Kirill Kisel

On April 23, 2026 the first large-scale Afro Festival was held in the central atrium of the HSE University Pokrovka building. The event was organised by the African Students Association together with the Support and Career Centre for International Students and Alumni. During the festival, HSE students and staff explored the cultures of African countries by listening to music, dancing, and getting to know one another.

In April 2026, HSE University welcomed an official delegation from Nazarbayev University. The visit primarily focused on establishing cooperation between the two universities, expanding partnership ties, and developing joint projects in support of strengthening bilateral relations between Russia and Kazakhstan.

The fourth off-site school organised under the Lyceum Classes project has taken place with the support of HSE University and implemented by the HSE Department of Internationalisation. This year, 79 students from International House Tashkent and Interhouse Lyceum came to HSE. The programme includes an introduction to the university, the opportunity to attend classes, and tours around Moscow.

In late March 2026, an official meeting took place between a delegation from HSE University and delegations from Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU); the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and the Embassy of Vietnam in the Russian Federation. The participants discussed key areas of cooperation that will help strengthen ties not only between the universities, but also between the two countries.

More than 3,000 international school students took part in the INTO HSE International Olympiad, whose award ceremonies were held in Tashkent and Bishkek in March 2026. The university’s outreach events also included final examinations, presentations of academic programmes, and on-site selection tests for prospective applicants. In Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, nearly 200 participants received diplomas as winners and prize-winners. The best of them will be eligible to apply for state-funded places at HSE.

At the end of May, the HSE University Cultural Centre hosted the Day of Azerbaijani Culture, organised by the Azerbaijani Student Club. Festival guests sampled national treats, took part in a quiz with prizes, and immersed themselves in the festive atmosphere of a concert with music and traditional dancing. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation Rahman Sahib oglu Mustafayev was the event’s special guest.

On May 29, 2025, a delegation from Sultan Qaboos University paid an official visit to HSE University. The meeting was held at the HSE building on Pokrovsky Bulvar and was dedicated to the development of partnership in science and education. The delegation was led by His Highness Dr Fahad Al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University. During the visit, the parties signed an agreement on cooperation and academic exchange between the universities.

On January 24, 2025, at the HSE University campus on Pokrovka, Rector Nikita Anisimov and representatives from key departments and internationalisation subdivisions met with delegations from South China Normal University and Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn. The discussions focused on opportunities for expanding cooperation in various fields.

At the end of August, HSE University held orientation events for first-year international students. Nearly 800 students from 70 different countries attended sessions at the HSE Cultural Centre to learn about the visa and migration processes for staying in the Russian Federation, the opportunities at HSE and the student life there. They also took a tour of the Pokrovka campus.

The HSE Inter Football Cup—mini-football championship, which has already become a tradition, was held on the open lawn of the Energia Stadium on May 19, 2024. This year, a team of international students from the St. Petersburg campus also joined the fight for the Сup.More than 100 international students from various countries came together for a day of spirited competition and cultural exchange.

On March 22, the Atrium on Pokrovsky Boulevard turned into a venue to celebrate ‘Holi: the Festival of Colours,’ organised by the Department of Internationalisation. The festival was put together on the initiative of the HSE Indian Club in cooperation and with the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre of the Embassy of India.

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.

Studying at a foreign university has distinct advantages for one's career trajectory, alongside invaluable experience and an expanded array of opportunities. However, students may face considerable stress due to immersion in a different cultural setting and encounter new, sometimes unforeseen, challenges. The session 'Creating an International Environment as a Keystone to Cultivate Talent', hosted by HSE University as part of International Partners' Week, featured discussions by experts and representatives from top universities on how universities assist foreign students in adapting and discovering opportunities for self-actualisation.

For the first time, HSE University has hosted the Garuda festival, where Indonesian students in Moscow could talk about their culture. The embassy of Indonesia helped organise the festival.

Masters students at the Faculty of Economic Sciences met the faculty Dean, Professor Pekarski, HSE Director for Internationalization Dr. Kisel, vice-dean Liudmila Zasimova and other staff on September 12. Meeting was organized by the Faculty of Economic Sciences International Office to introduce the staff and students, as well as students of various programs to each other

If you are an international applicant, you still have time to apply for scholarships from HSE University. The full-tuition scholarships are awarded annually in May. This year, the Scholarship Committee will meet for the last time on May 27, 2021 to determine who receives full and partial scholarships.

Since February 19, HSE community members have been able to get vaccinated against measles. All students, faculty, and staff, including foreign citizens, can get vaccinated for free. Remember—measles is an extremely dangerous and contagious disease that can only be prevented by getting vaccinated. There is still time to get vaccinated: the vaccination period has now been extended by one day to include February 22.

HSE’s Admission Rules for the 2017/2018 academic year have undergone some changes in regards to international admission. The admission track is now unified for students from both CIS and non-CIS countries. Thus, only two exams must be passed in order to be accepted into a given undergraduate programme, while competitions for Master’s programmes only require a portfolio and an interview. The rules for International Olympiad Competitions have also been changed. Registration for these competitions ends on November 15.