2023 Admissions Now Open
The 2023 Admissions Campaign has started at HSE University. The range of available courses includes 89 bachelor’s and 182 master’s programmes across the university’s campuses in Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Perm. Among them are 13 English-taught bachelor’s programmes and 40 English-taught master’s programmes in such fields as architecture, Asian studies, IT, arts, history, mathematics, politics, psychology, economics, management, physics, chemistry, biology, law, literature and many others.
HSE University consistently places highly in various international academic rankings, and students from more than 100 countries study here. Below, three international students share their impressions of studying and living in Russia and explain why they chose HSE University.
Abdul Jalilu
My name is Abdul Jalilu and I am a second-year master’s student from Ghana. I enrolled in a preparatory programme at HSE University in the 2020/2021 academic year and later fully enrolled in the Master’s programme in Strategic Corporate Finance. I got to know about HSE University through my brother, who enrolled here some time ago.
I think HSE University is one of the best in Russia. I have gained a lot of knowledge, skills, connections, and experience here.
The university has world-renowned professors who are capable of making students achieve their academic dreams
Studying here also gave me an opportunity to work with people from other faculties. I had the opportunity to work with Oxana Budjko, Head of the HSE International Office, and Ella Khromova, Investment Director at Prima Capital in Moscow. And the HSE dormitory administrators have been so helpful to me in my dormitory.
My main challenge as a student here is how difficult some courses are. Microeconomics and Advanced Econometrics were very difficult for me and other students, I think because some of us did not do these courses during our bachelor’s studies.
I think the general perception of Ghanaians about Russia is good. Russians are united in whatever they do, however from my experience, some of them are not so open to talk to foreigners.
Yuxin
I decided to study in Russia primarily because of its rich culture, which I’ve been drawn to since childhood. I have read many famous Russian poems and prose works (including Crime and Punishment and War and Peace) and watched a lot of plays performed by famous actors.
Living in the south of China, I never saw snow. The first time I saw snow was in Moscow, and the scene fascinated me.
My first year at HSE University was very difficult. My profession is very complicated, and I was only in my second year of studying Russian, so it was more difficult for me than for others. At first, I didn't always understand the topic or assignments, so while others were resting, I studied on my own to learn both the language and mathematics at the same time.
I tried very hard to prepare for the exams and in the end, I surpassed myself and began to understand everything
My favourite places in HSE are the rooms at the top of Building D. I often study there, and you can see Pokrovka in all its glory through the window. I also like the glass lift on the first floor and the stairs in Building S. They look like a modern Hogwarts.
Ulyana Kustikova
I was admitted to the Bachelor’s in Business Informatics at HSE University in 2021. My journey to this university started when my dad and I found information about the university on social media. After reading several articles on the website, we decided it was the best university for me.
What I like most about this university is that the administration is supportive and the other students make my studies here comfortable and enjoyable. Most of the professors are young and their thoughts are modern, so it’s interesting to study with them.
You need to study really hard to pass your exams once you’re here, but it’s worth it!
I really like Moscow. The architecture is beautiful, and public transport is convenient, but you need to learn how to navigate the city.
My dormitory is in the city centre. It has a canteen and a kitchen, which is really convenient for me. I have both Russian and international friends. We come from different cultural backgrounds, but we share common interests.
Those interested in studying at HSE University should create a personal account to apply for bachelor's or master's programmes (switch to English in the upper-right corner).
More information is available on the International Admissions website.
For more student stories and up-to-date information on admissions, competitions, and discounts, follow HSEenter on Telegram.
See also:
‘Growth Often Happens Quietly, When No One is Watching’
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection on the past and planning for the future. With the winter holidays almost here, the HSE News Service has been asking international students to share their experiences and take stock of the year gone by. In this instalment, master’s students Raihanulla Moghmand and Isaac Sarfo talk about traditional New Year celebrations in their home countries, explain what they’ve learned from life in Russia so far, and share some warm wishes for their fellow students.
‘Analytical Centres and Programmes for PhD Students’: HSE University–St Petersburg Offers New Formats of Cooperation with PRC
The Rope Shop Educational Space of HSE University–St Petersburg hosted a conference on the present and future of Russian–Chinese relations. Together with Luo Zhanhui, Consul General of China in St Petersburg, leading experts in Asian and African Studies discussed vectors for the long-term development of the countries, the synergy of joint projects, and future educational partnerships.
Transition to Sustainable Development Requires Deep Structural Transformation of Business
A group of researchers has proposed assessing the ESG transformation of businesses through the partner turnover ratio in raw material and distribution supply chains. The researchers note that the path towards sustainability requires a deep and often costly restructuring of partner networks. This and other papers were presented at the Third International Annual Conference ‘ESG Corporate Dynamics: the Challenges for Emerging Capital Markets.’
HSE University Hosts China Academy of Art Delegation to Strengthen Academic and Research Cooperation
On December 12, HSE University welcomed a delegation from the China Academy of Art — one of the most prestigious creative universities in Asia. The visit built on the dialogue launched in September and reaffirmed the mutual interest in collaboration outlined during the visit of Natalia Logutova, Deputy Director of the HSE Institute for Creative Industries Development, to the academy’s campus in Hangzhou. The parties discussed ideas that could form the foundation for long-term partnership—from digital reconstructions of historical spaces to joint educational programmes and research initiatives.
Eighth International U4U Online Seminar Unites Experts from 14 Countries
The HSE Online Campus hosted a two-day international U4U (Universities for Universities) seminar, which traditionally serves as a platform for exchanging expertise in online learning. This year, the event has reached a global scale, attracting international experts and representatives of universities from around the world. Together, they discussed key challenges and strategies for the development of online education. The online meeting was held in mid-November.
‘Keep Working, Keep Publishing—Consistency Matters’
Ziyuan Zhu, from Beijing, China, is an international PhD student at the Institute for Public Administration and Governance at HSE University in Moscow. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Ziyuan talks about how studies can influence one’s outlook on life, comparing public service models in different countries, and why being a Chinese student in Russia is advantageous in research.
Under a Blooming Magnolia: How Russian and Chinese Scientists Create Solar Cells of the Future
Schola continues to introduce the winners of the International Academic Cooperation competition. In today's issue, Professor Andrey Vasenko, Deputy Head of the Scientific and Educational Laboratory of Quantum Nanoelectronics at Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (MIEM), speaks about the joint project between his laboratory and the Peking University research team— ‘Engineering of highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells.’
Graduate School of Business MBA Students Take Part in Offsite Module in China
MBA students of the HSE Graduate School of Business HSHSE have recently completed the international component of their studies at the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University. The module focused on developing business through innovation. The participants discussed the impact of new technologies on corporate structures and visited companies operating in robotics and renewable energy.
Meeting with Xinhua Delegation: Discussion on Contemporary Journalism at HSE
On October 22, 2025, HSE University hosted an open meeting with representatives of the Chinese news agency Xinhua, led by Sun Zhiping, Chief of Staff to the Director General. Participants discussed current challenges in journalism and the operational specifics of news agencies in today’s media landscape. Many students took the opportunity to ask questions and practise speaking Mandarin. The visit was organised by the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs in collaboration with the HSE Institute of Media and the TASS news agency.
HSE Participates in Conference on International Exchange of Professionals in China
From October 21 to 24, 2025, the 23rd Conference on International Exchange of Professionals took place in Shanghai and Beijing, bringing together more than 7,000 scientists and experts from around the world. HSE University was represented by Ivan Arzhantsev, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science, and Vasily Gromov, Head of the Laboratory for Semantic Analysis of the Centre for Language and Semantic Technologies.