Higher School of Economics

The structure of the HSE

Higher School of Economics has 4 campuses located in Moscow and branches of the university in St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm. Undergraduate and graduate students are trained at 16 faculties of the university. On the basis of the HSE, there is a lyceum for students in grades 9-11, in which university teachers train students in 10 areas.

Branches of the HSE

City	Address	Phone	Email
St. Petersburg	Kantemirovskaya st. 3, building 1, lit. A	#+7 (812) 644-62-12	[email protected]
Nizhny Novgorod	Bolshaya Pecherskaya st. 25/12	#+7 (831) 432-77-94	[email protected]
Perm	Studencheskaya st. 38	#+7 (342) 200-96-96	[email protected]

Tuition fees at the HSE University

The complete list of programs with tuition fees is published on the official HSE website: bachelor’s and master’s. Here is the overview of undergraduate programs by direction, minimal cost and seats available.

English-taught undergraduate programs

Study discounts for international students

Higher School of Economics offers discounts on tuition to international undergraduate applicants in the following categories:

Applicants	Requirements	Discount
Students who successfully passed entrance exams	170 points or higher for both exams	70%
Students who successfully passed entrance exams	150-169 points for both exams	50%
Students who successfully passed entrance exams	140-149 points for both exams	25%
Graduates of the HSE Preparatory Year programand other similar programs offered by Russian educational institutions	Successful completion of studies with no unsatisfactory grades	50%
Applicants who cocluded the agreement in the earlier period	Conclusion and payment of the tuition fee agreement no later than June 1check the date on the official website	5%granted only for the 1st year of study
Graduates of HSE’s partner secondary schools	Being included in a certified list of recommended students signed by the partner school’s director and submitted to HSE before July 30check the date on the official website	25%
Winners and prize-winners of HSE Global Scholarship Competition	The Competition’s subject should correspond to the chosen field of study	70%

No discounts are availbale for students applying to the programs with no state-funded places, including double-degree programs with the University of London and Kyung Hee University.

To maintain the discount for the whole period of studies a student should have no reprimands and regularly demonstrate high academic performance^[4].

Scholarships for undergraduates at the Higher School of Economics

HSE quota international students have the opportunity to receive the same scholarship as state-funded students. The standard state academic scholarship is about 21 USD per month. The decision to provide an increased state academic scholarship is made on the basis of the student’s achievement and the number of applicants (only 10% of the recipients of the standard scholarship are eligible). The monthly amount paid to the students is between 65 USD and 259 USD.

In addition, the university provides an opportunity to participate in independent scholarship programs funded by partners.

Foundation	Applicantsonly full time	Requirements	Amount/month
Lukoil Fund	3rd and 4th year bachelor’s (specialist) students and 2nd year master’s students	9-point and higher grades in the latest semester	32 USD / 39 USDif renominated
Potanin Fund	Master’s students	Winning the competitionheld by Potanin foundation	324 USD

The benefits of studying in HSE

• Prestigious diploma. HSE ranks 1st in the annual international subject rating among Russian universities^[5]. The Higher School of Economics is consistently included in the top 5 Russian universities for the employment of graduates^[6].
• Applied education. Since 2014, undergraduate programs provide for compulsory project activities, which account for 20% of the workload. Students learn to apply their knowledge on real projects: they develop marketing plans for companies, website designs, accounting of financial records, etc. The site has a corresponding section where you can select projects to participate in.
• The ability to influence the content of the curriculum. Starting from the 2nd year, HSE students can take elective disciplines of their choice in an individual curriculum.
• International cooperation. Short-term and long-term exchange programs, international conferences, lectures from leading teachers of Europe, the USA, and China enable students to integrate into the international environment.
• Free education and discounts on tuition. The relatively high cost of training programs (an average of 5,178 USD per year) can be partially offset by a discount system. The university has a program to support talented students, which provides for a discount of up to 70% of the total cost of training. Almost every program has seats that allow you to study for free.

International preparatory programs

For applicants from other countries, the Higher School of Economics has a preparatory department for teaching the Russian language and general thematic disciplines. International students can choose between three programs available at the HSE.

Requirements for admission to HSE

For admission to the HSE, foreign applicants must undergo remote or face-to-face testing in 2 subjects according to the schedule. It is necessary to register for the tests through the personal account no later than 1 week before the test. The exam programs and samples, as well as minimum required scores, can be accessed on the website.

The results of the Global Scholarship Competition can be also considered.

In general, the process is made up of the following steps:

• Choose 1-2 programs you want to apply for;
• Create a personal account on the HSE website;
• Submit an application with all the necessary attachments as PDF files;
• Sign up for the online or face-to-face entrance examinations;
• Take exams according to the Qualifying Events Schedule;
• Wait for a final decision to be published on the ‘For International Applicants’ page in your personal account;
• Prepare a set of documents and submit them in the section ‘Offer of Admission’ within 40 days from the decision in your personal account;
• Get your academic credentials legalized and recognized in Russia;
• Apply for a visa (if applicable).

Admission to master’s programs

Admission process for graduate students is just a bit different from that of undergraduates:

• Choose up to 2 programs you want to apply for;
• Create a personal account on the HSE website;
• Upload your portfolio (all attachments as PDF files) before the application deadline;
• Submit an application in English or Russian;
• Pass an individual online interview with coordinators of the chosen Master’s program;
• Wait for the selection committee’s decision to be posted to your personal account;
• Prepare a set of documents and submit them in the section ‘Offer of Admission’ within 40 days from the decision in your personal account;
• Get your academic credentials legalized and recognized in Russia;
• Apply for a visa (if applicable).

The portfolio must include the following:

• Scan of your diplomas and academic transcripts;
• Scan of the certificate of prior education with transcript, or the most recent transcript;
• Letter of motivation (maximum of 500 words);
• Resume/CV (if applicable);
• Proof of language proficiency (if applicable);
• A letter of recommendation;
• Other documents per request (depending on the program requirements).

HSE admission timeline

*Check the dates on the official website.

A set of documents required after acceptance

• Translated and notarized copy of the passport or other ID;
• A translated and officially legalized copy of the certificate of prior education with transcript, or just a transcript if the documents are submitted before graduating;
• Original Scholarship Application completed in English with a picture in the upper right corner3×4 cm, color or black and white on matte paper signed by the applicant (if applicable);
• Standard general medical certificate copy;
• Medical certificate copy indicating HIV test results.

International cooperation

One of the development priorities of the HSE since its inception has been an active exchange of experience with foreign educational institutions. As of 2019, HSE University had 421 cooperation agreements with organizations from 69 countries^[7]. The Scientific Research University is a member of 4 university-wide and 10 subject-specific international associations^[8]. As a part of the interaction, joint research, conferences are held, double degree and student mobility programs are implemented.

Dual degree programs

Dual degree programs of the Higher School of Economics and foreign universities are mainly designed for master’s students. An exception refers to several 4-year Bachelor’s programs in economics and politics, implemented jointly with the London School of Economics or Kyung Hee University.

For graduate students at the Higher School of Economics, there are about 60 double-degree programs. Curricula are developed in conjunction with partner universities from the United States, Europe, China and Asia. As a rule, one year of study takes place at the HSE, another – in the territory of the foreign educational institution that participates in the joint program. Graduates receive a master's degree in HSE and a foreign diploma from a partner university. To participate in the program, several conditions must be met:

• High GPA for academic performance;
• Language of study proficiency (must provide the results of such tests as IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC etc.);
• Presence of recommendations from the program manager;
• Competitive portfolio (for some areas).

A catalogue of current DD programs and minimum entry requirements are published on the HSE website.

Academic mobility programs. Stages of selection

HSE students actively participate in international exchange programs with partner universities. Each year, the commission considers more than 1000 applications for 370 competitive quota positions. Tuition is paid by partner universities, students cover all other expenses (visa, travel to and from the host country, accommodation, meals, insurance, etc.). Reception of applications opens 2 times a year: for autumn programs it starts in February, for spring in August.

Students can submit an application both on a free and on a paid basis of full-time education. Students without academic debts who have successfully completed 2 years of bachelor’s / specialist training () or 1 year of master's / doctoral studies are allowed to participate in the competition. The Commission gives preference to those who participate in such programs for the first time. The main stages of selection are:

• Choosing a student mobility program. A catalog of relevant programs is published on the HSE website. To participate in the competition, you can choose the program of no more than 3 partner universities, placing them in order of priority.
• Determining the budget for participation. It is necessary to make an estimate of the upcoming costs of the program (payment of certificates, visa, flight, rental housing, etc.). You can calculate the approximate cost of living in the selected country here.
• Filing an application. You can fill out the digital form after the start of the competition is announced. Required documents and certificates must be attached to the application in PDF format.
• Information on the results of the competition. The decision of the selection committee based on the selection results is announced 30 days after the deadline for applications. Information is reported at the email specified during the registration and is not subject to appeal.
• Preparing for departure. Before leaving for training, it is necessary to take part in indicative meetings for those nominated for international exchange programs. During the meeting students discuss possible issues of stay and study in the selected country. Students on Moscow campuses must attend in person. Webinars are organized for students at HSE branches.

HSE Business Education

HSE offers 58 full-time, part-time, and remote professional retraining programs lasting from 8 to 24 months. Training is conducted in 11 areas:

• Business Informatics;
• Finance and credit;
• Economics and property management;
• Foreign language;
• Marketing;
• Management;
• Corporate governance;
• Logistics and supply chain management;
• HR Management;
• Sports management;
• Law.

Especially popular is the unique program for Russia MBA in Business Analytics, which has been accredited by the National Expert Council for Business and Management Education, NASDOBR^[9]. The number of people who want to enroll in training annually exceeds the number of places on the course, which leads to the early closure of registration. The program provides the most relevant knowledge and skills in the field of general and IT management, develops a systematic approach to management. The cost of a 20-month course is 8,284 USD.

A complete list of MBA, EMBA, DBA, and Executive Master programs from the Higher School of Economics is published on the website.

Additional education

HSE+. The project of the Higher School of Economics for úndergraduate and graduate students, designed to develop additional competencies of students:

• Language (English, French, German, Chinese, Spanish, Italian);
• Professional (marketing, finance, law, linguistics, etc.);
• Soft skills (time management, business communication, conflict management).

Winter schools. Traditional activities during the winter holidays for students who wish to continue their studies at master’s level. Classes are taught in 13 areas, including the School of Law, Social Sciences, and the School of Business Informatics. The format of winter schools is lectures on the subject, presentations of industry leading companies representatives, project activities. HSE provides students with free attendance accommodations and meals. A student needs to pass a selection process to attend.

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Student life

In addition to studying, students can join a variety of club organizations: sports, music, cinema, travel, charity. The HSE Theater conducts classes in acting and stage speech, regularly puts on plays, and participates in city festivals. There are about 40 HSE championship teams in the university’s football (soccer) league. The project "Muzvyshka" unites student music bands of Moscow. In 2018, it won the European Eventiada IPRA Golden World Awards 2018 in the category "PR project of the year"^[10]. Learn about all organizations.

The HSE pays attention to the future career of graduates. The Career Development Center consults on resume writing and successful interviewing. The site publishes vacancies and internships from potential employers. To ensure that graduates feel confident even at the very beginning of their careers, classes on solving business cases are regularly held at the HSE. More than 5000 students learn the trends of modern business, develop team cooperation, decision-making and leadership skills.

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Infrastructure of the Higher School of Economics

The main building of the Higher School of Economics is located in the center of Moscow on the busy Myasnitskaya Street near the metro stations Lubyanka and Chistye Prudy. Here you can fight the main part of the faculties. Several buildings of the university are located separately, in different areas of the city. All university buildings have Wi-Fi access. Some buildings are adapted for people with disabilities. There are ramps at the entrance, toilet rooms on the 1st floors, equipped with handrails and special cabins. Most buildings have their own libraries and canteens.

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At the disposal of the Higher School of Economics are 10 dormitories located within Moscow and the Moscow region. Some have gyms, laundromats, and student canteens. The cost of living is set in the range of 800–22 USD per month, depending on the hostel.

"Campus Dubki" is located in the Moscow region, Odintsovo. 3 multistoried buildings can house over 5,000 nonresident and foreign students. Accommodation is provided in 1, 2, 3 and 4-room apartments with balconies and equipped kitchens. The town has a medical center, ATMs, gyms and separate rooms for self-training. The cost of living is 71 USD per month.

Interesting facts about the Higher School of Economics

• HSE has its own currency – HSEсoin. Each year, students are awarded with HSEcoins (1 unit – 3 USD), with which they can provide financial support to existing student projects: buy products or services, donate for development, etc. To get financing, project creators train in advertising and PR campaigns.
• HSE also has the project “Hotline Button” – a feedback form with which stude nts can share their opinions or express opinions on university life or education. The internet outages, a professor being late, poor-quality food – such problems are often solved using the service.
• Since 2001, the HSE has been hosting the annual Golden HSE award based on professional achievements. The competition jury determines the winners in 8 categories. Nominees for the award can be teachers, students and graduates of the university.

Famous alumni

• Maxim Oreshkin – Economic Adviser to President of Russia (since 2020), Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (2016–2020), Chairman of the Council of the Center for Strategic Research (since 2018 – present);
• German Klimenko – owner of the Internet company LiveInternet, founder of the news aggregator MediaMetrics, adviser to the President of the Russian Federation (2016–2018);
• Dmitry Pegov – Deputy General Director of Russian Railways, overseeing the passenger services;
• Konstantin Noskov – Minister of Digital Development, Telecommunications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation (2018–2020), Head of the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation;
• Ilya Azar is a journalist, special correspondent for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper. In 2014, winner of the Journalist of the Year Award according to GQ magazine.

Student feedback on the HSE

Pros. In the educational process, students note a small number of general subjects, sufficient time for self-study and the value of a diploma, which allows you to easily find work after graduation. One of the important advantages, according to students, is the availability of lecture notes prepared by previous students and free attendance at theoretical classes. Many people like the opportunity to participate in creative events, gain additional skills in project work.

Cons. A lot of deadlines that are impossible to postpone, the remote location of the buildings and poor technical equipment of the classrooms are the main complaints in the reviews of most students. A complex training program and problems with the schedule are noted by students of some faculties, for example, law, foreign languages.

Photos of HSE

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