The New Academic Year at HSE University – St. Petersburg
The HSE St. Petersburg administration has issued an order ‘On the specifics of organizing the educational process with the participation of students and postgraduates of HSE University – St. Petersburg in the 2021–2022 academic year’. The order outlines measures to protect students from COVID-19 for the 2021/2022 academic year.
Students of HSE University – St. Petersburg can sign up for the first stage of vaccination at City Сlinic No. 27 (vaccinations are currently available only to citizens of the Russian Federation). Detailed information is available at the link. International students who would like to undergo vaccination should fill in the pre-registration form.
Frequently asked questions
The following groups of students will be admitted to offline classes at the university (provided they have documentary evidence):
- those who have been vaccinated, including with foreign-made vaccines
- those who have had COVID-19 within six months of the beginning of classes (September 1)
- those with medical exemption from vaccination against COVID-19
- those under the age of 18 (if their parents or legal guardians have given consent for them to study on university premises)
To gain admission to university buildings, such students must upload supporting documents to their personal account on the HSE website (for more details, see Section 6).
In-person classes are limited to 60 students per classroom. During classes, it is necessary to comply with the established sanitary and epidemiological requirements (social distancing, mask-wearing, sanitization of hands, etc.)
‘At-risk students’ category includes adult students who:
- have NOT had COVID-19 in the last six months
- do NOT have a medical exemption from vaccination against COVID-19
- have NOT been vaccinated, including with foreign-made vaccines
‘Students in isolation’ category includes students who:
- are self-isolating due to illness or contact with someone infected with COVID-19.
No, these students are not allowed to attend classes in university buildings. Their passes will be blocked until they submit documents confirming prior infection/vaccination/medical exemption.
The university will organize classes for students in these categories using distance learning technologies and e-learning, and provide full educational support through the HSE University LMS.
Students in isolation are not allowed into university buildings under any circumstances.
At-risk students can be admitted only to those in-person classes that cannot be organized using distance learning technologies (classes requiring laboratory equipment or licensed software). Such classes are conducted exclusively in small groups (of no more than 15 people per classroom) for students who have tested negative on a PCR test taken within the last three calendar days. The decision to conduct such classes is made by the Director of HSE University – St. Petersburg, as advised by the dean of the faculty.
At the same time, students must still comply with the established sanitary and epidemiological requirements (social distancing, mask-wearing, sanitizing hands, etc.).
Underage students will be allowed to enter university buildings if given consent to study on university premises from their parents or legal guardians.
One month before they turn 18, underage students will be notified of the need to get vaccinated.
Remote classes will be organized for international students who are unable to come to St. Petersburg. When international students are able to come to Russia, they will be subject to the general restrictions on visiting university buildings and the procedure for submitting supporting documents described in points 1–7.
At the moment, there is no opportunity for international students to sign up for vaccination. However, we are monitoring the situation and are taking measures to resolve this issue.
| No. | Category of student | Confirming document | Where to send documents |
| 1 | Those who have recovered from COVID-19 during the last six months. * | A document confirming prior infection issued by an authorized organization. The document must be in Russian or English. If the document is not in Russian or English, a certified Russian translation must also be submitted. | Documents must be uploaded to your personal account on the HSE website (under ‘Transfer data on COVID-19’). You can access your personal account with your student email login and password. For admission to university buildings from the beginning of the academic year, you must upload the documents by August 25. |
| 2 | Those with medical exemption from vaccination against COVID-19 | A certificate from a medical organization confirming the medical exemption from vaccination against COVID-19 and indicating the terms of medical exemption. The document must be in Russian or English. If the document is not in Russian or English, a certified Russian translation must also be submitted. |
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| 3 | Those who have been vaccinated, including with foreign vaccines | A certificate of vaccination or other document confirming vaccination (including documents from the website of the State Services) |
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| 4 | Those under the age of 18 | Consent to study in University buildings from parents or legal guardians | Documents must be submitted to your programme office
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COVID-19 antibody certificates are not included in the list of documents that allow access to offline studies.
* 1. Medical certificate about the temporary disability of a student about illness, quarantine or other reasons for their absence with a stamp from the medical institution (state / non-state), signature and personal seal of the attending physician
2. Extract from the medical record of an outpatient or inpatient with a stamp from the medical institution (state / non-state), signature and personal seal of the attending physician
3. Discharge summary from a hospital with a stamp from the medical institution (state / non-state), signature and personal seal of the attending physician
4. Medical certificate indicating the period of illness and recovery with a stamp from the medical institution (state / non-state), signature and personal seal of the attending physician.
First-year students must upload all supporting documents to their personal account on the HSE University – Saint Petersburg website by September 25, 2021. First-year students will be allowed to attend in-person classes at HSE University – St. Petersburg until September 30, 2021 (subject to the established sanitary and epidemiological requirements).
No. Students in at-risk categories are not allowed to visit University buildings.
Digital library resources are available. Please see the additional information here. Online registration is required.
University staff will check the personal accounts of students for supporting documents every week and will block/unblock ID cards accordingly. In case of any difficulties uploading documents or accessing University buildings, please contact your programme office.
HSE University – Saint Petersburg has arranged a separate vaccination register with City Clinic No. 27. The Student Welfare Unit deals with student vaccinations.
At the moment, only citizens of the Russian Federation can register to get vaccinated. Currently, foreign citizens cannot register this way.
If you’re planning to get vaccinated in St. Petersburg, you can apply through our Google Form.
Details will be announced later.
We are monitoring the situation and taking all available steps to address this issue.
At the moment, it is only possible to get a domestic vaccine within the Russian Federation. However, foreign citizens can undergo vaccination abroad with international vaccines.
In this case, they must submit the relevant documentation confirming vaccination, issued by the country of citizenship, in Russian or English. If the document is not in Russian or English, a certified Russian translation must also be submitted.
There are currently no special restrictions related to HSE University – St. Petersburg dormitories. All students can move into their dormitories.
Please note that the Interuniversity Campus is an exception:
- from September 1, 2021, all students (both new and already resident), must provide a certificate confirming the completion of a full course of vaccination against COVID-19. Alternatively, they must provide a medical exemption from vaccination or a certificate confirming the presence of COVID-19 antibodies (issued within the last 6 months)
- students under the age of 18 at the time of moving in must provide a certificate confirming the completion of a full course of vaccination against COVID-19. Alternatively, they must provide a medical exemption from vaccination or a certificate confirming the presence of COVID-19 antibodies (issued within the last 6 months) within the first month after turning 18.
Any further decisions about limiting access to dormitories will be made based on the epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg.
According to the decree dated June 29, 2021 No. 8.3.6.2-08/290621-1, all extracurricular and cultural events are strictly forbidden. No date has been set for the loosening or removal of restrictions. For this reason, all extracurricular activities planned for the beginning of the academic year (regardless of the number of participants) will be held online.
As with the dormitory regulations, any further decisions will be based on the epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg and the statistics on student vaccinations.