HSE Summer University 2016 Is Accepting Applications

Like any major academic institution, the Higher School of Economics offers teaching in both traditional educational programmes and various shorter formats. The Summer University which began two years ago and gives students from other universities the chance to attend additional courses during the summer vacation, falls into the second category. It provides opportunities to study with particular professors and helps students decide how to pursue their academic interests in the future.

HSE Information bulletin Okna Rosta has talked to HSE Vice-Rector Sergey Roshchin, Head of Department for Educational Innovations Oksana Chernenko, Head of the School of Asian Studies Alexei Maslov, Academic Supervisor for the International Relations in Eurasia Programme Maxim Bratersky and Head of International Students Support Sofia Sadykova, to find out more about how the summer university works.

Sergey Roshchin

HSE Vice-Rector

‘At the HSE Summer University courses are taught in English as a matter of principle. We are talking about student mobility from universities around the world. We made a conscious decision to do this to vary the courses we could offer students, not only as full degrees but as various elements of exchange education programmes. These kinds of programmes get them better acquainted with the university. They take some courses, find out about the university, get an idea of the level of teaching, then maybe they come again on an exchange programme or after graduation start a master’s with us and then after the master’s go on to a PhD and so on... Courses in Global Economy, International Relations, Management, Media Communications, History, Cultural Studies, Computer Science, Mathematics and Sociology are all represented and the list is getting longer all the time.’

Oksana Chernenko

Director of HSE Summer University

Oksana Chernenko speaks about University’s distinguishing features:

Individual learning path and tailor-made curriculum

Summer University offers awide selection of courses over two months with students choosing their own courses and having individual timetables.  Each student selects as many courses as they want to take. On completing the programme they receive a transcript which shows the number of credits (ECTS) and marks. They can include these credits in their home university programme (with its consent of course).

The impressive list of courses and variety of subjects makes it possible for us to design separate programmes tailored for our partner universities. In 2015, Seoul National University chose our Summer University as a place to have its programme, SNU in Moscow. We ran a course called Understanding Modern Russia for the Korean students. For students from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies we designed a programme with two courses - BRICS Countries and the Emerging Global Order and Russian Economy in Transition.

Scholarship opportunities

DAAD is now one of our partners. We were selected to join the Go East 2015 programme and five scholarships were given to German students to attend our Summer University. It’s already been decided that number will go up to ten in 2016.

A chance to brush up on Russian language

Students are encouraged to include a Russian language course in their selection. The Summer University offers classes for all language levels from beginner to advanced on 3 - 6 week courses.

Extended Programme

The Summer University is not only increasing the number of courses but extending to cover the whole summer. In 2016 classes will begin on June 20 and run until August 20. The geography of the Summer University is also expanding. In 2015 the Summer University had a Week in St Petersburg. 15 students headed for the ‘northern capital’. This year there students can register for a week in St Petersburg or in Nizhny Novgorod.

Buddy support

Summer University participants aren’t left alone, as Oksana Chernenko points out, ‘if they want, student volunteers, members of the Buddy club can show them around Moscow and introduce them to university life’.

Sofia Sadykova

Head of International Students Support on buddy system

‘A buddy is allocated to each international student. You start you connection by email before arriving at HSE. You can find out more about how a buddy can help you and how to contact them on the international students support pages. In 2015 the Buddy Council took over management of the buddy network. At the moment about 400 HSE students are involved in it.

Heads of Departments talk about the aims and unique qualities of the Summer University:

Alexei Maslov

Head of the School of Asian Studies, Professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

‘The School of Asian Studies delegates its leading professors, many of whom have been named ‘best teacher’ more than once. The School attracts additional attention from students, mainly from Asia through the Summer University. It might seem strange for students from China, Korea and other parts of Asia to listen to lectures about their own countries but we offer unorthodox, original approaches which they are unlikely to hear back home, we compare and contrast different views and broaden their individual understanding of Asia.’

Maxim Bratersky

Head of the School of International Affairs

‘The Summer University is an excellent way to introduce foreign students to the HSE without having to commit themselves to full degrees. It is an all-encompassing academic event at HSE for students on bachelor’s and higher degrees at universities in other countries.’

The Summer University 2015: facts and figures

• 103 students representing 29 foreign universities from 15 countries enrolled on the Summer University programmes in 2015.
• Students chose courses that interest them from a list of more than 20 subjects, and designed their own individual study timetables.
• In 2015, most participants - 59 - chose three courses, 11 students chose just one and one student chose six courses.