Details

• Philippines
• MASIMC-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 2 months

1. Preparation

One of the most important parts of the preparation is the visa process. AIM will reach out to you with the required documents, and you should start the process as early as possible. Once you submit your paperwork, it can take several weeks until the Philippine authorities process it, and the timeline is unpredictable. In most cases, you will still need to visit the Philippine Embassy in Vienna in person to pick up your visa — it cannot be done fully online. If you plan to travel earlier and your visa is not ready yet, you can enter the Philippines on a tourist visa and convert it after arrival. I did it this way, but it cost me some nerves: the process takes a long time, you must hand in your passport, and you cannot leave the country while the conversion is ongoing. Still, it does work, and AIM is helpful throughout the process.

2. Accommodation

There are essentially two accommodation options when studying at AIM: staying at the on-campus dorms or renting your own place in one of the nearby condo buildings. The AIM dorms are located directly on campus and are the most budget-friendly option. Rooms are shared, the facilities are simple and not particularly modern, and most of the local students stay there. It’s a very social environment but comes with less privacy and comfort. Most international students, including myself, chose to rent a condo close to campus. Popular buildings within 5–10 minutes walking distance include Asia Tower, Mosaic, and The Columns/Rossendale. Being able to walk is incredibly valuable because Manila traffic is extremely unpredictable, and short distances can easily take 20–30 minutes by car during peak hours. Many of us booked our places through Airbnb for convenience. Another option is to book temporary accommodation for your first few days and look for a condo on-site — many buildings have rental offers advertised in the lobby. You can also reach out to AIM students; they are very helpful and often know someone who is subletting a unit. This can be significantly cheaper than Airbnb. Price-wise, expect somewhere between €500–€1000 per month depending on the building, unit size, and level of comfort. Makati City is one of the safest areas in Manila, and I always felt safe walking around at any time of the day. One thing to note: not many condos come with their own washing machine, but almost all buildings offer laundry services that are affordable and very convenient. Tip I wish I had known beforehand: Start looking early and prioritize walking distance — it makes a huge difference for your day-to-day life, especially when classes start early or finish late and you want to avoid the Manila traffic chaos.

3. Academic life at host university

The AIM campus is relatively small compared to WU, but it has everything you need on a daily basis: a library, cafeteria, small coffee shop, and even an ATM. Because the campus is compact, you quickly get familiar with the environment and meet people easily. One thing I wish I had known earlier — especially since I was already travelling when the semester started — is that AIM has a dress code. Many students (especially locals) follow it quite strictly in the beginning: no sneakers, long pants, and preferably loafers or formal shoes. Button-down shirts or polos are recommended, particularly for presentations. After a few weeks the overall style becomes more relaxed, with many students wearing casual t-shirts or smart casual outfits, but it’s still good to pack a few proper shirts and one pair of dress shoes. Classes at AIM are small, usually around 20 students, which creates a very personal learning environment. The academic culture is respectful but interactive, and participation plays a significant role. AIM was originally founded by Harvard professors, which is reflected in the teaching style: case-based learning is central. You often prepare short one-page analyses, discuss case studies in class, or work on group presentations. Compared to WU, the workload is not necessarily harder, but it is more compressed because the semester runs over only two months. This means you will likely work on assignments almost every day, even if none of them are individually difficult. In my courses, I only had two formal exams/tests total — most of the evaluation came from participation, case write-ups, and presentations. The grading culture is generally supportive. Professors want international students to succeed and genuinely appreciate when you bring insights from your home country or previous studies. Overall, the academic experience is intense but rewarding, and the personal connection to professors and classmates is noticeably stronger than at WU.

5. Every day life in the host country

For getting around Manila, I barely used public transport. There are trains and traditional jeepney buses, but almost all students rely on Grab (the local equivalent of Uber). Grab is cheap, safe, and very convenient, and it is also used for food delivery and grocery orders, so it becomes a kind of “super app” in everyday life. In Makati and the areas I frequented, I felt safe at all times. Of course, like in any big city, there are districts with higher crime rates where you should not go, but these are far from the typical student areas. For daily life, going to class, meeting friends, or exploring nearby neighbourhoods and malls, I never had any issues. Shopping malls play a big role in Filipino city life. They are huge, air-conditioned, and full of shops, cafés, and restaurants. We often met there for dinner or just to hang out. There is also a lively bar and nightlife scene, and local students are very welcoming – they often invite international students to events and help you discover the best spots in town. In terms of sports and leisure, most condo buildings are well-equipped with a gym and swimming pool, which makes it easy to stay active despite the heat. Some people go running in the evenings or on Sunday mornings when certain roads are closed for cars and opened for cyclists and runners. I also joined a basketball open run and a “super cycle” class, which were both fun. Just keep in mind that it is very hot and humid outside, but most indoor facilities and gyms have air conditioning.

6. Testimonial

Overall, I had an amazing exchange experience at AIM that I would never want to miss or swap for another destination. The small class sizes and the openness of the local students made it very easy to build genuine relationships and close friendships – something that might be harder to achieve at larger universities. Manila/Makati itself may not be the most spectacular or picturesque city and the Philippines is affected by typhoons from time to time, especially in September and October. However, Makati is usually only mildly affected, and I never felt unsafe – it was mostly just stronger winds and heavy rain for a short period. What truly makes this exchange special is what comes after the intensive two-month term: you are perfectly positioned to travel the Philippines (or other nearby countries) in depth. The country offers stunning islands, beautiful nature, world-class dive spots, and great surf. I would highly recommend AIM and the Philippines to anyone considering an exchange in this region.