New Master’s Programme from HSE University and SIBUR Bridges Fundamental Science and High‑Tech Industry
HSE University and SIBUR have opened admissions for the joint track ‘New Polymer Materials and Petrochemistry’ within the Master’s programme in Chemistry of Molecular Systems and Materials. The programme will prepare specialists with a solid scientific foundation and the project management skills required in the petrochemical industry. Studies will begin in September 2026 at the HSE Faculty of Chemistry.
The joint programme will combine the resources of HSE University’s academic network with SIBUR’s practical expertise. A significant part of the training will take place at partner sites of institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ensuring deep immersion in fundamental research and collaboration with active research teams. Practical training at SIBUR’s research centres and leading industrial sites in Kazan and Tobolsk will allow the students to gain experience working on real-world tasks from the company’s scientific division.
As a leader in the Russian petrochemical industry, SIBUR provides extensive career development opportunities for graduates, annually recruiting about 2,000 promising chemistry and engineering specialists to work at production facilities. The company is consistently among the most attractive employers in Russia: over the past year, SIBUR has entered the top 5 best employers in the country according to HH ratings, the gold group of Forbes’ rating of best employers for young people, and the top 3 among students of relevant faculties in FutureToday’s Best Employers of Russia rating. SIBUR also took first place among petrochemical and chemical companies in Changellenge’s Best Company Award rating.
The educational programme combines lectures and seminars by HSE teachers, RAS scientists, and SIBUR experts with work in compact groups of five to six people, which enables building individual educational trajectories and in-depth interaction with mentors.
One of the programme’s advantages is the integration of SIBUR’s industry modules: during their studies, students will approach scientific tasks through the lens of creating end products, such as materials to improve energy efficiency or solutions to prolong the product shelf life.
Graduates will be able to apply for various positions in SIBUR’s research units—its flagship research centre in Kazan, SIBUR PolyLab application development centres, industry divisions, and project management roles in the company’s corporate centre in Moscow. Master’s students pursuing an academic career will have an opportunity to continue their education in doctoral programmes or start working at HSE University’s and SIBUR’s partner academic sites.
Over the course of their education, students will have two years to study four thematic blocks in the format of research seminars. The blocks cover the complete production cycle—from production technologies and a review of petrochemical processes to finished materials—as well as key industry trends, including the development of artificial intelligence, production digitalisation, robotisation, special polymers, and other promising areas. The programme also includes modules on corporate project management, the interaction between state-funded science and industry, and the development of entrepreneurial thinking in scientific and technological work.
Dmitrii Roitershtein
‘At the HSE Faculty of Chemistry, we strive to train specialists with a fundamental chemical education that meets modern international standards—specialists who are able not only to carry out original research but also to see its applications in the industry and technological business. The joint programme with SIBUR reinforces the practical component of education and gives students an opportunity to work on relevant industry tasks even before they graduate,’ said Dmitrii Roitershtein, Academic Supervisor of the Master’s programme in Chemistry of Molecular Systems and Materials at the HSE Faculty of Chemistry.
Sergey Tutov
‘The development of the industry relies on the quality of specialists’ education. We consider it extremely important that graduates come out not only with fundamental knowledge but also with an understanding of real-world petrochemistry challenges and experience working with modern technologies. Launching the joint programme with HSE University is a response to the growing demand for specialists in modern synthetic materials. This programme makes it possible to establish a direct connection between science and industry—from a laboratory idea to a product popular on the market,’ noted Sergey Tutov, Director of Research and Innovation at SIBUR.
Learn more about the programme and apply for it here.
