Campus life, Indian student community, food options, and day-to-day living at HSE University in Moscow.
Practical information about day-to-day life while pursuing B.E./B.Tech Data Science at HSE University in Moscow, Russia. This covers the campus environment, accommodation, daily living and available safety and student-support services.
HSE University's main Moscow campus is centred on a renovated 13-building complex at 11 Pokrovsky Boulevard, opened in 2019 in the historic centre of Moscow near Kurskaya and Kitay-Gorod metro stations -- a genuinely central-city campus rather than a satellite-town site. The Faculty of Computer Science, which runs the Data Science and Business Analytics programme, was established jointly with Russian technology company Yandex in 2014, bringing together the former School of Software Engineering, the School of Applied Mathematics and Information Science, and a joint HSE-Yandex department. HSE University enrols more than 30,000 students in total, including over 30,000-strong faculty/researcher/student representation from more than 90 countries, and reported around 2,267 international students enrolled through its dedicated international-admissions process for the 2024/25 cycle, a 14% year-on-year increase. All HSE Moscow campuses and dormitories provide free Wi-Fi, and the university operates its own Publishing House, an HSE Business Incubator and a supercomputer (cHARISMa) used across its science faculties.
Since 2021, HSE University's own dormitory system has prioritised students holding full scholarships or grant places, and the university states plainly that its dormitories 'cannot host all students who require accommodation.' Fee-paying international students -- including Data Science and Business Analytics applicants, since this specific programme is explicitly excluded from HSE's tuition-fee-waiver and government-scholarship schemes -- are directed to a separate Student Housing Office service model rather than a guaranteed dormitory place. Where dormitory space is available, official rates run roughly RUB 1,000-1,500/month; HSE-arranged 'student housing facilities' cost roughly RUB 13,000-30,000/month; and independently rented housing in Moscow runs about RUB 25,000/month for a single room or from RUB 35,000/month for a studio apartment, excluding utilities. Applicants should confirm current dormitory availability and the Student Housing Office process directly with HSE's International Student Support office well before arrival, rather than assuming a campus room will be provided.
On-campus lunch at an HSE dining hall costs about RUB 300, or as little as RUB 180 for a set lunch at the Pokrovsky Boulevard dining room; a restaurant or cafe meal runs roughly RUB 800-1,200 per person, and fast-food options (KFC, McDonald's) cost roughly RUB 300-400. Weekly grocery shopping is estimated at about RUB 3,000-4,000. HSE's own international-student materials do not list dedicated Indian grocery stores or restaurants near the Pokrovsky Boulevard campus, but Moscow's much larger and more diverse food scene -- including Indian restaurants and specialty grocers elsewhere in the city -- is readily reachable by metro from the central campus; students with specific dietary needs should verify current nearby options directly before arrival.
All foreign students in Russia must hold health insurance for their period of study; HSE cites a typical annual cost of roughly RUB 4,000-8,000 depending on coverage. Under Federal Law No. 274-FZ, international students staying more than 90 days must complete mandatory medical examination, fingerprinting and official photographing (MEFP) within 90 calendar days of arrival, arranged through HSE's Visa and Registration Centre; a 90-day registration slip is issued free of charge within about four working days. In 2025, HSE arranged free MEFP medical-examination access for first-year students admitted to state-funded quota places specifically -- a benefit that does not extend to fee-paying programmes such as Data Science and Business Analytics, whose students should budget for these procedures separately. HSE's International Student Support office runs an emergency hotline (+7 985 040-13-55) alongside its general international-student email support. As with any international move, students should independently verify current travel-safety and consular guidance from their own government before and during their studies. International applicants deal with HSE's dedicated International Admissions Office (inter@hse.ru) throughout the application and visa process, and once enrolled, gain access to the International Student Support office (istudents.support@hse.ru), which runs an Orientation Session for Freshmen, a dedicated FAQ, and a Visa Support Centre for registration and MEFP procedures. HSE also operates a Student Service Centre for academic administration, a Career Centre, and Voluntary Medical Insurance arrangements for international students. HSE's history of hosting international double-degree programmes since 1997 (with the London School of Economics) means the university has two decades of institutional experience specifically supporting English-taught cohorts through admissions, registration and academic integration, distinct from its much larger Russian-medium student body.
Applying to HSE University?
Students Traffic verifies seat availability, checks current recognition status, and prepares your complete application for HSE University. The consultation is free.
Campus life, Indian student community, food options, and day-to-day living at HSE University in Moscow.
Practical information about day-to-day life while pursuing B.E./B.Tech Data Science at HSE University in Moscow, Russia. This covers the campus environment, accommodation, daily living and available safety and student-support services.
HSE University's main Moscow campus is centred on a renovated 13-building complex at 11 Pokrovsky Boulevard, opened in 2019 in the historic centre of Moscow near Kurskaya and Kitay-Gorod metro stations -- a genuinely central-city campus rather than a satellite-town site. The Faculty of Computer Science, which runs the Data Science and Business Analytics programme, was established jointly with Russian technology company Yandex in 2014, bringing together the former School of Software Engineering, the School of Applied Mathematics and Information Science, and a joint HSE-Yandex department. HSE University enrols more than 30,000 students in total, including over 30,000-strong faculty/researcher/student representation from more than 90 countries, and reported around 2,267 international students enrolled through its dedicated international-admissions process for the 2024/25 cycle, a 14% year-on-year increase. All HSE Moscow campuses and dormitories provide free Wi-Fi, and the university operates its own Publishing House, an HSE Business Incubator and a supercomputer (cHARISMa) used across its science faculties.
Since 2021, HSE University's own dormitory system has prioritised students holding full scholarships or grant places, and the university states plainly that its dormitories 'cannot host all students who require accommodation.' Fee-paying international students -- including Data Science and Business Analytics applicants, since this specific programme is explicitly excluded from HSE's tuition-fee-waiver and government-scholarship schemes -- are directed to a separate Student Housing Office service model rather than a guaranteed dormitory place. Where dormitory space is available, official rates run roughly RUB 1,000-1,500/month; HSE-arranged 'student housing facilities' cost roughly RUB 13,000-30,000/month; and independently rented housing in Moscow runs about RUB 25,000/month for a single room or from RUB 35,000/month for a studio apartment, excluding utilities. Applicants should confirm current dormitory availability and the Student Housing Office process directly with HSE's International Student Support office well before arrival, rather than assuming a campus room will be provided.
On-campus lunch at an HSE dining hall costs about RUB 300, or as little as RUB 180 for a set lunch at the Pokrovsky Boulevard dining room; a restaurant or cafe meal runs roughly RUB 800-1,200 per person, and fast-food options (KFC, McDonald's) cost roughly RUB 300-400. Weekly grocery shopping is estimated at about RUB 3,000-4,000. HSE's own international-student materials do not list dedicated Indian grocery stores or restaurants near the Pokrovsky Boulevard campus, but Moscow's much larger and more diverse food scene -- including Indian restaurants and specialty grocers elsewhere in the city -- is readily reachable by metro from the central campus; students with specific dietary needs should verify current nearby options directly before arrival.
All foreign students in Russia must hold health insurance for their period of study; HSE cites a typical annual cost of roughly RUB 4,000-8,000 depending on coverage. Under Federal Law No. 274-FZ, international students staying more than 90 days must complete mandatory medical examination, fingerprinting and official photographing (MEFP) within 90 calendar days of arrival, arranged through HSE's Visa and Registration Centre; a 90-day registration slip is issued free of charge within about four working days. In 2025, HSE arranged free MEFP medical-examination access for first-year students admitted to state-funded quota places specifically -- a benefit that does not extend to fee-paying programmes such as Data Science and Business Analytics, whose students should budget for these procedures separately. HSE's International Student Support office runs an emergency hotline (+7 985 040-13-55) alongside its general international-student email support. As with any international move, students should independently verify current travel-safety and consular guidance from their own government before and during their studies. International applicants deal with HSE's dedicated International Admissions Office (inter@hse.ru) throughout the application and visa process, and once enrolled, gain access to the International Student Support office (istudents.support@hse.ru), which runs an Orientation Session for Freshmen, a dedicated FAQ, and a Visa Support Centre for registration and MEFP procedures. HSE also operates a Student Service Centre for academic administration, a Career Centre, and Voluntary Medical Insurance arrangements for international students. HSE's history of hosting international double-degree programmes since 1997 (with the London School of Economics) means the university has two decades of institutional experience specifically supporting English-taught cohorts through admissions, registration and academic integration, distinct from its much larger Russian-medium student body.
Applying to HSE University?
Students Traffic verifies seat availability, checks current recognition status, and prepares your complete application for HSE University. The consultation is free.
