Admission Guide for Master’s Programmes at HSE University

1. Choose a Programme

2. Register on the website

3. Submit your portfolio

4. Wait for the results

5. Submit your consent to study

Once you have received an e-mail with a recommendation for admission to HSE University, enter your Personal Account.section “Offer of Admission“ and follow the instructions:

Select the chosen programme.
Upload there all necessary documents.

You have 21 calendar days to fill out the "Offer of admission" section since the recommendation is posted in your personal account, but no later than April 1, 2026.

If your documents were returned for revision, you have 10 calendar days to upload the corrected documents again.

More details about officially notarized ONLINE translations are here.

Required documents for scholarship candidates

1. A scan of the completed application form with a photo (3x4, color or black-and-white, matte) and a personal signature attached in the upper right corner. A sample questionnaire is posted in your personal account, in the "Offer of Admission" section.

2. Scans of educational documents (certificate with attachment) and scans of notarized translations of these documents into Russian. If you do not have a document of education at the time of uploading the documents, then upload a certificate from the educational institution with grades in subjects for the first half of the year.

3. A scan of a medical certificate stating the absence of contraindications for studying (form SEMD-196 or an equivalent in your country) and a scan of a notarized translation of the certificate into Russian. The medical certificate must contain a comprehensive assessment of the state of health, including information on the absence of contraindications for studying in the Russian Federation. The validity period of this document is 12 months.

4. A scan of the medical certificate of the absence of HIV and AIDS and a scan of a notarized translation into Russian. The validity period of this document is 12 months.

5. A scan of a medical certificate confirming the absence of hepatitis (type B and C) and tuberculosis and a scan of a notarized translation of this certificate into Russian. The validity period of this document is 12 months. Preventive vaccination cards are not accepted.

6. A scan of the pages of your passport or other document that you will use to enter Russia and a scan of a notarized translation of this document into Russian. Your passport must be valid for at least 18 months from the expected date of entry. The estimated date of entry cannot be earlier than September 1, 2026.

Tips for scanning documents and uploading files in the Foreign Applicant’s Personal Account section “Offer of Admission“:

Scan each of the relevant documents as separate files. Do not scan everything together as one file.

The file format for each scanned document must be saved as a PDF file (not JPEG, MPEG, TIFF etc).

Give each file a unique file name. For example:

a. Passport should be saved as Passport for John Smith

b. Diploma – Diploma for John Smith, etc.

Please ensure you have provided a unique name to each attachment that identifies the content, e.g Passport for John Smith, Academic transcript for John Smith, etc.

Offer of Admission section instruction

6. Recognise documents

7. Upload required documents

8. Prepare for your arrival in Russia

Visa application

Visa applications shall be submitted in the section Visa (Виза) in your personal account.

If you have been recommended for admission to a government-funded place, information about your visa invitation is expected to be available in Russia-edu.ru system in July - August, 2026.

Applicants from the following countries DO NOT NEED to apply for a student visa: the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of South Ossetia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Tajikistan, Ukraine, Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as holders of diplomatic visas. You can find detailed information by referring to Visa and Registration Centre.

Upon arrival for study, a foreign student contacts the Admissions Office for International applicants (Office D108, D102/103, D109), located at 11 Pokrovsky Boulevard, Entrance 1.:

passport and a copy of the passport with a notarized translation into Russian (if necessary);
originals of educational documents (certificate/diploma + transcript) and copies with notarized translation into Russian (if necessary);
a copy of the migration card issued when crossing the border of the Russian Federation (at an airport or other Russian border checkpoint) or a copy of the entry visa;
2 photos (3x4, color or black and white);
a copy of the Voluntary Health Insurance (ДМС) valid on the territory of the Russian Federation. It is mandatory to have a voluntary health insurance (VMI) policy during the study period. More detailed information about medical care for international students.

Dormitories

The check-in procedure at the HSE University campuses in St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Perm may vary. We recommend contacting the offices for the admission of foreign applicants of a particular campus.

Accommodation in Moscow campus

Places in the HSE University dormitories are provided for those who have obtained the recommendation for admission with the full scholarship. The check-in referral to the dormitory of HSE University will be available on the day of enrollment. The validity period of the check–in order is 2 days.

Check-in dates: from August 20, 2026.

Costs: The average cost of a place in a dormitory in Moscow is 2,000 rubles per month.

Underage applicants (under 18) have to bring original consent from parents with them. A template form of consent to conclude the agreement is available here.

In accordance with the "Internal Regulations of the HSE University Student Dormitory", in order to move into a dormitory/residential complex a student must have:

1. Foreign citizens:

Passport.
Certificate of preventive vaccinations, including measles (form №156/93) or a certificate of vaccination in any form (with a notarial translation into Russian).
The reference in the form SEMD-196 or the certificate in the form of Appendix № 8 to the "Rules of residence" with marks about fluorography, blood test on HIV, Hepatitis B and the conclusion of the therapist about absence of contraindications to accommodation in a hostel (valid for 6 months) or copies of medical certificates received after passing the medical examination (MODF), or a copy of dactocard received within the requirements of FZ-274.

If a medical certificate SEMD-196 or MODF or dactocard is not available, the above documents must be presented within 30 calendar days from the date of check-in at the dormitory. Prior to obtaining the above medical documents, a student must present a certificate of absence of tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis B with a therapist's note that there are no contraindications for living in the dormitory with notarial translation into Russian (the certificate is valid for 6 months).

Medical policy covering the entire period of stay in Russia - VMI from a Russian insurance company or international / tourist policy (with a notarial translation into Russian).
Your migration card received upon the crossing of the border of the Russian Federation (in the airport or any other border checkpoint in Russia) or a copy of your entry visa.

Students from the Republic of Belarus; foreign citizens who have a residence permit, temporary residence permit or temporary residence permit on the territory of the Russian Federation:

Passport.
Certificate of preventive immunization, including certificate of measles vaccination (form №156/93) or a certificate of vaccination in any form (with notarial translation into Russian).
The reference in the form SEMD-196 or reference in the form of Appendix № 8 to the "Rules of residence" with the marks about fluorography, blood test on HIV, Hepatitis B and the conclusion of the therapist about the absence of contraindications to stay in the hostel - the term of validity of certificates is 6 months.
Voluntary Health Insurance (for those who have a residence permit and/or work in Russia) or a health insurance policy issued by a Russian insurance company covering the entire period of stay in Russia or an international policy (with a notarized translation into Russian) / tourist policy.

Voluntary Health Insurance is issued from the registration date until the end of the calendar year and requires annual renewal.

Make sure to state the purpose of your visit as Study (Учеба) in your migration card. If in your migration card is indicated another purpose (for example, "Private"), then moving to the dormitory will be impossible.