News

Many students at Higher School of Economics keep their personal blogs or publish them in different news outlets. Aruuke Uran Kyzy, a second-year student in the graduate Programme ‘Comparative Politics of Eurasia’ at HSE University — St. Petersburg, a journalist and a contributing analyst in the field of Politics of Eurasia, talks us through her experience. She has prominent publications for news outlets such as TRT World, The Diplomat, and she also writes for her personal blog.

Much has been said about online education over the last year. What used to be perceived as a challenge a few months ago has become a new comfort zone and does not impress anyone. Indeed, during the pandemic, we have proved that persistence, professionalism, and flexibility bring good results even when the world is turned upside-down. Having had a successful experience of hosting the St. Petersburg HSE Summer School online, the university introduces HSE – St. Petersburg International Research School, a new project encouraging students all over the world to explore different areas — from Russia’s role in international relations to social, cultural, gender aspects of Russia’s historical experience, and even to the burning issue of what global business is going to be like when the COVID-19 crisis is over.

This year, HSE University’s EU Model game and conference will be an intercampus event that will be held online. The organizers are confident that the event will attract students in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, and Perm who are interested in European policy, EU law and international relations.

The year 2020 has been very challenging for international education, but new challenges have brought new opportunities. Despite the pandemic, HSE – St Petersburg managed to increase its international enrollment numbers. Below is a roundup of the highlights and key figures of the 2020 international admissions campaign.

This year, HSE University has maintained its position in the 251-300 range in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The University ranks among the top 3 Russian universities along with Moscow State University (which ranks 174th) and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (which ranks in the 201-250 range). In the THE’s global ranking of the best universities for research, HSE ranks 199th.

This fall HSE University – Saint Petersburg resumes most classes in person. The state borders of the Russian Federation remain closed for entry of most foreign citizens except for five countries (Abkhazia, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Turkey, and Switzerland). For those students who are unable to enter Russia the university will arrange online instruction.

Classes will begin on-campus on September 1 (for some graduate programmes on October 1), and wearing masks in university buildings and dormitories will be mandatory for all students and teachers. HSE University will arrange online learning with mandatory support from professors for newly enrolled international students who are currently unable to travel to Russia.

Many international students study at HSE University - Saint Petersburg's English-taught programmes. They come to Russia from different corners of the world for different reasons: to learn the Russian language, to live in a new place, or to immerse themselves in an intercultural environment. We asked several undergraduate students to share their impressions of studying at the university, interacting with classmates and lecturers, and living in Saint Petersburg.