‘Entering Robotics Now Means Growing with the Area’
Unmanned vehicles, courier robots, and smart speakers are rapidly becoming a part of our lives. In 2026, the HSE Faculty of Computer Science opens its new Bachelor’s Programme ‘Design of Intelligent Robotic Systems’ (DIRS). It will train specialists at the intersection of IT, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Academic Supervisor of DIRS Vadim Morgachev explains how studies are organised and why graduates of the programme ‘will definitely be accepted into the future.’
The programme is primarily taught in Russian with some courses in English.
— What kind of applicants is the DIRS programme aimed at?
— If you are interested in how unmanned vehicles and autonomous systems work, this programme is for you. We are waiting for participants in robotics competitions who already have practical experience but lack a systematic foundation. The programme is also suitable for participants of contests in computer science, mathematics, and physics, eager to apply their knowledge to tasks where code interacts with the real world. It is a plus if the applicant can already confidently program in at least one language, understands basic physics and mathematics, and has already worked with hardware. But the main thing is systematic thinking, willingness to dive into related fields, and perseverance: robots rarely work on the first attempt, and this is normal.
— How are the studies organised?
— The programme relies on the principle ‘from foundation to specialisation’ with project work at each stage. The first year includes mathematics, programming in Python and C++, algorithms, physics, and an introduction to robotics. Students choose a project seminar and start working with real robots even at this first stage.
In the second year, the specialty core is formed: two machine learning courses, computer vision, probability theory, differential equations, electronics, sensor systems and navigation, as well as mastering the ROS 2 (Robot Operating System 2) software environment and simulators. Students can also choose a minor, an additional specialisation from the university-wide catalogue.
The third year focuses on specialisation: deep learning for robotics, reinforcement learning, dynamics and motion control, trajectory planning, optimal control, and mechatronics. The students choose subjects based on their interests, from natural language processing to programming embedded systems.
The fourth year is where students integrate everything they have learned: large multimodal models for robotics, software architecture, security, and reliability of systems. Here, the students choose between delving into mechanics, electronics, physically informed machine learning, or system integration. Everything culminates in their graduation project. The subjects covered are structured in such a way that by their graduation, the students are able to design an entire intelligent system instead of merely having abstract knowledge.
— Who teaches the courses?
— The Faculty of Computer Science is one of the country’s leading IT faculties with a strong school of teaching fundamental subjects. Specific courses on robotics, machine learning, and working with modern frameworks are taught by people from the industry who can provide knowledge relevant here and now. Technology in this area is developing rapidly, and textbooks become obsolete faster than they are written.
Also, DIRS is a part of the Yandex Physical AI Garage initiative, Russia’s first physical AI programme created by Yandex in partnership with leading universities of the country. Within the project, students can take courses on machine learning, modules on AI robotics and ROS from the Yandex autonomous transport team, as well as participate in practical ‘garages.’
— What are the graduates’ prospects?
— Physical AI is one of the fastest growing areas in technology. We can already see how Yandex, Sberbank, and other companies are introducing self-driving cars, delivery robots, and warehouse robots. At the same time, the labour market is still far from saturation, and the government is shaping infrastructure, funding, and educational policy for the industry. Entering the profession now means growing with the area, rather than trying to catch up.
DIRS graduates will be able to work as robotics engineers and develop a full stack of robotics systems, from perception to control. They will also be able to choose a particular area, for example, perception engineer (computer vision and sensors), motion planning engineer (trajectory planning algorithms), or controls engineer (motion control systems). Another area is working with large models, which needs specialists in reinforcement learning, as well as engineers focused on simulation and transfer from a virtual to a real environment. System roles are also in demand: integration of all robot subsystems, programming of embedded systems, DevOps and MLOps for robotics. Academic positions are available for those who want to pursue science: master’s programme, doctoral programme, research departments of companies. I am sure that graduates of the programme will be in demand both in Russia and on the international market.
See also:
HSE Scientists Train Neural Network to 'Hear' Faults in Electric Motors
Researchers at the AI and Digital Science Institute of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science have developed a new method—the Signature-Guided Data Augmentation (SGDA) framework—that achieves 99% accuracy in motor fault detection and 86% accuracy in fault classification. The application of this approach can reduce industrial equipment repair costs, minimise downtime, and improve production safety. The study results have been published in Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence.
MIEM Tech Day at Pokrovka: Exploring HSE’s Engineering DNA Together
On May 26, 2026, the central atrium of the building at 11 Pokrovsky Bulvar will host the annual large-scale festival of engineering developments created by project teams from the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (HSE MIEM). The programme includes presentations of the best student technological projects, stands from partner companies and joint workshops, a lecture series featuring practising engineers, a round table on the development of engineering education, and presentations of MIEM master’s degree programmes.
HSE Students Among Winners of Yandex High-Tech Startup Accelerator
Yandex has announced the results of its Yandex AI Startup Lab accelerator, whose final round featured 12 IT projects. Over the course of three months, their creators—students and young entrepreneurs—worked alongside the company’s experts to develop their products. Four startups in digital marketing, medicine, and robotics were named the best, with their teams receiving cash prizes and cloud resource grants. Among them was Gradius, a startup founded by students from HSE University.
Researchers Find More Effective Approach to Revealing Majorana Zero Modes in Superconductors
An international team of researchers, including physicists from HSE MIEM, has demonstrated that nonmagnetic impurities can help more accurately reveal Majorana zero modes—quantum states considered promising building blocks for quantum computing. The researchers found that these impurities shift the energy levels that typically obscure the Majorana signal, while leaving the mode itself largely unaffected, thereby making its spectral peak more distinct. The study has been published in Research.
New Development by HSE Scientists Helps Design Reliable Electronics Faster at a Lower Cost
Scientists from HSE MIEM have developed a new approach to modelling electrothermal processes in high-power electronic circuits on printed circuit boards (PCB). The method allows engineers to quickly and accurately predict how electronic components heat up during operation, helping prevent overheating and potential failures. The results have been published in Russian Microelectronics.
HSE Biologists Identify Factors That Accelerate Breast Cancer Recurrence
Scientists at HSE University have identified a molecular mechanism underlying aggressive breast cancer. They found that the signals supporting tumour growth originate not from the tumour itself but from its microenvironment. The researchers also demonstrated that reduced levels of the IGFBP6 protein in the tumour microenvironment lead to the accumulation of macrophages—immune cells associated with a higher risk of cancer recurrence. These findings already make it possible to assess patient risk more accurately and may, in the future, enable the development of drugs that target cells of the tumour microenvironment. The study has been published in Current Drug Therapy.
HSE University and Moscow DIT Partner to Advance 5G and 6G Networks
The Moscow Department of Information Technology and HSE University have signed a cooperation agreement in the field of innovative development of the capital’s IT infrastructure. The parties agreed on joint research into modern and promising communication technologies, including 5G and 6G, as well as AI, the Internet of Things, and other smart city technologies.
HSE University Presents Research Results at AI Conference in Oman
In April 2026, the International Conference on Intelligent Systems and Artificial Intelligence Applications (ISAA 2026) was held at the University of Nizwa in the Sultanate of Oman. The event was co-organised by HSE University, the University of Nizwa, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences–Ibri. Researchers from HSE University were among the key speakers at the conference.
HSE’s CardioLife Test Among Winners of Data Fusion Awards 2026
The CardioLife genetic test—a development by the Centre for Biomedical Research and Technologies of the AI and Digital Science Institute at HSE University’s Faculty of Computer Science—has won the All-Russian cross-industry Data Fusion Awards, which recognise achievements in data and AI technologies. The project took first place in the Science–Business Partnership category, demonstrating a successful model for transferring technology from university research into the real healthcare sector.
HSE University Installs Geoscan Station at IIT Bombay
A Russian ground station for receiving SONIKS satellite data has been installed on the campus of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). Developed by Geoscan, the system will become part of a mirror laboratory project run jointly by HSE University and one of India’s leading universities.