What’s it like to study in Russia? Why HSE? The answers are, of course, different for everyone. We’ve asked some of our current international students to write about their experiences, in order to give a better idea of what it’s like to study at HSE. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at inter@hse.ru.
Bingyu
China
Why did you choose Russia? And when did you first hear about HSE University?
I saw some advanced courses from HSE University on Coursera that were taught very professionally and suited my major field of study. Apart from that, the time when the Master of Data Science programme was launched was really convenient for me and an online mode made my studies very flexible.
Was the application and the admissions process fast and easy?
The application and admission process are generally quite straightforward and one only need to follow the step-by-step instructions on the website, though such process as notarization makes everything a bit longer.
What experience did you have when first got in touch with HSE's staff?
I got acquainted with HSE’s staff for the first time when I was looking for some additional information about this Master’s programme. I think it is fair to say that I got what I wanted.
How would you describe your studies?
I’m satisfied with my studies so far. Moreover, there are some good surprises in two recent courses. The Calculus course is focused on the purpose of machine learning, which is different from the calculus course I have had when I was an undergraduate. And the Python Advanced course was also very interesting: both the videos and assignments have been carefully prepared. Although I think one or two reference books per course would be complementary to the current materials.
What is your experience of communicating with other HSE students?
It’s rather pleasant, despite the fact that we don’t have any face-to-face communication.
Can you access helpful support services available to other HSE students?
Yes, I have got the access to the HSE online library with many helpful sources that are completely free for students, and both the emails from the programme’s office and Coursera forums are working pretty well.
Why did you choose to study at HSE University in particular?
First of all, I was already aware of high quality of the advanced courses from HSE University on Coursera. Secondly, the online mode of the programme and the time it was launched – everything suited me ideally. Last but not least, HSE University is a young and progressive university, which is highly ranked by such international rankings as QS, THE, and others, therefore I believe that a degree from HSE will benefit my future career greatly.
