• A
  • A
  • A
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
Regular version of the site

Special Aspects of the HSE University’s Study Process

Structure of the Academic Year 
Each academic year consists of three main stages:

1.   Study modules

The academic year in HSE University is comprised of four modules, each consisting of 8-12 academic weeks. The exact dates of each module depend on the days off and holidays for the current year. For more details, go toHSE Academic Calendar:  https://www.hse.ru/en/studyspravka/grafik/

2.   Examination periods

Every module concludes with an examination period. Preparatory period for exams is not included. A student may have up to seven examinations over the course of seven days but no more than one examination per day.

3.   Breaks

There are two breaks in the academic year.

HSE University’s Educational Programmes

  • There are several key points for each specific educational programme:
  • Admission of applicants through a competitive selection process;
  • Belonging to the respective level of higher education and the field of study
  • The curriculum and a single academic schedule
  • Presence of an academic supervisor, programme office, and, when necessary, an academic council.

 “Life Cycle” of the Educational Programme
Each educational programme has a certain “life cycle”, that is, it proceeds through several stages: creation, implementation, and then, at some point, either revision or, if it has served its purpose, withdrawal. 

     Stage 1: Licensing a new field of study

Licensing a new field of study is only required if the university does not yet have a license for the field of training foreseen for the new educational programme (for questions regarding licensing, contact OlgaTogushova). 

Stage 2: Launching a new educational programme

Launching a new educational programme requires preparing a packet of documents to be discussed at the HSE University’s Curriculum Development Committee session and reviewed by the Rector's Council and the HSE University’s Academic Council (for questions regarding preparing appropriate paperwork, contact Anna Skvortsova). 

      Stage 3: Implementation of the educational programme

The implementation of the educational programme is the most important and longest stage in the life cycle of the programme. It includes the admissions processes, process of training, and graduation. View the regulations in force at: https://www.hse.ru/studyspravka/loc

      Stage 4: Educational programme's accreditation

If the programme was launched under a new field of study for HSE University, it must undergo state accreditation, that is, receive the right to issue state diplomas to the programme’s graduates (for questions regarding preparation for accreditation, contact contact OlgaTogushova).

Stage 5: Updating of the educational programme

 Update and modernise the programme in order to enhance its competitiveness within the educational marketplace and/or   withdraw the programme.

Educational Programme Curriculum
The curriculum of the programme is closely related to the current educational standards for the chosen field of study and level of study The Higher School of Economics, as a national research university, has the right to independently establish educational standards (see Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Education in the Russian Federation”), and the university has availed of this right by developing its own educational standards (ES HSE).

Each degree programme at HSE University builds its curriculum based on their own ES. The curriculum always includes mandatory courses, as well as optional courses provided either within the framework of the programme or from one of the university-wide pool of courses. These courses are meant to supplement the students' individual study trajectory ( open electives, minors on programmes of the Bachelor’s level, MAGOLEGO courses  on the Master’s programmes, and online courses). 

The Distinct Educational Model of the Bachelor’s Degree
Bachelor's Degree students study according to one study model:

  • The first year of study at the Bachelor’s level is dedicated primarily to a significant number of humanities courses (humanities cycle) which are studied by students in cohorts.
  • Aside from the core courses and the electives which will form the basis for the students' future profession (major), students of the 2nd and 3d years of study will dedicate a sixth of their time (20 credits) to studying a minor.

!!! One cohort and even one seminar group from the humanities cycle or minor may include students from different educational programmes. We recommend that lecturers of these courses pay special attention to LMS and the electronic record sheet, which will help them interact quickly with students and managers of educational programmes in this complicated situation.

  • A significant portion of the study period is allocated to “Internships, project and/or research work”. This part of the programme is designed so that students could use the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the course of their studies to solve real-life problems. The tasks may have an academic, as well as an applied, character. An important element of this component is project work. The HSE University’s Project Fair is one of the mechanisms available for students to organize their project work. (http://www.hse.ru/org/hse/pfair/).
Pass/Fail examinations
Except for rare exceptions, HSE University does not have pass/fail examinations. Some courses, such as Physical Training, as well as service projects with few credits, may be evaluated as pass/fail.

Examinations
Examinations are mostly written, but can be oral, at the discretion of the professor or department. The exact format of the examination (essay, short answers, test, etc.) is determined by the professor. Written examinations should not last more than 4 hours. Students should not sit for more than one examination a day. It is forbidden to begin examinations earlier than 9  am or hold students at the examination later than 9 pm.

Appeals
The Appeals Committee cannot include a lecturer who either gave the original examination or the retake.
The Appeals Committee conducts a meeting in the presence of the student and the lecturer who administered the examination or the retake. The meeting may also be attended by a representative of the Student Council of the faculty at which the student is enrolled, upon the prior agreement with the Chair of the Appeals Committee.

Retaking Examinations
Retakes are allowed only after the 2nd module (from January 11 to February 15) and after the 4th module (from September 1 of the next academic year to October 15). The student has  the right to two retakes. The first retake is conducted in exactly the same format as the original examination. A committee of three lecturers conduct the second retake. If the course did not involve an examination, then the student is offered to have only one retake, the one administered by committee. 

Student Grade Book
HSE University’s students have electronic grade books. Access thereto is provided via each student’s personal account  in HSE University’s LMS system. The  lecturer does not input the grades directly into the electronic grade book. He/she submits the scores recorded in his/her examination sheet to the programme office, where staff then transfers the grades to the ASAV. From there, they are automatically uploaded into the electronic grade book in HSE University’s LMS system. 

Student Ranking
Student rankings reflect the relative academic performance of students of the same year of in-take within one educational programme, for a specified period of time. The rating is made by the staff of the programme offices and is subsequently published on the website of the educational programme. Depending on the student's place in the ranking he/she may apply for a (higher) bursary or a tuition fee discount on tuition fees (if he/she is studying on a “paid” place) or even transfer from a paid place to a  state-funded place. There are current rankings (for over the past sixth months) and cumulative rankings (based on the results of the students' entire period studies from the moment of admission). 

 

Have you spotted a typo?
Highlight it, click Ctrl+Enter and send us a message. Thank you for your help!
To be used only for spelling or punctuation mistakes.