About AIFS Partnerships

AIFS and Your Institution

The American Institute For Foreign Study® (AIFS) was founded in 1964 to provide opportunities to study and travel abroad. Since then, more than one million students and faculty have participated in AIFS programs. The program described in this brochure is offered under the auspices of your college or university in partnership with the AIFS College Division. Your college or university is entirely responsible for the academic part of your program. AIFS works closely with your home institution to coordinate support arrangements.

The American Institute For Foreign Study provides academic and nonacademic support for the study programs. This support includes classroom facilities, meals, housing, counseling, special cultural and social events and faculty support services. With AIFS making these logistical arrangements, students and faculty are free to pursue academic endeavors without concern for the complex, time-consuming practical arrangements that a successful study abroad program demands.

AIFS Partnership programs are a unique study abroad experience. Your home institution teaches its own academic program abroad, using its own faculty, curriculum and style, and requiring the same academic commitment from students as at home. All academic credits earned are part of the regular authorized course offerings and will appear on a transcript from your home institution. This allows students to make normal progress toward undergraduate degrees while utilizing foreign resources and cross-cultural experiences.

The courses offered are taught by faculty from your home campus, plus adjunct local faculty if required, and you will receive regular credit in the same way as courses taken in the United States. Students pay the same tuition fees as they would at home.

AIFS Program Coordinator

In addition to the faculty members from your home institution, an AIFS program coordinator is available to handle all aspects of the nonacademic program on behalf of AIFS. The AIFS program coordinator is responsible for
organizing cultural and social activities and for preparing the field trips. In addition, the AIFS program coordinator is available to provide information and advice to help you get the most out of your stay.