Academic Programs

The School of Russian Studies in Moscow offers courses at the Higher School of Economics. Local faculty, who represent various schools and institutions throughout the city, are scholars who have been active participants in Russia's transition-constructing international academic ties, contributing to the economic and social reform agenda, and analyzing the vast spectrum of present-day social needs and concerns in Russia.

The curriculum of the School of Russian Studies is designed to help students understand the complex processes of economic, political, and social transition sweeping through contemporary Moscow and throughout all of Russia. Students will also draw on readings, theme-focused excursions, and individual experience for the substance of discussions in the classroom. The small, seminar-style class format provides for substantive interaction among students and professors. Students are encouraged to get additional exposure to the courses in which they are not enrolled in order to gain the widest exposure to different facets of the Russian experience and to its academic discourses. Special guest lectures are offered throughout the Summer School and the Autumn Program.

All students should see their academic advisors about planning their coursework overseas and consult the Registrar concerning the transfer of credit from SRS to their home institution. Autumn and DEUTSCHSPRACHIGE WINTERSCHULEs are semester-based, but allow certain flexibility to allow participation of the students from schools operating on the Quarter system. Please note that these programs consist of two independent parts (Intensive Language and Core Program), which together make a full academic semester. A Core Program alone is equivalent to a Quarter Program. The academic workload of the courses is calculated in ECTS credits (European Transfer System Credits, which are roughly equivalent to the American units of academic credit. Schools operating on a Quarters system usually use a conversion rate of 1.4 or 1.5 to adjust ECTS credits.

Students are strongly recommended to take Russian language instruction for a grade during each quarter in Moscow. Language classes are offered at Beginners, Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels meeting every weekday for two hours. Conversational and practical skills are emphasized. Courses are developed by the Russian faculty.