FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Question: Where is AIM located?

  • The Asian Institute of Management is located within the Makati Central Business District (CBD). It is around 6 kilometers from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  The institute occupies one city block along Paseo de Roxas and is just across the Greenbelt 1 shopping arcade. The arcade itself has restaurants, movie houses, shops and a supermarket, which can be seen from the AIM lobby.

    The Central Business District is highly secured.  Security personnel patrol the campus 24/7. Our security office has a close working relationship with the Makati Police Department, and the service units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
     
    General Information
    1. The Philippines has a generally tropical climate. The wet (rainy) season starts in June until around December. January and February are considered the coldest months of the year.  April and May are usually the warmest. The rest of the months are generally warm and dry. While classrooms, offices and the dormitory air conditioned, students are advised to bring light clothing for occasions where you have to go out.
     
    2. Local time in the Philippines is GMT +8.
     
    3. There is a prescribed classroom attire. Shorts and/or slippers are not allowed in the premises including the dormitory lobby from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Bring a sweater or jacket. All rooms are air-conditioned and at times the classroom and dormitory can become quite cold.
     
    4. AIM has a gym and a swimming pool. The gym charges membership fees, but pool use is free. Sports shoes will be useful for those inclined towards athletics.
     
    5. A portable computer and pocket calculator will also be useful. 
     
    6. Electrical current in the Philippines is supplied at 220 volts, 60 Hrz.  Students are advised to use only equipment that is compatible with 220 volts.
     
    7. Bring a business suit for class presentations and other formal activities as well as your formal national attire for the International Week and graduation ceremony.
     
    8. Bring indigenous items from your country for the country exhibits during the International Week celebration.

     

  • Question: How do I get to AIM from the airport?

  • After you clear Immigration and Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), please proceed to the Transport Counter outside the airport lobby. There are coupon taxis (usually white) that require you to pay for the trip at the taxi counter based on your destination. There are also metered taxis (usually yellow) that charge you depending on the distance covered.  Metered taxis are usually cheaper than coupon taxis.  

    The cost of transportation to AIM is approximately US$15.00 per vehicle. Students arriving on the same flight can share the vehicle and split the cost among themselves.  You are advised to initially exchange around 100USD worth of the local currency (Philippine Pesos – PHP) at the airport to be used for transport and other minor expenses normally incurred upon arrival.
  • Question: What should I do before my departure?

  • Your principal contact before your arrival will be the Student Services, Admissions and Registration (SSAR) office.  Before you depart for the Philippines, make sure to inform SSAR of your flight details (e.g. time and date of your arrival, airline and flight number) through telefax (632) 893 7631 or by email admissions@aim.edu.

    Upon arrival at AIM, proceed to the SSAR to register and check your dormitory accommodation. If you arrive on a weekend, holiday or after office hours, the key to your room may be secured from the front desk at the Dormitory Lobby as long as we are advised of your arrival beforehand.
     
  • Question: Where do I stay during my program?

  • Students have a choice of places to stay. AIM has a campus dormitory, as well as a full service hotel inside the campus. Only students are allowed to stay in the campus dormitory. Each dormitory room is made up of two sleeping quarters and a central study area. Each sleeping quarter can accommodate two occupants.

    Facilities.  The ground floor of the dormitory has chairs and tables that can be set up for individual or group study purposes.  It also has a chapel where  Catholic masses are held at noon every day.  Masses are also held at 6:00 pm on Saturdays and at 9:30 am on Sundays. There is also a clinic at the ground floor that is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays. There is a gym at the basement that is staffed with an instructor, as well as a pool for students’ use.
     
    The dormitory is strictly for students only.  For students who intend to bring their families along for the duration of their studies, there are nearby apartments that they can rent.  Rental contracts are usually for a minimum of 12 months. The staff at the dormitory and SSAR can assist students who wish to rent these nearby apartments.
     
    Most degree program students stay in the dormitory. MBA students are required to stay in the dormitory for at least the first three months as they adjust to studies, library and group work. These are usually done after school hours, and frequently extend to very late in the evening or early morning during school days.
  • Question: How much is the dormitory rate?

  • Dormitory fees vary according to the following arrangements:

    • Those who opt for a 10-month contract and pay the dorm fees up front are charged PHP14,500 per month. Extensions (from the 11th to the 16th month in the case of MBA students) are computed based on this rate.
     
    • Those who wish to opt for monthly contracts may do so at the rate of PHP17,000 per month. 
     
    • Effective September 2012, the dormitory shall no longer require nor collect breakage deposits. However, clearance will still be required before the student leaves the dormitory after completion of his/her studies.
  • Question: What about meals?

  • Cafeteria – AIM has a cafeteria that is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, and 7:00 am to 12:00 noon on Saturdays. It serves Filipino and continental dishes. 

    SA store – The Student Association Store is located on the ground floor of the dormitory and is open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. It serves breakfast items, snacks and cold beverages.
     
    ACCM – The AIM Conference Center has a coffee shop at the ground floor, and a restaurant at the 5th floor. The restaurant serves continental and vegetarian dishes.
     
    Third party providers – AIM contracts third-party providers who serve South Asian dishes during lunch and dinner. A variety of snack shops, convenience stores, fast food outlets, and specialty restaurants are available right outside AIM.
  • Question: What should we know about the local currency, banks and exchange rates?

  • The local currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP).  For the last year, the exchange rate hovers between PHP41.00 and PHP40.00 to USD1.00. As of April 2013, the exchange rate is around PHP40.60 to 1 US Dollar (USD). 

    There are banks across the street from AIM and many more within walking distance. Commercial banks are usually open from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm, from Monday to Friday. Savings banks also open at 9:00 am but close later – some as late as 6:00 pm. Banks are not open on weekends although some branches of one bank (Banco de Oro) is open on Saturdays.
     
    It will be useful to have a few thousand pesos when you arrive so that you can cover incidental expenses such as meals and transportation especially if you arrive during the weekend. We therefore, recommend that you secure around US$100 worth of the local currency at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) upon arrival. You may need a little more if you arrive in the evening, especially on Saturdays. There are also foreign currency dealers around the campus but some of them are also closed on Sundays.  The admissions office has made arrangements with some of the nearest banks that will facilitate the opening of Peso or Dollar accounts for incoming overseas students.
     
    Students who bring traveler’s cheques or bank drafts are advised that it may take up to four weeks before these are cleared by the banks and the money is released. Therefore, it would also be advisable to have currency that can be readily converted such as US Dollar bills. The American Express office is a 10-minute walk  from AIM. They can exchange AMEX Travelers’ cheques to cash immediately.  By experience, students will be spending about US$10 - 15 a day on food and around US$100 in incidentals (including phone cards for communication) for those first three weeks.  
     
    MBA students will also need to pay PHP11,000 for the visa extension that SSAR will file as soon as you have completed your enrollment. This fixes the validity of your 47(a)(2) visa for 16 months , and allows family members to enter under the same visa. Overseas students in one-year programs such as the MDM need to pay only PHP5,500 since the validity of their visa is good for one year only.
     
    *Note: Exchange rate may vary. Please click here.
  • Question: What about telephone and mobile communications?

  • Cellular phones in the Philippines operate under the GSM network. GPRS and 3G is widely available but 4G coverage is still limited.  There are three major mobile telecom providers operating in the Philippines, each with their own unique advantages.

    Smart Communications  – Smart Buddy Prepaid has the same coverage as Globe, with similar costs for regular calls and texting.  Typical calls cost Php6.50 per minute.  Text messaging costs Php1.00 per message.  Nationwide coverage is extensive.  Smart Communications also operates Talk and Text.
     
    Globe Telecom – Globe Telecoms is owned and operated by the Ayala Group. Typical calls cost Php6.50 per minute. Text messaging costs Php1.00 per message.  Globe has promos that allow unlimited texting for a fixed amount per day.  Nationwide coverage is extensive. Globe Telecom also operates Touch Mobile.
     
    Sun Cellular – Unlimited calls and text to other Sun subscribers for Php25 a day. Coverage outside of Metro Manila is not as comprehensive as that of Globe or Smart.  Students report difficulties calling other networks, even within Metro Manila.
     
    As a general rule, calls and text within the same network are cheaper, if not free. Our advice is for classmates to decide to adopt a single network in order to reduce costs.  International calls are regularly charged US$0.40 per minute although there are also promos that allow you to make these calls for less.  You can check the promos through the telecom’s respective websites.
  • Question: On laptops, printers and other computer equipment

  • For convenience however, most students have personal computers purchased as part of their schooling costs. Students who share a room at the dorm often just share in the costs of a printer and consumables.  All of these are optional on the part of the student. If you decide to purchase your laptops from your country of origin, or decide to bring one that you already have, please be reminded that electrical current in the Philippines is supplied at 220 volts and can cause damage to equipment designed to work with lower voltages.

  • Question: Does AIM provide health care insurance for students?

  • All degree program students of the Washington SyCip Graduate School of Business (WSGSB) and Center for Development Management (CDM) are provided with medical insurance in case of accidents or grave illness while enrolled. The coverage of this insurance starts from the day the student enrolls, and remains effective until graduation day.

  • Question: Can SSAR assist me with travel arrangements?

  • Students who may need to make other travel arrangements immediately after arrival may get in touch with any of the travel agencies accredited with AIM.   A list of these travel agencies are included in your welcome kit which is distributed during the enrollment period.  Please contact SSAR for queries.Students who may need to make other travel arrangements immediately after arrival may get in touch with any of the travel agencies accredited with AIM.   A list of these travel agencies are included in your welcome kit which is distributed during the enrollment period.  Please contact SSAR for queries.

  • Question: What is AIM’s accreditation?

  • AIM is accredited with the Association of Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It is one of only 7 accredited AACSB schools in Southeast Asia. AIM is also a founding member of the Association of Asia Pacific Business Schools (AAPBS).

  • Question: Partner Schools

  • AIM has 32 international student exchange partner schools including the Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), the Schulich School of Business (Canada), the Warsaw School of Economics (Poland), the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), the University of Mannheim Business School (Germany), IPADE (Mexico) and the Xavier Labor Relations Institute (India), and Wharton (USA), among others. For a full list of exchange partner schools, please click here. 

  • Question: Can I credit course units taken from my previous school?

  • No. AIM’s programs are designed as a complete package. The only courses credited are those from our exchange partner schools.

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