Why I chose Global Business

The Global Business programme interviews one of the accepted foreign students, Julien Keyser from France, to learn about his decision-making process and general thoughts on getting a Master’s degree in Russia.

I decided to apply to the Global Business Master's Program mostly because I wanted to study in Russia. Indeed, Russia seems to be too often left aside as a destination by European countries. 

Julien
Selected foreign student for GB 2016-18

- Dear Julien, thank you for your time! Please tell us why you decided to apply for "Global Business" Master's Program?

I decided to apply to the Global Business Master's Program mostly because I wanted to study in Russia. Indeed, Russia seems to be too often left aside as a destination by European countries. The content of the program is in line with my previous Bachelor a KEDGE business school (Marseille), offering capacities to adapt to businesses of many kinds in different types of structures. 
It is also the exhange programme with an Austrian University that made it appealing to me. The energy sector, which I entend to work in presents a lot of Russian/German partnerships (400 German companies work in this particular domain in Russia). For these reasons among others, the Global Business Master's Programme was the right programme to apply for.

- What is the most interesting about the program personally for you?

The most interesting about the program for me was the opportunity to live in Russia, get in contact with the culture and begin to learn the language. Combined with the Austrian exchange, perhaps the double diploma puts me in good position to apply for one of the companies mentioned above.

- What makes you fit for the program?

My Bachelor programme is similar to this HSE programme. During my studies I had to spend 3 semesters at a German University as well as two internships in Germany and the UK. I think I developed capacities to adapt to new situations, and work in other countries. More than anything I think I am in the right state of mind which is determined and enthousiastic to start this Russian adventure.

- What do you think of Russia as a prospective country for your future studies?

This question is difficult to answer right now. We tend to only know Russia through the prism of our European media, which are often influenced by political motives. So I don't know what to expect but I am convinced to be positively surprised being really appealed by the Russian culture. I try to prepare myself by reading books (Tolstoi's Anna Karenine right now). I am looking forward to it.

- What were some of your concerns before applying? And how were they resolved?

The main concerns were to find myself far from home in a country that I don't know at all and how I will handle the everyday routine without speaking Russian: travel through the city, ask people for help, get a phone etc... These concerns are still there but I keep telling me that it will work when being faced to the situation.

- Thank you for your answers! We hope this can be valuable for other foreign candidates for our programme!

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All the foreign applicants should know that they will get all the necessary support from the programme administration and fellow students. HSE Nizhny Novgorod has a growing Buddy community that helps foreign students cope with most of the day to day issues. The programme manager and the International department will guide you through the formal procedures such as visa application and diploma legalization.

The application deadline, July, 15^th is approaching; do not miss your chance to go global with HSE!