia in the World
  • The Sources of Russian Conduct
  • Russia’s Security and Energy Policy
  • The Modern Russian State
  • Russia's Pivot to the East
• European Studies
  • European Policy and EU Institutions
  • Internal Market and EU Law
  • History and Theory of European Integration
  • Research Seminar “Analysis and Forecast of the EU’s Activity”
• Asian Studies
  • Northeast Asia in the Globalizing World: Economics, Politics, Security
  • China and ASEAN as Regional Political and Economic Actors
  • East Asian Type of Capitalism as a Model of Modernization
  • Research Seminar «Political and Economic Analysis of International Relations in Asia»
• The Middle East
  • Religion in Modern History of the Middle East
  • Society and State in the Middle East
  • International Politics: Peace and Conflicts in the Middle East
  • The Economy and Human Resources in the Middle East

Upon enrolling in the Master’s Programme students choose one of four specialisations: ‘European Studies’ (focusing on the European Union), ‘Asian Studies’, ‘The Middle East’ and ‘Russia in the World’. This allows you to build a better understanding of the particular region and be in great demand as a professional in Russia and internationally.

There are international students and foreign teachers involved in the programme which facilitates the exchange of experience and helps build intercultural links.

To better immerse in the culture of other countries, students can take part in the student exchange programme. HSE partner institutions include Harvard and many other universities in Asia and Europe.

The teaching staff on the programme includes HSE teachers and teachers from other universities and academic organizations such as the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, the Moscow State University, the St. Petersburg State University, the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Among them are T.A. Romanova, Associate Professor at HSE, N.B. Kondratieva, Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Europe, K.V. Entin, Head of the Expert Analytical Department of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union, and Maria Khodinskaya-Golenischeva, Senior Advisor of the Foreign Policy Planning Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Programme Manager is T.V. Bordachev, Research Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS), leading Russian expert on Russia-EU relations, head of research programmes of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy (CFDP), Programme Director of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

The programme includes courses aimed at gaining knowledge of foreign policy and international economics. The curriculum is shaped according to the specialisation chosen by the student.

During the second year, students complete an internship, which takes place in state and municipal institutions, private companies and the media.

During the studies, students carry out project work in groups, the results of which can be later used in the preparation of the Master's thesis.

Graduates are able to provide expert support for economic and policy projects and to provide forecasting and analytical recommendations on the activities of government and business entities involved in international relations.

Possible companies and organisations for employment include:

• Government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation)
• International political and military and political organisations (UN, EAEU, SCO, CIS, CSTO)
• International economic, financial and trade organizations (WTO, IMF, UN Economic and Social Council, International Chamber of Commerce)
• Other international organizations (UNESCO, IAEA)
• Companies (McKinsey & Co., PwC, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Gazprom, Lukoil, Sibur, Tatneft)
• Scientific and analytical organisations (Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Council on Foreign and Defence Policy)
• Media and media holdings (Kommersant, Izvestia, RBC, TASS, Echo of Moscow)

The programme offers 25 state-funded and 10 tuition-based places for Russian applicants and 15 tuition-based places for foreign nationals.

To enter the Master's programme, you need to pass General History and English internal entrance exams.

There is a separate competition for foreign nationals.

More information about applying is available on the International Admissions page.