FAQ’s Students

It is important to know what is and is not included in the total AFS program fee. Costs for each exchange varies depending on program duration and the country you are applying for.
Our pricing is based around making the exchange process as simple as possible for our participants. We try to bundle as much value into the one fee to make it easy for you.
Costs paid to the Host Country and AFS International are in US Dollars.
The programme fees cover:-

• Round-trip international travel between Malaysia and your host country.
• Travel to and from your host family’s city or town at the beginning and end of your program.
• Comprehensive medical insurance. AFS also offers participants and their families an optional travel benefits package, administered through a third party.
• Two iconic yellow AFS luggage tags.
• Local language assistance where required.
• Professional assistance with the application process.
• Placement with a carefully selected volunteer host family who will provide you room, board, and guidance. Your host family will also arrange a way for you to get to and from your school or community service project each day.
• Placement with a host school or community service organization. For programs that don’t include school, refer to the program description for other covered activities.
• Orientations prior to departure and after arrival, including room and board during multi-day orientations that occur throughout the program. This may be anywhere between a few nights to a few weeks stay, depending on the program.
• Orientation materials available prior to departure and during your exchange.
• Arrival orientation materials in your host country.
• Visa application information and assistance.
• Access to a support network of AFS professional staff and trained volunteers, at home and in your host country.
• Emergency assistance when you need it 24-hour – 7 days a week – 365 days a year.
• Access to the international AFS Alumni network
• 6% Malaysian GST (Government Service Tax)

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• Domestic travel to and from your hometown to the closest assigned international point of departure
• Visa and passport fees as well as any travel costs for an in-person appearance at a consulate or embassy, if required by your host country’s student visa application process. Visa-related costs vary by country
• School uniform, non-compulsory subjects at school and school stationary
• Spending money for personal expenses, such as gifts, long-distance calls, going out with friends, pocket money, etc. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about $150-$400 per month
• Any other costs that may come up throughout the AFS experience

Yes, there are scholarships available. Please go to our scholarships section to find out what scholarships there are and how to apply for them.

Scholarships

You need to inform AFS immediately, we will then send a letter of appeal to the Defence Ministry. So far exemptions have been granted but you would still need to go for National Service Training after your return. AFS is not a means for you to skip your National Service.

No. You will need to inform your school that you will be participating in this programme. AFS will send a supporting letter to your school to inform that you are participating in the program. However, it will be your parent’s responsibility to seek permission from the school for your absence.

If you want to go to Lower Six, tell your parents once they receive the offer letter to forward a copy to AFS. We will send a request letter to school to defer your place for the following year.

Only apply for University/ College the following year, upon your return.

If you are offered government scholarships, tell your parents to inform AFS. We will try to assist by giving our letter to defer your scholarship to the following year. Universities and Colleges are not under the administration of the MOE. Therefore, our assistance is limited. We strongly encourage students to complete their AFS year and not come home halfway through. This is not a good reflection on you and AFS in Malaysia. Each country is given a quota, and if a student drops out at one point during the programme, that may mean that we will lose that place the following year. Also think of other students that would have appreciated the AFS experience but were not selected to go on the program.

Before you apply, think hard of these consequences. If selected to go on AFS programs, please consider all your options carefully and have an honest chat about this opportunity with your parents/family.

Interested host-families will apply to AFS in order to host. Once we receive the application forms, our volunteers will make an appointment to interview the host-families in their homes. Families will be screened according to our criteria. Only families that satisfy our criteria will be approved to host. Host-family placements are done by the host-country.

All selected host-families have been screened. Host-families will be matched with students based on their compatibility. Host-families will be advised and given orientation on becoming a host. They need to care for the hosted student like their own child. Local Chapters in their area will monitor their progress, development and safety. Each student will be assigned to a liaison person/counsellor for them to confide in.

You may apply to go on exchange from January till April each year. If you have missed the deadline, you would have to wait for your chance the following year. No late applications would be accepted as the interviews are conducted during the month of June / July.

AFS is an intercultural exchange programme and not a study programme. You would be able to gain knowledge such as intercultural skills, communication skills and learn to be more independent from going on this program. However, we cannot guarantee that you would be able to complete your A-Levels or STPM equivalent when you go on this program. Most of our returnees return to Malaysia to do their A-Levels or Form 6 a year later. If your objective is to explore the world and expand your horizons, then this is the right programme for you.

If you have submitted your form, you should be called up for an interview latest by July. After the interview, you would be notified if you are successful or otherwise. If you have not received any form of reply, chances are your application is under consideration (KIV). Please do contact the National Office if you need further clarification.

Unfortunately, the answer is no. The programme is only open to Form 3 – Form 5 students. If you are currently doing your Form 6 and you are under 18, you may try to apply for the Intensive Programme.

If you are still at the age of 18 years old, you can apply for our PEACE program (Trimester program).

It’s not necessary for you to have a straight A’s, however that would be a bonus.  However, some of the countries do require non failing grades results.

Submissions of applications close on 30th April every year. All applicants will be called for a state level interview approximately in June. The results for scholarship program will be out in July. But the result for shortlisted candidates for paying program would be in August.

Depends on which year are you in during the application period. If you are currently in Form 3, you will need to submit the examination results during you were at form 1 and 2. If you are in Form 4, you need to send us your Form 2 and 3 results. If you are in Form 5, please send us your Form 4 and 3 school results.

• AFS offers carefully-designed international adventures that are fun, challenging and and will change your life forever.
• AFS has an excellent reputation for providing high-quality, safe and satisfying international programs for more than 70 years.
• AFS programs are valuable academically: They are based on our 21st Century-focused AFS Student Educational Goals and are supported by our unique AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum so that you can develop and prepare for your future school life and beyond.
• AFS students are not tourists. Most students live with a host family, who along with AFS volunteers and staff will help your transition to your new school and become an active member of  your community. Depending on the program, some students stay in other types of living arrangements—but all are supported by trained AFS volunteers and staff committed to making your experience meaningful and enjoyable as a member of a friendly community.  
• Through the AFS support network, you will become an active member of the host community, whether you go to a local school, volunteer or attend a program focused on a specific interest, like the environment or technology.
• AFSers make lifelong friends and stay in touch with their host families and other AFSers long after their exchange.  
• Become an AFSer, and you will join a connected global community of people committed to promoting and fostering intercultural understanding.
• You have the opportunity to become an AFS volunteer and help other students and families on an AFS experience.
• AFS offers a wide variety of programs in almost 100 locations:
  • High School (semester, trimester or year-long)
  • Summer, Winter Cultural Learning Adventures (a few weeks up to three months)
  • Specialized Study Programs (a few weeks up to months)
  • Language Learning Programs (a few weeks up to  months)
  • Volunteer Abroad Opportunities (varying durations)
    Gap Year Opportunities
• Your AFS experience will help you mature and develop skills that you will use throughout your lifetime:  
  • Explore and discover a new culture
  • Learn to live and enjoy life outside your comfort zones.
  • Get accustomed to making more decisions on your own.
  • Enjoy amazing adventures with new friends from around the world.
  • Try out new sports and unfamiliar activities.
  • Share everyday life and cultural traditions with your host family and classroom.

• AFS students are not tourists. Most students live with a host family, who along with AFS volunteers and staff will help your transition to your new school and become an active member of  your community. Depending on the program, some students stay in other types of living arrangements—but all are supported by trained AFS volunteers and staff committed to making your experience meaningful and enjoyable as a member of a friendly community.  
• Through the AFS support network, you will become an active member of the host community, whether you go to a local school, volunteer or attend a program focused on a specific interest, like the environment or technology.

Absolutely! AFS staff, volunteers and host families or dorm counselors want to help make your experience enjoyable and memorable.  

The AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum program will help you become more comfortable with your new family and school, make friends and develop skills and understanding to communicate and make friends with people from different cultures. The journey is:

• Facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff.
• Based on the well-established AFS Student Educational Goals that are valued by universities and employers around the world.
• Made of fun and informative orientation sessions and useful learning materials in your home and host countries.
• Guided by the AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum that includes, activities, role playing exercises and discussions that will help you fit into your new family, school and community.

• Become more self-confident and flexible as you learn how to turn challenging situations into valuable opportunities for personal growth.
• Discover new ways to view and solve problems.
• Practice new life skills in cross-cultural settings.
• Learn to respect and value differences.
• Enjoy exciting experiences that help young global citizens shape and define their place in increasingly diverse and internationalized schools, communities and workplaces.
• Practice being a leader and collaborating across differences.
• Become part of the growing, lifelong AFS community of over half a million global citizens.

• Most AFS students live with a host family. Our families are carefully chosen, screened and prepared to welcome an AFS student into their home. You’ll be treated like one of the family and welcomed to join in family routines, meals, activities and traditions.
• Although much less common, some students live in dormitories, with weekend homestays to experience everyday life in a new community. For a very few short-term programs, students may even live in camp-like settings, if appropriate.
• Once your application is accepted, AFS volunteers and staff in the host country will look for a community and family that are right for you. We encourage you to be as open and flexible as possible when it comes to placement.
• All living facilities and situations are inspected and closely monitored by AFS throughout the exchange experience.

Students are often concerned about fitting in, especially when they don’t speak the language. Facing challenges is an important part of the experience, but most AFS students adjust, make friends and have fun in the process—and the trained AFS volunteers and staff will help you every step of the way.

One way to learn more about studying abroad and what’s it’s like to make friends in other countries is to visit AFS Facebook page meet other AFSers from our country, or go to our international AFS Facebook page to connect with AFS students from all over the world.

• AFSers make lifelong friends and stay in touch with their host families and other AFSers long after their exchange.  
• Become an AFSer, and you will join a connected global community of people committed to promoting and fostering intercultural understanding.
• You have the opportunity to become an AFS volunteer and help other students and families on an AFS experience.
• Your AFS experience will help you mature and develop skills that you will use throughout your lifetime:  
  • Explore and discover a new culture
  • Learn to live and enjoy life outside your comfort zones.
  • Get accustomed to making more decisions on your own.
  • Enjoy amazing adventures with new friends from around the world.
  • Try out new sports and unfamiliar activities.
  • Share everyday life and cultural traditions with your host family and classroom.