Special Categories of Students
A term, "special (or individual) categories of students," was introduced in the Regulations for Interim and Ongoing Assessments of Students at HSE University. This status refers to students whose initial educational opportunities and/or special status affect the pace and quality of their studies under degree programmes.
The following are considered special category students:
students with disabilities and/or health conditions
students who are orphans, children left without parental care, or individuals who lost both parents or their sole parent during their studies
students who are either participants in the Special Military Operation (SMO)[1] or their immediate relatives[2];
[1] Participants in the Special Military Operation are persons who take (have taken) part in the SMO (assisted in the completion of its tasks or were sent to provide support for the completion of its tasks during the SMO) in the territories of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic and Ukraine starting from February 24, 2022, as well as in the territories of the Zaporozhye Region and the Kherson Region starting from September 30, 2022 and who have submitted a certificate confirming the fact of their participation in the SMO, issued in the form established by the Government of the Russian Federation.
[2] For the purposes of these Regulations (Procedure, Rules, etc.), the spouse of the participant in the SMO, his/her children, including adopted children, parents (adoptive parents), full and half siblings who have presented documentary evidence of their marriage, kinship or adoption, and a certificate issued to a family member of a participant in the SMO in the form established by the Government of the Russian Federation, shall be recognised as close relatives of a participant in the SMO.
students who are citizens of foreign countries
students admitted to study at HSE University in the 2023/24–2026/27 academic years (inclusive), who have completed secondary general education programmes and have successfully passed the final state certification at educational institutions in the Belgorod Region, Bryansk Region, and Kursk Region, according to the List approved by Directive No. 245 of the Ministry of Education of Russia, dated April 7, 2023, as well as at educational institutions located in the Donetsk People's Republic, Lugansk People's Republic, Zaporozhye Region, and Kherson Region
students admitted to study at HSE University in the relevant year who are subject to special aspects for conducting the Final State Certification (FSC) for general education programmes at the secondary level and for admission to study at higher educational institutions, as stipulated by Article 5 of Federal Law No. 19-FZ, dated February 17, 2023 "On Special Aspects of the Legal Regulation of Education and Science in Connection With the Admission of the Donetsk People's Republic, Lugansk People's Republic, Zaporozhye Region, and Kherson Region to the Russian Federation, and Amendments to Specific Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation."
Educational Features for Special Categories of Students
For students in special categories, an increased critical Study Performance Assessment (SPA) value is set: SPA = 5 instead of the standard SPA = 2, and this applies only once. This allows them to have up to five academic debts simultaneously without the risk of expulsion.
This means that if a special category student's SPA exceeds SPA = 2 for the first time (e.g., SPA = 3, SPA = 4, or SPA = 5), they can still retake exams and continue their studies. However, if their SPA reaches 6 or higher, they face dismissal for failure to master their degree programme diligently and follow the curriculum, with the possibility of reinstatement.
If their SPA exceeds the limit again, the standard threshold of SPA = 2 applies, based on which decisions regarding the student's further education are made.
Furthermore, when a second retake of a course is rescheduled, the repeated study of this course is granted to students in special categories under their current terms of study, but only once for the entire duration of their program at the university.*
*Exception: academic failure as a result of not selecting the topic of the graduation thesis
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