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Over 800 International Students Recommended for Full-tuition Scholarships at HSE

International students at HSE

On July 5, the application window closed for international students who made it through the selection process for state-funded spots at the Higher School of Economics. Those students who were not selected are still able to apply to the university for tuition-paying spots, or can enrol in the university’s Preparatory Year programme.

It is HSE’s strategic goal to bring in more and more international students, according to International Admissions Director Tatiana Chetvernina. The more foreign students at the university, the better HSE’s reputation will be on the international educational market and the more successful the school’s brand will be. In addition, the university is just as interested in Russian-speaking foreign students as it is in English-speaking ones.

This year, full-tuition scholarships were awarded to 830 international students hoping to study in one of HSE’s undergraduate and graduate programmes. The university received applications from more than 3,500 prospective students. Around 150 places were granted to those applying to English-taught programmes.

What’s New?

This year’s international admissions process for state-funded spots at HSE was revamped in three important ways.

First, Russian-speaking foreign students submitted applications for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programmes electronically, irrespective of their country of residence.

Second, selection committees were created within the university’s various departments and programmes. Whereas before, such committees only existed within English-language programmes, now the university’s Russian-language programmes have committees as well. These committees met between February and May of this year to select the very best students for full-tuition scholarships, with each programme adhering to its own selection criteria. Some committees required an interview, while others simply asked for an electronic application.

Third, for the first time ever, there are now quota scholarships for international students applying to post-graduate schools at HSE. A total of 20 people were recommended for these spots.

The Selection Process

Candidates were selected by admissions committiees made up of representatives of educational programmes in Moscow, as well as representatives from countries where there has traditionally been a large number of applicants to HSE, such as Uzbekistan, Moldova, and Kazakhstan. Each admissions committee either recommended applicants for a tuition-free spot at HSE, or advised that the student continue working and try to apply to HSE through the normal application process.

Other options

Those who did not receive government scholarship but were recommended for the general application process can submit applications  through the normal application process. Undergraduate applicants must submit scores from the Unified State Exam (USE) or from the HSE's internal entrance exams. For the first time this year entrance exams for undergraduate programmes are offered in English. Applications are accepted until July 15, 2016.

Students who are not accepted to HSE this year will be able to enter either the university’s preparatory division for foreign students, which is intended for those who do not know Russian very well (the application cut-off is August 15), or the preparatory division for master’s students, which starting in 2016 is geared more towards Russians living abroad (the application cut-off is September 11).

‘In the year spent in the preparatory year programme, students are able to adapt to living in Moscow and studying at the university,’ Tatiana Chetvernina says. ‘They can learn more about HSE’s programmes of study straight from teachers and students, and they can take part in Olympiads and strengthen their application for the next academic year.’

 

See also:

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‘My Prep Year Experience Has Been Phenomenal; I Would Repeat It All over Again if I Could’

The International Preparatory Year programme held its graduation ceremony in July. This academic year, 125 students from 50 countries were enrolled in the programme. They will continue their studies at Russian universities, most of them pursuing bachelor's and master's programmes at HSE University. The graduation was organised as a quest, where the students were able to demonstrate their achievements in learning the Russian language. Graduates from Ecuador, Syria, and Mexico shared their impressions with the HSE News Service, Deputy Director Polina Shanko talked about plans for the coming year, and mathematics teacher Vladimir Gordin gave his advice to future students.

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‘The 4th International Economics Olympiad—My Journey’

Oghogho Joy Isibor came to HSE University after earning a scholarship from the Faculty of Economic Sciences for her performance in the International Economics Olympiad. She is one of several foreigners to apply via the same competition. Oghogho is currently studying on the HSE University Preparatory Year Programme before starting her Economics degree. Read on to find out about her experience of the Olympiad, adapting to life in Russia, and the challenges of learning Russian for her future studies.

‘HSE Has Made Me Confident and Brave’

Enrolment in undergraduate programmes is underway. International recipients of the Russian Government Scholarship can study at HSE University for free and get a place at an HSE dorm. Senanu Dekpo-Adza from Ghana and Hamisha Rijal from Nepal study at HSE University as part of the scholarship programme. They shared their experiences of admission and studies at HSE University with the HSE News Service.

‘I Made a Lot of Friends and My Speaking Level Improved’

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‘The City of Moscow Inspires Me with the Joy of Living’

The new academic year is gaining momentum at the HSE Preparatory Year, with students from over 40 countries currently enrolled. The HSE News Service talked to the new students about their first impressions and the challenges of studying at HSE University and living in Moscow, while teachers of the Prep Year extracurricular clubs shared their ideas and plans for future activities.

‘A High Concentration of Intercultural Communications’

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