‘Asia Is Fascinating, Rich in Culture, and Expanding in Economic and Political Significance’

Anastasia Baschlykoff

Photo courtesy of Anastasia Baschlykoff

Anastasia Baschlykoff is a German citizen who recently enrolled at HSE University to pursue her love of Korean studies. As a student of the Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia, she is gaining insight into Asian politics, culture, history, and language, and will spend the third year of the programme on an exchange at Kyung Hee University. In her interview with the HSE News Service, Anastasia explains how the programme aligns with her career plans, considers the potential for collaboration with Asian countries, and shares how life in Russia has managed to surprise her.

— Why did you choose to study in Russia? And why the Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia in particular?

— I fell in love with the Korean language and started to learn it online. After a while, I realised that learning it privately is not enough for me. Around the same time, I decided that I would like to pursue a second degree which would help me to pursue an international career path.

I am of Russian origin and have been visiting Moscow throughout my whole life.

I realised that I enjoyed living in Russia when I spent one semester in Tver' as a Slavic Studies major during my first bachelor's studies.

When I came across the double degree programme online and realised that it matched my interests perfectly, I knew that I had to send in my application. I am very happy that I did

I have not been to Korea yet, so the third year spent at Kyung Hee University is one of the reasons that motivated me to apply for the programme. I cannot wait to use the Korean language in my everyday life and to experience life in the country whose language and culture I developed a deep fascination with.

— What have you learned from the programme so far?

— Thanks to the programme, I am currently learning a lot about what I am interested in. I am especially passionate about Korean, political science, international relations, and history.

Our programme includes a great variety of courses which I am very grateful for.

The hardest challenge is the workload—we have numerous classes (from Monday to Saturday), deadlines, home assignments, and tests each week.

Sometimes it feels impossible to handle the workload, but with time you grow into it and become more resilient 

I believe that all the challenges we face within our studies today are vital learning experiences which prepare us for both our future professional life as well as life in general. 

— What are the prospects for collaboration with Asian countries? Which countries are you particularly interested in and why?

— I do believe in great, diverse prospects of collaboration with Asian countries. Asia is unbelievably fascinating, rich in culture, and expanding in economic and political significance.

Photo courtesy of Anastasia Baschlykoff

While I am especially fond of Korea due to my infatuation with its language and culture, I have a general fascination with Asia too. I would love to travel to and explore China, Japan, and other Asian countries.

Maybe, thanks to my current studies, I will have the opportunity to not only travel to Asia, but also live and work there one day. I hope that I will.

— In your opinion, is there a significant difference between European and Asian mentalities?

— There might be cultural differences as well as similarities, but I am not yet able to elaborate on them as I am still in my first semester of the programme. Ask me again in a few years!

I am already learning a lot about Asia and Asian mentalities from the courses I am taking and conversations with my lecturers

I believe I will have lots to say about differences and similarities between European and Asian mentalities and efficient ways of collaboration after my study experience in Korea.

For now, I can only emphasise that collaboration is possible through mutual respect. I believe that we all have lots to learn from each other and may greatly benefit from interaction with one another—both professionally and personally.

— Is there anything about Russian life that you’ve found surprising or challenging?

— Being of Russian origin myself, I haven’t experienced any real culture shock since I moved to Russia. The Russian culture and mentality are a part of me and feel like home.

One rather new realisation is how hard-working Russian people are. Many shops are open 24/7 and HSE lecturers and administrators are, generally, very quick to reply to students' e-mails or messages, no matter the hour.

I was very surprised by how ‘digitalised’ Russia has become: a lot of activities are conducted online, eg making appointments, shopping, payments, and administrative paperwork

I was mostly challenged by the studies themselves—although I had to warm up to the rather cold winter months, too. I am getting used to both with time.

— What advice would you give to international students considering studying in Russia?

— I would tell them to give it a shot and to choose a programme that suits their ambitions, goals, and dreams. HSE University and Russia in general offer a variety of great opportunities for professional and personal growth.

HSE is a very international university, with many interesting educational opportunities and lots of social events, activities, and clubs for both Russian and international students. They provide amazing opportunities to expand one's skillset and interact with specialists from a variety of professional fields.

Russia is very rich in culture. I would most definitely recommend being open to experiencing Russia's people and culture. Make friends, explore Russia's museums and galleries, and see at least a few of its many beautiful, diverse travel destinations.

Many cultural events in Russia are either free of charge or not that pricey. Getting acquainted with other cultures first-hand is an incredibly enriching and fulfilling life experience

— What is your typical day as a student in Moscow like?

— Mostly, I am attending classes, completing home assignments, studying and taking breaks in between. I am also gaining some experience as a media volunteer at HSE.

Moscow is a very beautiful, energetic, and cosmopolitan city. I love living in it.

I must admit, though, that I mostly only see what is on my way to and from university. I hope to do more exploring in the future. I am a fan of the State Tretyakov Gallery and the Korean Cultural Centre—those would definitely be on my ‘to visit’ list if friends came to visit me in Moscow.

I live in a one-room apartment. I buy groceries and like to cook, but considering my rather busy academic life, I do not cook on a daily basis. If I do, though, I love to make fresh salads and pasta. 

Russian is one of my mother tongues, so I feel very comfortable communicating in it. I would recommend learning Russian when studying here.

One could use English without any problems in Russia (especially in cities like Moscow and St Petersburg), but learning Russian helps to get to know Russia and its people on a more personal level

— How do you spend your time outside of class?

— Truth be told, apart from the little media volunteering I am currently doing and the Korean singing classes I am attending at the Korean Cultural Centre, I am mostly trying to fill my energy tank in my free time by engaging in relaxing activities such as phone calls with family and friends, singing, dancing, going to the sauna, going for walks, and consuming various forms of content that I enjoy.

Due to the high workload within my studies, my free time is rather limited at the moment, but I do hope to pursue more hobbies and start to gain work experience in Russia on the side in the future, possibly starting in my second year at university. Right now I am mostly focused on my studies.

— What are your plans after graduating from HSE University?

— Considering my infatuation with languages, cultures, and storytelling, as well as my previous practical experience in journalism, I am thinking about pursuing a career in media.

I believe that home is where one's heart is. Russia is one of my homes, as is Europe, and Asia will possibly be another in the future. I am open and excited to see what the future holds. Our programme opens doors to a variety of opportunities; it is up to us to choose which ones to go through.

The admissions to the Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia are now open. There are 145 fee-paying places on the programme for Russian citizens and 10 fee-paying places for international students. Potential applicants must achieve the following scores in the USE exam or HSE University’s internal exams: 60 in history or social sciences, 70 in a foreign language, 60 in Russian language. The document submission timeline is available on the website of the International Admissions Office. The minimum score requirements will be posted no later than June 20, 2025.