Maths Club, Russian Phonetics, and the Most Delicious Milk: Prep Year Kicks Off
In October 2025, more than 200 international students began their studies on HSE University’s International Preparatory Year. After a month of rigorous in-class learning, they gathered for a more informal event—the Russian Speaking Club—where they met classmates from other groups. The HSE University News Service spoke with students, teachers, and administrators about the programme’s progress and expansion.
Prep Year students intensively study Russian as a Foreign Language. After covering the foundations, they pursue general subjects taught in Russian and related to their chosen field of study in Economics, Humanities, or Engineering & Technology. The course prepares them to enter a full-degree programme at HSE or other Russian universities.
In 2025, the Prep Year enrolled a total of 235 students, with 88 of them studying online. They come from 57 countries, including China (34), Indonesia (21), Afghanistan (16), Turkey (15), Ghana, Pakistan, Vietnam, Iran, Mongolia, and Nigeria.
This year, the Prep Year programme introduced three key innovations: a Practical Phonetics course, a Maths Club, and online classes for students who have not yet received their visas.
For many students, especially those from Asian countries, the sounds of the Russian language are completely unfamiliar. ‘This year, we launched a special short course in practical phonetics focused specifically on practising sounds and pronunciation,’ says Polina Shanko, Deputy Director of the HSE Prep Year. ‘If students find the course useful, we will continue it in the future. For advanced-level students, lessons follow the format of speech training used in acting, with an emphasis on pronunciation and complex intonation patterns. This makes the classes engaging not only for beginners.’
RFL Teacher at the HSE Prep Year
For the 2025/2026 academic year, we launched a Practical Phonetics course for students of the preparatory programme. The need for such a course had long been evident, as the main Russian language course does not allocate enough hours for a significant focus on pronunciation practice. When developing the course, I drew on my own teaching experience, asking myself, ‘What skills do I want to help beginners develop first?’ The answer came quickly—of course, pronunciation and writing. In our phonetics classes, we work on producing difficult sounds like ‘Ш-Ж-Ч-Щ-Ц’ and ‘Р-Л’, discuss vowel reduction and consonant voicing/devoicing, practise intonation, and train in handwriting and reading. The course also includes a small amount of grammar and vocabulary, as it is designed not only as a supplement but also as a crash course for students who, for various reasons, joined the programme late and need to catch up quickly.
Deputy Director of the HSE Prep Year
Many students feel anxious about mathematics even before they start their classes. This is true for Russian students as well, but in our case, the situation is complicated by differences in curricula and teaching approaches across countries—some learners may not have encountered topics that are standard in Russian schools. Our teachers are working hard to adapt the programme to make it accessible to everyone, and we plan to launch a special club to help reduce this anxiety. In an informal club setting, students will be able to discuss difficult questions and try solving problems without pressure.
This year we made special arrangements for students who were unable to obtain a visa and arrive by the October start date. We currently have five online groups for students from different countries and at different language levels. Those who have already arrived are either promptly transferred to on-campus groups or remain in a hybrid format, where some students attend classes in Moscow while others join online. We hope that this system will allow students to make the most of the first, most intensive stage of the Russian-language programme. It will also ensure that those who arrive in Moscow later have a solid foundation, helping them to complete the preparatory year successfully and on time.
Last academic year, our Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary. We have come a long way—from a small preparatory department with only a few dozen students to a cohort of 200 graduates. I hope that we continue to grow in both numbers and quality.
The Russian Speaking Club is a place where students from different countries can meet, exchange contacts, and take a break from their study routine. At this year’s first meeting, students discussed Russia-related stereotypes and played games. ‘Every year, we invite some students to help us organise the Club,’ says Zoya Maslennikova. ‘Last year, a team of resourceful girls created beautiful edible compositions for the tables. This year, a team of young men set up all the tables and chairs in just five minutes to make room for all the guests. One of the most memorable moments was the queue for milk. We traditionally offer tea and coffee, but several people specifically requested milk, as they believe that in Russia, it is the most delicious.’
The Russian Speaking Club meetings will continue on a monthly basis. They always feel like a small celebration, thanks to the Prep Year teachers who create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
A larger speaking club is planned before the New Year and the winter holidays, traditionally featuring discussions of New Year’s customs from different countries and a gift exchange.
The HSE News Service asked students at the first Russian Speaking Club to share their impressions of the event, their path to studying in Russia, and their first weeks of class.
Elie Noujaim, Lebanon
I completed my bachelor’s degree in political sciences and am now preparing for a master’s programme in International Relations at HSE University. I felt the need to pursue higher education at a well-established university. Moscow is an international hub, a city where global perspectives converge. Engaging with the city’s world-renowned theatres, profound literature, and rich history provided me with a warm welcome to this nation.
Today, all my efforts are directed towards deepening my knowledge of Russia and achieving native-like language proficiency. The Prep Year programme has wonderful teachers who guide me through these challenges, and I am truly grateful for their support. My curiosity drew me to the Russian Speaking Club, which gathered a diverse group of students from around the world. It was there that I experienced the real meaning of my chosen field, International Relations: it became more than an academic major—it transformed into a living dialogue between cultures.
The Preparatory Year has provided me with the necessary interface to learn Russian and about Russia. It’s a challenging adventure worth pursuing, and I know the lessons learned here will serve me greatly in my future endeavours.
Russell Phun, Singapore
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, where I studied Russian as an elective. After graduating, my Russian professor at NTU mentioned the opportunities available to study in Russia. I applied, and now I am in Moscow, studying at HSE. After my Preparatory Year, I will enrol in the Master’s Programme of International Relations. I hope to work in diplomacy in the future.
I chose Russia because I have always preferred colder climates and thought it would be a good idea to experience a real Russian winter! I chose HSE University for its strong ranking and vibrant student atmosphere. I love everything about HSE: the beautiful campus and the many friends I have met from all over the world.
In the beginning, the language barrier was difficult. Even though I had learned Russian in Singapore, it was not enough, as Russians speak very fast. I have made a lot of Russian friends, and my Russian has improved significantly. My HSE Prep Year teachers are extremely helpful and friendly. They clarify all my questions, both about the Russian language and life in Moscow.
The Preparatory Year programme has given me the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the Russian language and adapt to life in Moscow. I appreciate that the Speaking Club meetings focus on conversation, which helps improve my pronunciation and comprehension. I also participated in the Russian Culture Day event, where I learned about Russian traditions and customs and even tasted Russian cuisine!
In January 2026, the Prep Year department will, for the first time, take part remotely in the annual Russian Dictation project, hosted by the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University in Kaliningrad. The dictation will be held online, allowing students to join the event from their HSE classrooms alongside their teachers.
In spring, Prep Year also plans to participate once again in the ‘Scientific Initiative of International Students and Postgraduates’ conference in Tomsk. In addition to presenting their reports, participants will have the opportunity to meet international students from across Russia and experience Siberia.
Applications for the next academic year (2026/27) will open this spring. Follow the HSE Prep Year Telegram channel to stay updated and not miss the start of the admission period.
See also:
Memories, Lifelong Friends, and More at the 10th Anniversary Graduation of the International Prep Year
On July 4, 2025, the graduation ceremony for students of the International Preparatory Year Programme took place. The event marked an anniversary for the International Preparatory Year, which has been operating since 2015. The idea of creating a preparatory faculty arose from the need to provide quality training in the Russian language for those who want to study at Russian universities, especially at HSE University.
‘This Meeting Will Mark the Beginning of Our Fruitful Cooperation’
An HSE University delegation led by Rector Nikita Anisimov met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Singapore to Russia Néo Ek Beng Mark at the HSE campus on Pokrovsky Bulvar. The parties discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation and promising areas of partnership.
‘This Night Is One Minute Longer Than Other Nights of the Year’
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.
‘Our International Students Embody a Dynamic Blend of Ambition, Curiosity, and Adaptability’
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.
International Students Learn Russian Through Theatre Performance
International students at HSE University acted in and shot a film-play in Russian as part of the ‘Russian through Drama’ course. The students spent a semester preparing the play, immersing themselves in the Russian language and cultural environment. The HSE News Service spoke with the instructors and students about their work on the play and their Russian studies.
12
companies from the HSE Innovation Centre have strategies ready to advance on Asian markets.
Student Delegation from Singapore Coincides with Master Class by Professor Desai Narasimhalu
From July 5-12, the HSE Innovation and Enterprise Office is hosting a visit by Singapore students. Their programme will include educational, as well as cultural and entertainment activities. Included in the programme is a master class by Professor Desai Narasimhalu, known by many as the sensei of the innovation industry.
Singaporean Businesspeople at the HSE
From June 23-26, 2013, a delegation from the Singapore Business Federation visited the Higher School of Economics (the HSE) as part of a special business tour. Its organizers, Andrey Yakovlev, Director of the HSE Institute for Industrial and Market Studies, and Vasily Solodkov, Director of the HSE Banking Institute, as well as a participant told us about the event.
iConnect
In January 2012, 13 students of the Higher School of Economics visited Singapore as part of the ‘iConnect: Connecting global Youths. Inspiring future Entrepreneurs’ exchange programme organized by the students from the National University of Singapore.
APEC: Modeling and Evaluation of Initiatives
On November 24th and 25th, the APEC Conference ‘Building APEC Economies’ Capacities of Employing Input-Output Tables for Advanced Economic Modeling’ organized by the HSE International Institute for Education in Statistics (IIES) took place in Singapore. Alexey Ponomarenko, Director of the IIES, told us about the programme, tasks and results of the conference.