ICEF Education: Focusing on Internationalisation at Home
ICEF has two study programmes: Bachelor’s double degree with the University of London, implemented with the academic support of the London School of Economics and Political Science since 1997; and Master’s degree in Financial Economics in partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science offered since 2007.
Academic Heads of the programmes kindly shared the unique features and advantages of ICEF study programmes for students with The HSE Look readers.
Oleg Zamkov, ICEF Deputy Director and Academic Head of HSE and University of London Double Degree Programme in Economics, about ICEF undergraduate programme:
ICEF undergraduate programme has greatly grown over the 20 years: currently, we have six tracks focusing on different areas of economics and finance, including banking, accounting, management, and mathematics. It gives our students a great variety of elective courses to choose from. We are constantly developing the curriculum, both following the changes suggested by LSE, and prompted by our own faculty members and their suggestions. Each year visiting professors from LSE come to ICEF and in addition to giving lectures to students also hold workshops for our faculty members, analyze their teaching practices and work out together what can be improved.
Our students get two degrees – from HSE and University of London, which provides them with unique opportunities, certifying that they have the skills, competences and knowledge which are highly appraised by both institutions. This opens many doors, and our graduates enjoy a good reputation with universities in which they pursue further education and with employers, both in Russia and internationally.
Maxim Nikitin, Tenured Professor, Academic Head of Master’s programme ‘Financial Economics’, about ICEF graduate programme:
There are two features which make our programme in Financial Economics unique – it’s the international standards and a well-structured combination of theoretical and applied courses in the curriculum. Of course, ICEF relations with LSE are playing a great role in the internationalisation of our curriculum. All the courses are taught in English, and we also have external examiners, so that the students get used to the international format of exams and tests early on. In addition to HSE degree, our students also get a special certificate signed by LSE Director and HSE Rector, confirming that ICEF programme complies with international standards. Last, but not the least, ICEF offers its own academic mobility opportunities (Tilburg University, University of Essex, and Luiss Guido Carli University among others) in addition to the ones available for all HSE students.
Concerning the balance of theory and practice, our students get a solid fundamental understanding of economics and finance, and at the same time, they have a wide range of applied electives. These courses are taught by people who work in different areas of industry, finance, consulting etc., and who also have an experience of studying or working abroad.
The majority of ICEF students from Bachelor’s programme continue their studies abroad, so we attract students from HSE Faculty of Economics and from other universities, such as Moscow State University and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Our ideal candidates have a strong background in mathematics and either already know economics quite well, or demonstrate a deep interest in it.
Read more articles about ICEF in The HSE Look July 2017 issue.