Checklist for First-Year Students

Here is a list of crucial steps that you need to follow to address various organisational matters at HSE University. This will help you avoid any unpleasant situations during your studies.

1. Check in to the dormitory (if you are a quota student and do not reside in Moscow or in Russia)

You will be assigned a place at the dormitory automatically in the International Applicant's Personal Account.

You can get access to the Dormitory section in your personal account after completing your consent to study at HSE University and going through the recognition procedure.

Check-in for first-year quota master's students will take place starting from 25.08.2025, while the following conditions are met:

- the applicant has personally visited the Admissions Committee for Foreign Citizens and submitted the originals of the documents required for enrollment;

- the applicant has indicated to the International Applicant's Personal Account the need to provide a dormitory;

- the Admissions Committee for Foreign Citizens has issued an order on enrollment

- accommodation referral in the dormitory has been sent to the applicant's personal account and by mail (on the day of visiting the Admissions Committee for Foreign Citizens)

The referral indicates: the date of accommodation in the dormitory, the address of the dormitory and room number, directions, and the contact person responsible for accommodation. Your accommodation referral will be valid for 10 days. If you do not check into the dormitory within the specified time frame, the referral will be canceled.

Please make sure to download the accommodation referral from your Personal Account, print it, and have it on hands when checking in to the dormitory.

When checking into a dormitory, you must also have the following documents:

- foreign citizen passport;

- a copy of the entry visa (for foreign citizens with a visa regime for entry into the Russian Federation)

- a migration card issued upon crossing the border of the Russian Federation;

- a medical certificate or results of a medical examination valid at the time of check-in; a certificate of preventive vaccinations in the form No. 156/u-93 (if available) or in the form of Annex No. 8 of the Internal Rules of the HSE Student Dormitory;

- a voluntary health insurance policy covering the whole period of your stay in Russia.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at zaselenie@hse.ru.

2. Study the guidelines about your visa and migration registration (if you are an international student)

HSE Visa and Registration Centre

Address: D007, Building D, 11 Pokrovsky Bulvar, Moscow (visiting hours: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm).

You can ask your questions and get a consultation online

Phone: +7 (495) 531-00-63

Email: visa-registration@hse.ru
Website: https://ivisa.hse.ru/

Mandatory medical examination, fingerprinting, and taking of official photographs for international students

Starting from December 29, 2021, amendments to the Federal Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation" have taken effect. These amendments now require all foreign nationals who come to Russia for 90+ days, including for educational purposes, to complete a medical examination, undergo fingerprinting, and have their official photograph taken.

Individuals who do not comply with these mandatory procedures or do so after the deadline may face penalties such as an administrative fine or a reduction in their allowed stay in Russia.

Information on how to register for the medical check-up can be found on the website of the HSE Visa and Registration Centre.

3. Get a student ID card and an e-pass to visit university buildings

As soon as you are registered as a student in HSE systems, you will get your HSE email address and password sent to the email address you used for the admissions process.

Follow the instructions in the email to enter your HSE personal account at lk.hse.ru, find the service called iStudy, enter it and follow the instructions at "Onboarding" Module.

4. Get a library card

Follow this link to learn more about how to use the HSE University library.

To get a library card, please complete the online registration form on the library's website (you will need your student ID card and your HSE University email to sign up). After submitting the form, you will receive your library card number, which can be found in HSE App X.

You can now access the library's electronic resources remotely by clicking on this link.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the HSE University Library Hotline or contact the library on social media at https://vk.com/hselibrary, https://t.me/s/hse_library/ or https://max.ru/join/jvKMeO4fjIzxQ2shsSJmkBOS8H9Z4tz8cR82c5We5y8

If you are interested in joining a guided tour around the library or want to learn more about searching for information in printed and electronic resources, please send an email to library@hse.ru.

5. Get a Moscow Social Card

This card gives you discounts for riding on public transportation within the City of Moscow and on suburban trains.

If you are an international student, you will need to get a SNILS (personal insurance account number, in Russian it is called "СНИЛС") before you can apply for a Moscow Social Card.

Apply for a SNILS in person at the nearest office of the Social Fund of Russia, or visit a “Moi Dokumenty” Multifunctional Public Services Centre (in Russian: МФЦ, or MFTs).

Make sure to have the following documents on you:

1. an ID (passport or residence permit);

2. a notarised translation of your ID with your full name spelt absolutely identical to the spelling you have in your visa and in HSE system.

A list of Social Fund branches in Moscow:
https://sfr.gov.ru/branches/moscow/info/~0/7035

A list of MFTs offices in Moscow:https://www.mos.ru/pgu/ru/md/.

After getting your SNILS you can get a Moscow Social Card:, you will need to visit one of the “Moi Dokumenty” Multifunctional Public Services Centres (in Russian: МФЦ, or MFTs) in Moscow.

Step 1: Send the SNILS document to stigovernance@hse.ru to have the number added to your personal account.
Step 2: Verify your details on Moscow Social Register to check your status as a master's student in Moscow.
Step 3: Register at the www.mos.ru website and submit an application for a Moscow Social Card in your personal account. Your application will be reviewed within 30 calendar days. You can monitor the status of your application either in your personal account or via this link.
Step 4: To get the card visit the office of “Moi Dokumenty” Multifunctional Public Services Centres (in Russianit is called "МФЦ") in Moscow which you chose when submitting the application for the Moscow Social Card.

6. Get a bank card for your scholarship (issued by VTB, MIR payment system)

The Accounting Office and Admissions Office at HSE University partner with Branch 7701 of VTB Bank. You can get a bank card with free banking service and corporate design to receive your scholarship.

These bank cards will be automatically issued to all first-year students, including foreign nationals, who are eligible for scholarships at HSE University. If you have previously studied at HSE University and received scholarship payments via a bank card, these payments will continue to be deposited into the same card.

If, for any reason, the university is unable to issue a bank card for you, you will be notified via your university email account.

Once the bank cards are ready, they will be handed out to students in line with an established schedule either on campus or at VTB branches.

Check your university email to find out where and when you can pick up your scholarship card.

HSE University Accounting Office

(for any enquiries regarding scholarships and other payments to students and questions about getting a scholarship bank card)

Email: std@hse.ru

Certificates on income/scholarship amount via this link.

7. Apply for a study certificate (optional)*

You can apply for a study certificate at the Student Service Centre electronic service starting from September 1, 2025.

We recommend choosing the electronic format - a certificate signed with an electronic signature will be in your personal account within 15 minutes!

* You do not need to apply for a study certificate to check in to the dormitory, these documents will be issued automatically.

Useful links

HSE University's Academic Handbook: Use it when you have any questions about the study process.

HSE University bylaws and regulations can be found here.