
‘I Will Always Carry Gratitude to HSE and Move Forward for My Dream’
Fan Minlan, a 25-year-old from the coastal city of Zhangzhou in southeastern China, has recently graduated from the HSE Master’s Programme in Population and Development. In her interview with the HSE News Service, Fan Minlan speaks about her decision to enrol at HSE University, the challenges of speaking Russian, her career plans, and the love story that started with her studies.
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‘I Realised How Much Impact Young Professionals Can Have When They Are Involved in Shaping Academic Discussion’
Dilmurod Kholmatov, from Tashkent (Uzbekistan), is a student of the Master’s in Law of International Trade and Dispute Resolution at the HSE University–Moscow Faculty of Law. He has finished his first year of studies and plans to pursue a career in international commercial arbitration after graduation. In his interview, Dilmurod explains how the programme is preparing him to achieve his career ambitions, explains why student involvement in academic conferences is important, and talks about taking part in a charity race.

‘Moscow Offers a Unique Academic and Cultural Experience’
Stephen Sodoke, from Ghana, is a recent graduate of the Master’s degree in Population and Development at HSE University in Moscow. Having completed his programme at the end of June 2025, he now plans to continue his research work on a doctoral programme. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Stephen talks about what surprised him about life in Russia, his involvement in extracurricular academic activities, and more.

‘Unlearn, Relearn, and Do Not Study Alone’
Celestina Adu, from Ghana, is pursuing her Master’s in Economics and Economic Policy at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. Recently, she won silver at a scientific student conference in Nizhny Novgorod. In her interview, she delves into her research on AI and its impact on education, offering advice for prospective international students based on her experiences in Russia.

From Uzbekistan to Russia: Exchange Student on His Transformative Experience
Bekzod Karimov, a student from Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan, joined an exchange programme at HSE University in St Petersburg in 2024. In this interview, Bekzod shares his exciting experiences: from studying law to exploring the beautiful city. Read on to find out how the programme helped him grow, inspired his career goals, and changed his view of the world.

HSE University at VK Fest: A Journey into the Worlds of Technology, Design, and Space
HSE University will showcase cutting-edge innovations and educational opportunities at the anniversary edition of VK Fest 2025, Russia’s largest youth festival. Visitors can look forward to interactive workshops, VR exhibitions, AI-powered tech games, and even a chance to send a message into space.

‘HSE University–St Petersburg Is Perfect for What I Was Seeking’
Every year, HSE University–St Petersburg welcomes international students from around the world not only for full-time programmes of all levels but also for academic mobility. This year, Michel Young Hernandez, a student from the Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology, is among them. In this interview, Michel shares his experience of studying at HSE University–St Petersburg as an exchange student, why he decided to participate in the international mobility programme, and what his life in a new cultural landscape has been like.

‘People Often Don’t Understand What’s Going On around Them—but We Can Explain’
Georgy Stalinov conducts field-based social research and has created a video podcast about unusual social phenomena based on fieldwork materials. In an interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, he spoke about hitchhiking with lorry drivers, why working as a taxi driver can be a bad idea, and whether poaching exists in Kamchatka.

‘The Cost of Making Mistakes Is Small, While the Experience Is Invaluable’
For the second year in a row, the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry has held the Start a Business with Moscow international business school for students of Moscow Universities. Last year, Wang Yue, an HSE University student from China, became the winner of the project. On June 16, 2025, the finalists defended their projects and business ideas in front of business representatives and potential investors. This year, six students from HSE University made it to the finals. Ekaterina Leibel, second-year student of the master’s programme ‘Science of Learning and Assessment,’ whose project took third place, and Md Yeashin Arafat, first-year student of the master’s programme ‘Business Analytics and Big Data Systems,’ talk about their studies, project presentations, and future plans.

‘Rafting Is Sport, Journey, Mutual Support, and Pure Motivation’
HSE University has launched its first official men’s and women’s rafting teams, coached by Nikita Zhuravlev—a graduate of the Bachelor’s programme in Media Communications at the Faculty of Creative Industries, President of the Moscow Rafting Federation, and founder of the rowing club Academia. This season, the teams are preparing for six key races as part of the amateur league. In an interview with the HSE News Service, the coach explains how this marks a unique milestone.