Education

HSE Preparatory Year students not only learn Russian and get ready to enroll in Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes but also explore Russian culture and way of life, which includes trying the local cuisine, sightseeing, and interacting with Russian people. Three international Prep Year students have talked to HSE News Service about learning the language, getting used to living in Moscow, and joining in New Year celebrations in Russia.

Helena Wiehahn, postgraduate student of Stellenbosch University, spent the last Fall semester at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science. She told us about the exchange program, differences between the two countries and "Ded Moroz”.

On December 20, the students of the International Preparatory Year programme at HSE’s Moscow campus got together to usher in the New Year in true Russian style. They all first arrived in Moscow this September with zero or very limited knowledge of Russian. So, their programme started with an intensive course of Russian as a Foreign Language. Now, three months later, they have already mastered enough Russian to make mini-presentations, perform sketches, take part in a Russian culture quiz, and solve Russian riddles.

HSE is a truly international university - every year it attracts students from all over the world who come to Russia on exchange or enrol in English-taught graduate or undergraduate programmes. HSE News Service has talked to some of HSE’s full degree international students about their decision to apply to HSE and their experience living and studying in Moscow.

Under the ‘Study Abroad Programme in Russian Language and Culture’ students improve their language proficiency and explore the Russian cultural heritage. Recently, they have been to Veliky Novgorod.

HSE is now accepting applications for the competition for increased state academic scholarships for outstanding academic, research, public, cultural, creative or sports achievements. International students on full-tuition Russian government scholarships are eligible to apply.

International students have been enrolled in HSE undergraduate and graduate programmes this academic year. About 800 people will study on Russian government scholarships while the rest will pay tuition fees. Compared to last year, the number of international students among first-year fee-paying students has increased by about 80%.

In August 2018, the Faculty of Law at HSE Nizhny Novgorod hosted the annual summer school ‘Russian – Chinese Business: Cultural and Legal Aspects’. This year, the delegation from China was twice as big as last year, and the number of volunteers increased significantly, which clearly shows that summer schools with partner universities gain momentum!

Having fallen in love with Moscow and the Russian culture during an exchange programme three years ago at HSE, Alis Maria Endres, a native of Germany, decided that she wanted to return to the university to complete a Master’s degree in management. In order to be able to study in Russian, Alis Maria first enrolled in HSE's International Preparatory Year programme.

On August 16, the HSE Summer University officially came to an end. The graduation ceremony was an opportunity for participants, teachers and programme administrators to celebrate yet another successful season – and the Summer University’s fifth birthday.