Become A Part of the AIMS Community
The AIMS Programme has expanded its network over the years with the continuous effort of stakeholders at all levels, and has provided beneficial learning opportunities for students as well as universities throughout the region. Interested in becoming a part of the AIMS Programme? Whether you are seeking to become involved as a university or as an individual student, make sure to explore the information below to learn more about the benefits and steps of joining the AIMS Programme.
Getting involved as a university
To participate in the AIMS Programme, universities must first be nominated by their respective ministry or relevant national authority responsible for higher education. The specific arrangement of nomination process varies depending on countries. Interested universities are advised to consult their national government and refer to the AIMS Programme Handbook that provides the standard steps to become a member of the Programme. Please note that only a Member Country government in your respective country can initiate involvement in the Programme.
The benefits of joining AIMS
Strengthen the capacity of your International Relations Office to support mobility and create an environment for international education to benefit your institution.
Improve the quality of your programmes and academic courses through the sharing of experiences in internationalising curricula, teaching, and research.
Enhance the potential for networking and partnership with other regional and international universities towards new possibilities for cooperation and innovation.
Offer students a pathway that equips them with intercultural skills that enhance a sense of regional identity and improve their ability to apply their skills in diverse contexts.
Getting involved as a student
All students who apply to participate in the AIMS Programme have their own reasons and interest for doing so. There are, however, a number of goals that many AIMS students share. If the following apply to you, we hope that you too will decide to apply to the AIMS Programme:
- You want to open your mind to new perspectives, to accept new challenges, and to experience life in another country of the region.
- You want to enhance your employability by gaining international experience and developing your cross-cultural skills to become a well-rounded and responsible global citizen.
- You are excited about becoming a part of an extensive network of AIMS alumni and ambassadors for the AIMS Programme.
- You want to form new friendships and community ties across the region that can last a lifetime.
How to apply as a student
To take part in the AIMS Programme, you must be an undergraduate student at a participating member university. To be qualified for the Programme, you need to fulfill requirements set by your selected host university and go through the selection processes at your home university. For more specific information regarding your application and participation in the AIMS Programme, please contact the International Relations Office (IRO) at your home university.
Where can you go?
There are currently 9 participating Member Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in the AIMS Programme offering exchange opportunities across 10 disciplines and 80 participating universities. To learn more about the participating universities in each country, visit our Destination Guide. If you want to learn more about the disciplines offered, continue to our overview of Disciplines.
Frequently asked questions
Academic credit for each course that you complete during your exchange is transferable based upon prior agreement between your home and host university. It is advisable to confirm the arrangement of credit transfer with your home and host university prior to your departure.
Scholarships and/or other forms of financial support are available to AIMS students and may vary depending on the policies set by national governments and home universities of each Member Country. Please contact the International Relations Office at your home university for more information regarding financial support.
The requirements of each host university may differ based on the agreement they have with your home university. As all courses are offered in English, you may be requested to provide evidence of your English proficiency. For details on other requirements such as visa, permit of stay and medical examinations, please contact the International Relations Office at your home university.
Both your home and host universities provide you with pre-departure and on-arrival orientations to support your study abroad. Home and host universities work together to offer various information and other supports available to students throughout all stages of your exchange.
SEAMEO RIHED also organises Virtual Regional Orientation for new AIMS students every semester for you to meet other AIMS students. Please follow AIMS social media and IROs for upcoming events.
Currently, the AIMS Programme offers single semester exchanges at an undergraduate level within the discipline of your study at a home university.
Once you’ve successfully completed an exchange in the AIMS Programme, your host university will issue you an AIMS Certificate of Completion and transcript of your study. Additionally, your home university will facilitate your involvement in the AIMS Alumni Network after your programme completion.