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Adila Ulfia Maula Tontowi is a third-year student of the Bachelor’s in Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication. After moving from her hometown in Indonesia to France for a year, she decided to broaden her horizons even further and study at HSE University in Moscow. In this interview, Maula talks about navigating intercultural interactions, how the International Prep Year helped her adapt to life in Russia, and what she’s learned about traditional Russian celebrations like Maslenitsa—which is taking place this week.

On February 1, 2025, the HSE Cultural Centre hosted its annual celebration of the Lunar New Year. This large-scale event brought together students and teachers with an interest in the cultures of East Asian countries. The celebration was organised by the School of Asian Studies at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, the Department of Internationalisation, the HSE Chinese Club, as well as other university clubs—the Musubi Japanese Club and the Hanryang Korean Club.

The number of applications has nearly doubled: as of today, more than 2,600 applications have been submitted for undergraduate programmes, and more than 2,400 for master's programmes. This increased interest from international applicants in studying at HSE confirms the university's status as one of the most sought-after Russian universities abroad.

Representatives from the HSE Institute of Education have visited leading Indian universities, including the University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and O.P. Jindal Global University, as well as several research centres. HSE staff gave guest lectures on the Russian education system, highlighting its features and opportunities for international students. The visit aimed to strengthen academic collaboration between the two countries. 

Eating fruit, wearing traditional outfits, and surviving the Moscow cold: Prep Year students from Vietnam, Iran, and Ghana talk about the New Year traditions in their countries and their plans for the celebration in Russia.

This winter, Moscow invites locals and visitors alike to revel in the atmosphere of the upcoming holidays in its shops, theatres, exhibitions, ice rinks, and more. The winter markets in particular create a special feeling of cosiness during the cold evenings. Read on to learn more about some of Moscow’s most festive markets this December.

Learning Russian is one of the challenges international students face when they come to Russia. HSE University helps them not only with Russian classes, but with informal events such as the Russian Speaking Club, where they can absorb the language in a relaxed and non-competitive setting. The HSE News Service talked to the organisers and participants of the club about their impressions of the first meeting and plans for the future.

In October, the HSE International Prep Year programme held orientation sessions for its newcomers. Why should one study Russian? What is the admission process like at HSE University? Is it easy to navigate through Moscow and the HSE buildings? The HSE News Service discussed these and other questions with Faizullah from Afghanistan, Sechang from South Korea, and Faith from Zambia—all newly enrolled students of the Prep Year.

On October 14, 2024, International Partnership Day Russia–Brazil took place at HSE University. The event was organised in collaboration with the Brazilian Embassy in Moscow and marked the first Brazilian academic and scientific mission to Russia, leading to the signing of cooperation agreements between HSE University and four Brazilian universities.

On July 3, 2024, the International Preparatory Year programme held its graduation ceremony. This academic year, 215 students (150 on state-funded and 65 on fee-paying places) from over 50 countries were enrolled in the programme. Graduates from Nigeria, Sudan, and Vietnam shared their impressions with the HSE News Service. Alexandra Nazarchuk, Director of the International Preparatory Year Programme talked about their achievements and plans for the coming year.