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Summer 2023 turned to be full of great student events. HSE international students did not stand aside, taking part in various cultural, educational, and scientific events across Russia. Bakary, Thu Trang, and Boris shared their thoughts about being foreigners engaged into Russian student society.

Sheripher Dinala, from Malawi, is a student of the Master’s in Political Analysis and Public Policy at HSE University in Moscow. With her busy summer over and the new academic year in full swing, Sheripher shares her stories of moving into a university dormitory, volunteering at international conferences, and nighttime dancing by the Moscow River.

Thu Trang Pham is a 23-year old HSE University student from Vietnam. She is currently in her fourth year of studies at theFaculty of World Economy and International Relations. Thu Trang spoke to the HSE News Service about why HSE is the perfect university for international students, life in her dormitory, and how she plans to make the most of her final year of studies by travelling around Moscow and Russia.

The summer break is an opportunity for hard-working HSE University students to relax, recuperate, explore the city and travel. Two such students, Daniel Suarez from Colombia and Oluwafunto Abimbola from Nigeria, share their experiences of the positives (and pitfalls) of summer in the city and life at HSE dormitories.

Ayomide Adedini, from Nigeria, is a second-year student of the Master's in Political Analysis and Public Policy.He is also the current Chair of the Council of the International Student Association (CISA) and Vice Chair of Dormitory 7. In his interview, Ayomide talks about broadening his horizons in HSE University’s student dorms and making the most of summer in Moscow.

Six men’s teams and two women’s teams made up of international students from 30 countries took part in the first ever HSE Inter Football Cup. The event was organised by the Support and Career Centre for International Students and Alumni, the Department of Internationalisation, and the Department of Physical Training.

The term 'language barrier' refers to any difficulties that arise when speaking a non-native language. Almost every person studying a foreign language has experienced this unpleasant phenomenon. The reasons for this problem include a fear of the unknown, a fear of mistakes, embarrassment because of one's accent, a fear of being misunderstood and much more. All of these problems are a psychological component of the language barrier. In this article, foreign students from different countries share their experiences and help foreign applicants overcome their fears.

If you are an international student, there is a good chance that there are some things you do not know about the university you applied to. It can be hard to adapt to a new place, new people, and—most importantly—a new educational system. That is why we asked Yesuigen Tsogjavkhlan, 2nd-year student of the Bachelor’s programme ‘Public Policy and Analytics’, to share five things she wishes she had known before coming to HSE University-St Petersburg.

The diverse HSE University community includes people from different countries and continents who can share their cultural experiences and generate novel ideas with their never-ending creativity and love for art. The Master's programme 'Arts and Culture Management' welcomed several students from Nigeria last year. Today, they are happy to share their sources of inspiration and their expectations of the programme and their future life.

Yesuigen Tsogjavkhlan, from Mongolia, reflects on her experience as an international student majoring in ‘Public Policy and Analytics’ at HSE University-St Petersburg and shares her story of coming to Russia.