Can I Get University Credit for an Internship in Asia?

Quick answer: Often yes, but your university decides, not AIP. Many students earn credit for an AIP internship if their university approves it first. AIP provides the paperwork universities usually ask for: an internship agreement, placement confirmation, supervisor evaluation and a host company certificate of completion. Ask your study-abroad office before you pay a deposit.

If you want your internship in Asia to count toward your degree, plan it with your university from the start. This guide explains how credit usually works, what AIP provides and when to ask.

How academic credit usually works

Universities set their own rules, so there is no single answer. In most cases it works like this.

• You ask your department or study-abroad office whether an internship can count for credit and how many credits it is worth.
• The university sets the conditions, such as a minimum number of hours, a supervisor and a written report.
• You complete the internship and send the documents the university asks for.
• The university awards the credit. Many interns do this, but you should check the rules first.

Credit is a decision between you and your university. We can't promise it, but we can make the paperwork easy.

What AIP provides

We work with your university to provide the documents it needs.

• Internship agreement. A document that describes the placement, with your host company and your dates.
• Placement confirmation. Written confirmation of your host company, role and dates.
• Supervisor evaluation. Every host company gives you a designated supervisor, who can assess your work.
• Host company certificate of completion. Every program includes a certificate from your host company at the end, which confirms you finished the internship.

If your university uses its own forms, send them to your career advisor early and we will see how to complete them with the host company.

How to ask your study-abroad office

A short list of questions saves time.

• Can an internship abroad count for credit in my degree, and how many credits?
• How many hours or weeks must the internship last?
• Which documents do you need from the host company or from AIP?
• Do I need approval before I start, and by what date?
• Are there extra fees for credit?

Programs run from 6 to 24 weeks, so you can often match your university's requirement. Ask for the answers in writing.

Partner universities

We work with 80+ partner universities, and many students join through their study-abroad office. If your university is one of them, the process is usually familiar to your advisor. If it is not, we can still send the paperwork. See our university partnership page, or faculty-led programs if you want to bring a group.

Timing

Start early. Finding your placement takes about 8 weeks from your deposit, so apply with a start date at least 12 weeks away. If your start date is less than 12 weeks away, you need AIPx Fast Track. Ask your university about credit before you pay the deposit, because its approval deadline may come before your start date. You can see how each step works on our how it works page and the costs on pricing.

You can intern in any field in every destination. See our South Korea and Singapore pages for two popular places to start.

FAQs

Does AIP give academic credit directly?

No. Your university decides whether to give credit and how much. We provide the documents your university asks for, and you receive a certificate from your host company at the end.

What documents do I get from AIP?

We send the paperwork your university asks for: an internship agreement, a placement confirmation, a supervisor evaluation and a host company certificate of completion.

Can faculty-led groups get credit?

Often yes, because the program is built around your course. Credit is still decided by your university. See our faculty-led programs page to design a group trip around your syllabus.

Do I need to be enrolled at a university to join?

No. Students, graduates and career changers aged 18 or over are welcome, with or without a degree. You only need to be enrolled if you want to ask a university for credit.

Does getting credit change the price?

The AIP program fee is the same. Your university may have its own fees for credit or tuition, so ask your study-abroad office what they charge before you apply.

Have a form from your university? Book a free call with a career advisor and bring it with you.