Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
© Higher School of Economics
This year Center for the preparation of foreign students HSE University is turning 10 years old. Applicants from other countries take a year-long course here to prepare for admission to Russian universities. HSE teachers help future students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully master a higher education program in Russia.
Many graduates of the center choose to enroll in the Higher School of Economics, and some later become its employees.
As part of the annual course, the center's students can study Russian, get to know Russian culture and traditions better, and attend seminars on thematic subjects: mathematics, physics, computer science, literature, history, social studies, and others. Upon completion of the program, the center's graduates have the opportunity to receive a discount on tuition fees at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
Graduates of the Center for the Preparation of Foreign Students told Vyshka.Glavnoe about their decision to come to Russia and study at the Higher School of Economics.
Why am I here?
— I came from Serbia, from Belgrade, because I wanted to study international relations, especially relations between Serbia and Russia, as well as Russian policy in South-Eastern Europe. Historical relations between our countries have been good, the people of Serbia perceive Russia as the most reliable ally and consider Russians a brotherly people, but they do not fully understand the specifics of Russia and Russian policy. That is why I came here to study this area.
About preparation for admission
— A professor from Serbia recommended HSE to me, and I applied. Before entering the first year of the master's program, I had to learn Russian, because the program was in Russian, so I arrived a year earlier and entered the Center for the Preparation of Foreign Students. At first, we studied only Russian, then they began to distribute us according to the specialties that we planned to study in the future.
I can't say it was difficult to learn the language, but it was intense. Serbian is a Slavic language, so it was easier for me than for others whose native language is not in this group. But sometimes it was a problem: for example, the same word can mean different things in Serbian and Russian.
About studying at HSE
— After my master's degree, I entered postgraduate studies, so I am now in my second year of postgraduate studies. I began collaborating with the Center for Mediterranean Studies on various projects from my first year of master's studies. At the moment, I am working under the supervision of Ekaterina Gennadyevna Entina, who was my academic supervisor in my master's degree and is now in postgraduate studies. For me, HSE is an opportunity to work in a field that interests me, with good people.
Sachin Malhotra, a student of the Master's programData Science» HSE, Head of the Commission HSE Student Council for work with foreign students
About moving to Russia and HSE
— I am from India, from the city of Agra, famous for its Taj Mahal. I chose Russia and HSE because I was looking for a quality education in Data Science. HSE has a strong academic reputation, an international environment, and a modern approach to teaching. I also wanted to experience another culture and challenge myself by learning a new language and being in an unfamiliar environment.
About the Center for the Preparation of Foreign Students
— I decided to take a preparatory year at HSE to gain at least a level of Russian that would be sufficient for everyday communication. This is critical for any international student, especially since many people outside of the university do not speak English. As part of the program, I studied Russian, both grammar and conversation, as well as mathematics and history. This gave me the opportunity to build a solid foundation in the language that I used not only in the classroom but also in everyday life. The program also gave me the chance to meet students from different countries, some of whom became my close friends.
About the Russian language
— I have been studying Russian for two years now — one year as part of the preparatory year and one year as a Master’s student. At first, it was quite difficult. Russian itself is a challenge, and the academic standards at HSE are very high, which also pushed me to improve the language. But in the end, this environment contributed to my growth not only in the language, but also in my academic performance in general. It made me more confident and prepared for university life in Russia.
After the preparatory year
— Afterwards, I enrolled in the Master’s program in Data Science at HSE. The academic experience was intense. The program is well-structured, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills in machine learning, programming, and statistical analysis. The teachers are highly qualified, and the international environment facilitates collaboration and exchange of experience with like-minded people. Although sometimes challenging, this experience significantly deepened my understanding of data science and prepared me for future professional challenges.
About admission to HSE and studies
— I am from Belgrade, Serbia. I moved to Moscow in January 2021. I made this decision thanks to the Russian House in Belgrade. I had an idea to study Russian, and when I visited the Russian House, I learned about the possibility of receiving a scholarship from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. I was interested in the International Relations program, and the Russian House staff suggested that I enroll in Faculty of World Economy and World Politics at the HSE.
I thought that studying would be very difficult and it would be hard to adapt. But it turned out that HSE has magical teachers who have a lot of knowledge and from whom I took a lot for myself. I would especially like to mention the wonderful teacher Dmitry Vyacheslavovich Suslov and my scientific supervisor Ekaterina Gennadyevna Entina: they encouraged me during the writing and defense of my master's thesis.
About adaptation
— It is important for every foreign student to adapt and understand the language in a foreign country. The Center for the Preparation of Foreign Students helped me a lot, and I easily learned the basics of Russian. In addition, I studied Russian culture, literature, and history. All this is important to understand another nation.
About the Russian language
— For the first six months, I studied it online from Serbia (there was a pandemic at the time), and then I moved to Moscow and continued studying it. I can say that I managed to learn the language in a year. Of course, it was much easier for me because Russians and Serbs are Slavic peoples, we have many similar words.
I wanted to learn the language well, and so I chose a program in Russian at the faculty: lectures, presentations, exams, and the master's thesis itself were in Russian. I believe that I succeeded in all this thanks to a good language teacher and a good program at the Center for the Preparation of Foreign Students.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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