International Students Share Why They Choose HSE University–St Petersburg
Moving to another country is a big step, and studying there is even more so. In 2026, HSE University–St Petersburg welcomed more than 250 international students. At Orientation Day, they learned more about the educational process and Russian culture and shared why they chose HSE University.
HSE University–St Petersburg regularly holds adaptation events for international students. These meetings help international first-years adapt to their new life and start their studies smoothly.
Olga Gaidova
Director of the International Student and Alumni Centre
We are truly happy to see representatives of various countries and cultures. You have covered hundreds and thousands of kilometres for more than just quality education. You have arrived to get a unique student experience, which will become the basis of your future success. The choice of our university is proof of its high international authority, and your arrival is a great honour for us.
At Orientation Day, the international students learned more about migration and visa support, research opportunities, and extracurricular activities at HSE University–St Petersburg. They also had a chance to meet tutors of their educational programmes and attend a campus tour around the building on Kantemirovskaya Street.
In 2026, HSE University–St Petersburg enrolled 154 bachelor's and 100 master's students from various countries in Eurasia, Africa, and North and South America: the CIS countries, Brazil, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sweden, the USA, France, Austria, Latvia, and others.
The most popular bachelor's programme among international students is 'Media Communications.' Bachelor's applicants were also strongly interested in 'Design' and degrees in business and economics.
Danil Tkachev from Kyrgyzstan enrolled in the Bachelor's programme 'Public Policy and Analytics' as a winner of the International Olympiad. He applied to HSE University–St Petersburg after hearing a lot about the career prospects which the university offers. His desire to study in Russian also played a big role.
Jang Hyunkyu is a first-year student of the 'International Programme in Business and Economics' from South Korea. HSE University–St Petersburg appealed to him with the diversity of development directions and internships, as well as high academic potential.
'Russian economic importance keeps growing all around the world, including relations with India and African countries. That is why I believe that it is especially important to understand the world economy from the Russian perspective. Your university will help me with it,' explained Jang.
Shikder Md Zubayed from Bangladesh, a second-year student of the same programme, has come to HSE University–St Petersburg to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for launching startups: 'I am most interested in business analytics. Just like some of my friends, I would like to engage in research in this sphere.'
Vianith Mercedes Saldarriaga Delgado from Ecuador spent a year learning Russian to enrol in the programme 'Design': 'I feel that creativity is my strength, and HSE University in this sense is very relatable for me.'
Zlata Kara from Moldova enrolled in the track 'Environmental and Interior Design': 'From the beginning, I was aiming for this university, and I didn't consider any other programmes. Students say that our professors try to pay attention to every student, and that is very valuable.'
Among the master's programmes, international applicants were mostly interested in economics, management, and design. The top list also includes political science, in particular the Master's programme 'Politics and Global Governance in Eurasia.'
Kaka Martin Mbongo from Cameroon chose 'Data Analytics for Business and Economics' because graduates of this specialisation are in demand in the global labour market.
'HSE is one of the best universities in Russia, and large businesses and employers trust it. I was sure of that after reading the curriculum—all the courses are practical and aimed at the development of hard skills,' he shared.
Laura Vanesa Montoya Anaya from Colombia and Alexia Rouet Leduc from France enrolled in the Master's programme 'Arts and Culture Management.' The former wanted to study on a programme related to St Petersburg to become a part of the cultural life of the metropolis. The latter wanted to boost the competencies gained in the bachelor's programme in international relations.
'I chose HSE University because it has a great academic reputation and a developed network of international relations. St Petersburg has a rich history; that is why the city is perfect for studying art and culture management,' noted Alexia.
Among the international students are not only those who came to study full-time but also exchange students who came for a semester or a year. For example, Tang Ziqing from China is studying Russian economics and history. He hopes to find sources about industrialisation in the St Petersburg archives. Hwang Youngseo and Choi Yoonji, students from South Korea, are majoring in economics and planning to look at familiar topics from a new perspective at HSE University. Yasmim Daiana de Jesus Oliveira Silva from Brazil is studying Russian in addition to Japanese and Korean. She is open to the possibility of returning and staying in Russia.
Orientation Day is not the only format of support for HSE University–St Petersburg students. Starting from this academic year, each dormitory has a curator who can help students adapt there. HSE staff have created a chat group for the parents of students from other countries where they answer questions and share university news. In spring, the Centre for Russian Language and Culture launched a film club, where participants watch and discuss Russian films to get to know local traditions and practise their language skills.
We invite international students to HSE SPB Day to find new friends and participate in the activities—it's sure to help you settle in! See you on September 5 at Sevkabel Port. Preliminary registration is required.
