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Fan Minlan, a 25-year-old from the coastal city of Zhangzhou in southeastern China, has recently graduated from the HSE Master’s Programme in Population and Development. In her interview with the HSE News Service, Fan Minlan speaks about her decision to enrol at HSE University, the challenges of speaking Russian, her career plans, and the love story that started with her studies.

Dilmurod Kholmatov, from Tashkent (Uzbekistan), is a student of the Master’s in Law of International Trade and Dispute Resolution at the HSE University–Moscow Faculty of Law. He has finished his first year of studies and plans to pursue a career in international commercial arbitration after graduation. In his interview, Dilmurod explains how the programme is preparing him to achieve his career ambitions, explains why student involvement in academic conferences is important, and talks about taking part in a charity race.

Stephen Sodoke, from Ghana, is a recent graduate of the Master’s degree in Population and Development at HSE University in Moscow. Having completed his programme at the end of June 2025, he now plans to continue his research work on a doctoral programme. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Stephen talks about what surprised him about life in Russia, his involvement in extracurricular academic activities, and more.

Celestina Adu, from Ghana, is pursuing her Master’s in Economics and Economic Policy at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. Recently, she won silver at a scientific student conference in Nizhny Novgorod. In her interview, she delves into her research on AI and its impact on education, offering advice for prospective international students based on her experiences in Russia.

Bekzod Karimov, a student from Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan, joined an exchange programme at HSE University in St Petersburg in 2024. In this interview, Bekzod shares his exciting experiences: from studying law to exploring the beautiful city. Read on to find out how the programme helped him grow, inspired his career goals, and changed his view of the world.

Every year, HSE University–St Petersburg welcomes international students from around the world not only for full-time programmes of all levels but also for academic mobility. This year, Michel Young Hernandez, a student from the Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology, is among them. In this interview, Michel shares his experience of studying at HSE University–St Petersburg as an exchange student, why he decided to participate in the international mobility programme, and what his life in a new cultural landscape has been like.

Yousra Demigha, from Algeria, is a student of the Master’s programme ‘Cognitive Sciences and Technologies: From Neuron to Cognition’ and a research assistant at the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN HSE). In her interview with the HSE News Service, Yousra talks about her experience of the programme so far, what makes HSE one of the best universities in the country, and why she hasn’t found it difficult to integrate into Russian society.

Le Nhat Truong, from Vietnam, is a first-year student of the HSE Master’s Programme 'Science of Learning and Assessment.' He spoke to the HSE News Service about his motivation for studying in Moscow, how research projects enrich his academic journey, and the role education plays in social transformation.

Moses Oluoke Omopekunola, from Nigeria, is a second-year student of the Science of Learning and Assessment (SOLA) programme. Intent on pursuing a career in psychometrics, he has already joined the PhD programme in Education to deepen his knowledge of the theory and methodology of learning. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Moses explains how his master’s programme aligns with his future plans, recalls the challenges he has faced, and shares the most valuable lessons he has learned so far.

Mahmoud Tarayra, from Jordan, is studying on the HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia. In his interview with the HSE News Service, he talks about his studies in Moscow, the difficulties of adjusting in Korea, and how to enjoy both summer and winter in Russia.