Checklist for First-Year Students
For new students enrolled in 2026
Dear first-year students,
Here is a list of crucial steps that you need to follow to address various organisational matters at HSE University. This will help you avoid any unpleasant situations during your studies.
International Students Support
Pre-departure Checklist
1. Check in to the dormitory
(if you do not reside in Russia)
How to move in into Axalta dormitory.
When checking into a dormitory, you must have the following documents:
- passport and its copy (page with your photo),
- translation of the passport and its copy,
- migration card,
- photo 3x4 cm;
- medical certificate to confirm that you are in good health.
When you arrive you will need to show your documents at the 24-hour reception on the 1st floor of the building. There you can also get an entry card.
To sign a lease agreement and other official documents (IN AXALTA), you need to contact the HSE Dormitory Administrator Svetlana Vladimirovna Shekurova, 3rd floor, room 223.
2. Study the guidelines about your visa and migration registration (if you are an international student)
If you have any questiopns, you can contact the International Office in Nizhny Novgorod :
Office 412, 25/12 Bolshaya Pecherskaya street, 603155 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Office 113, 1V Lvovskaya street, 603095 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
internationalnn@hse.ru
Mandatory medical examination, fingerprinting, and taking of official photographs for international students
Starting from December 29, 2021, amendments to the Federal Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation" have taken effect. These amendments now require all foreign nationals who come to Russia for 90+ days, including for educational purposes, to complete a medical examination, undergo fingerprinting, and have their official photograph taken.
Individuals who do not comply with these mandatory procedures or do so after the deadline may face penalties such as an administrative fine or a reduction in their allowed stay in Russia.
3. Get an e-library card
To get a library card, please complete the online registration form on the library's website (you will need to sign and scan the following document to attach it to the application).
Within 1 business day, a message confirming registration and the personal PIN code of the library user will be sent to the corporate email address.
When visiting the library for the first time, you must present an electronic pass to the library employee to complete registration.
A PIN code is required to get a login and password for remote access to the library's electronic resources and other operations.
You can now access the library's electronic resources remotely by clicking on this link.
4. Get a resident card of the Nizhny Novgorod Region with a transport app (optional)
This card gives you discounts for riding on public transportation within the Nizhny Novgorod region.
To obtain a resident card for the Nizhny Novgorod region with a transport application, the most convenient way is to submit an application on the website. When submitting the request, you will need to upload your photo and images of several documents: the main page of the passport (with a notarized translation) and the insurance certificate of the state pension insurance (SNILS, personal insurance account number, in Russian: СНИЛС). The files containing the document images must be in JPEG format only. In addition, you will need a student ID with a note indicating enrollment for the current academic year in a full‑time study program (since HSE does not issue paper student IDs, use the e-version in Gosuslugi or order a certificate of attendance beforehand to produce/scan it instead). Personal transport cards can also be issued at Citicard Service Points, at MFTs, and also via the nn-card.ru website. Only the card owner can receive the finished card at an MFT or service point at the appointed time by presenting the original documents listed above. If a foreign student does not have a SNILS, the card can be issued without this document. At the Citicard office at Vaneev Street, 1, foreign students are often issued cards; the Citicard employees there will provide the necessary assistance if needed. Although there are no fluent English speakers.
Where can I get my SNILS?
You can apply for a SNILS in person at a “Moi Dokumenty” Multifunctional Public Services Centres (in Russian: МФЦ, or MFTs).
Make sure to have the following documents on you:
1. an ID (passport or residence permit);
2. a notarised translation of your ID.
A list of MFTs offices in NN: https://umfc-no.ru/contacts/map/
CityCard Offices:
· Rodionova Street, 165k13 (Ganza shopping center, 3rd floor; Monday–Friday from 8:00 to 20:00 (technical break from 14:00 to 15:00), Saturday from 08:00 to 13:30)
· Vaneeva St., 1 (Svobody Square). Window 1 (Monday–Saturday from 09:00 to 20:00, no lunch break. On Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00)
· Sovetskaya Square, 5 (Shopping Center “Zhar‑Ptitsa”, 2nd floor, daily from 08:00 to 20:00 (lunch break from 13:00 to 13:45), Saturday from 08:00 to 13:30, Sunday – day off)
More addresses here (only offices where the issuance of personalized cards is available apply, we strongly recommend you go to the office on Vaneeva st., 1).
To start using the card, you first need to top it up by paying for the tariff you have chosen. By default, the student card is loaded with the “Preferential Student Electronic Wallet” tariff for city and suburban routes. With it, you pay only 50% of the cost of a single trip on public transport.
If this suits you, top up the card with any amount, but not less than the cost of a single trip. The most convenient way to do this is in the “Citicard” mobile app on an Android phone with NFC.
If you want to change your e-wallet to another tariff - an unlimited monthly pass or a pass for the number of trips: 40 or 60 for urban routes, then the easiest way to do this is to use the mobile application on your smartphone («Нижегородский транспорт») with NFC by selecting "Change tariff" on the card balance screen.
If the phone does not support NFC, then you can change the tariff only at the CityCard offices.
In the future, you can top up your student transport card and extend the selected tariff remotely at any time via the mobile app or on the website.
Please pay attention to the deadlines for topping up your transport card if you will be using an electronic monthly pass to pay for your fare:
- you can pay for and load the monthly pass for the current month until the 15th of the current month (inclusive);
- you can extend the validity of the current monthly pass for the next month during the current month after making the first trip using this pass and until the 15th of the following month;
- you can pay for and load a different type of monthly pass after the validity period of the current type of monthly pass has ended (i.e., starting from the 1st of the following month).
To pay for a trip on surface transport, simply touch the card to the conductor’s mobile terminal or to the glowing circle with the contactless payment icon under the screen of the stationary self‑service terminal installed in the vehicle, and hold it until the control ticket is printed. To pay for a trip on the metro and the cable car, touch the card to the terminal on the turnstile. Once you have confirmed that the green light on the turnstile indicator has lit up, you can pass through the turnstile.
The validity period of a student card is one year. To continue using the card, you need to renew it for the next year by September 30.
You do not have to apply for this card, you can use the Public Transport of Nizhny Novgorod at a full price, however, note that you can only pay the fare with a debit, credit or a transport card, NOT with cash.
5. Get a bank card for your scholarship (MIR payment system)
Check your university group email to find out where and when you can pick up your scholarship card.
HSE Nizhny Novgorod Accounting Office
6. Apply for a certificate (optional)
You can apply for certificates at your program’s website.
We recommend choosing the electronic format - a certificate signed with an electronic signature will be in your personal account within 15 minutes! HOWEVER, when ordering the documents for your temporary residence (VNZH) application, always order a hard copy and specify in the comments that you need the documents for a VNZH application.
7. Get a Student pass card to visit university buildings
All students have an electronic Student ID available in the Gosuslugi app. It allows you to verify your student status to obtain discounts or purchase reduced-fare tickets.
To enter the building, you need an e-ID pass card. You have to upload your photo to the Enrollment module in IStudy to get it printed. Make sure you follow the requerments for the photo and verify that it has been approved by your manager (upload a new one if it`s been rejected). To access IStudy, you need to download and register with the messenger MAX (try registering your number, if your country`s code does not allow you to, you will recieve a temporary pass card at the Study Office before you get a Russian phone number you can use to register with MAX messenger. Once you have your Russian number, upload your photo to IStudy and recieve your permanent pass card.). How to get a SIM card.
Student Pass Card for university buildings can be collected at your Study office: B.Pecherskaya st., 25/12, room 404
Useful links
HSE University's Academic Handbook : Use it when you have any questions about the study process.
HSE University bylaws and regulations can be found here.
List of The 1st Year Students
