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Alongside their core curriculum many ICEF students pursue a programme in which they deepen knowledge of their chosen field, engage in scientific debate, and prepare for careers in academia. This programme is known as ICEF Academia and in 2024 it opened its doors to a new group of students.

Earlier in October, the team of ICEF Academia met with its new students to present the teachers, the perspective lines of research, as well as the design and delivery mode of the courses and what rewards there are to celebrate the top-performing students.

How have the first few weeks of study been for ICEF’s new students? Have they settled well into the student life and how is it different from high school? Here’s what our new students think about their homework, English-taught lectures, coworking space availability, and the sports and student communities they’ve joined.

Meet Veronika Livintseva, a first-year graduate student of ICEF and a research intern at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS). Veronika holds an honours degree in World Economy (HSE) and a medal from the World Economy section of the student contest Higher League, ranking number one among 123 students in 2023-24. Here’s how Veronica’s chosen field of study inspires her to be creative, how she manages to excel in studying while working a job, and how projects and conferences can benefit a student’s life.

Traditionally conducted by the ICEF Center for Learning Technologies, the orientation seminars are delivered to all newly hired teachers regardless of their previous experience whether as lecturers or seminar teachers.

Starting university is an exhilarating adventure and a step into a new exciting life. Every year ICEF organizes for its new students Freshman Days, where they meet their teachers, tutors and administrative staff to be navigated through the learning process, rules of study, e-resources, and what to pay attention to during their study years.

“We are very keen to promote our academic and research cooperation with China’s top universities,” says Oleg Zamkov, ICEF Deputy Director and Academic Supervisor for BSc Programme. “Student exchange and summer sessions are a great opportunity to experience cultures, meet students from abroad, expand knowledge and source ideas.”

This summer, a total of 24 bachelor’s and master’s students of ICEF went to China to do summer courses at some of the country’s best universities. We talked to some of them to find out about their experience.

Ivan Grunenko majors in Economics and Finance and earned his bachelor’s from HSE and University of London a year ago. Meanwhile, his work experience is impressive. Here’s what Ivan benefitted most from while an ICEF student, the internships he completed, and why he thinks one’s Excel skills can be a saver.

Nina Ryabichenko, a member of the ICEF bachelor’s class of 2009 and the master’s class of 2011, is now a teacher at her alma mater.