The International Relations Office (IRO), oftentimes also referred to as International Affairs or International Office, was officially established under the Brakas of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Kingdom of Cambodia, with reference number ៣០៣៥.អយក.ប្រក (3035.EdYS.BrK), dated 22 October 2010, managed by one office director and one deputy director with the purpose of: 

• providing a channel and a window for international communication and interactions between the Royal University of Phnom Penh and higher education institutions abroad, 
• disseminating information on higher education opportunities and organising workshops on scholarships abroad for students and seminars to provide and promote internationalisation,
• assisting and facilitating the university’s academic and administrative personnel and students’ outbound mobility, 
• connecting and inviting international academic and administrative personnel for inbound staff mobility and students for inbound academic mobility, and 
• supervising and establishing formal relations under academic frameworks bound by memoranda of understanding (MoU) and memoranda of agreement (MoA).

Introduction

The International Relations Office (IRO) of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) serves as the primary unit responsible for managing and expanding the university’s global partnerships. The office coordinates international academic collaboration, oversees exchange programmes, supports visiting scholars, and facilitates opportunities for students and staff to engage in global learning. 

IRO has been established as a subordinate entity under the direct supervision of the Vice Rector responsible for International Relations at RUPP. While the majority of administrative responsibilities are executed by the staff within the International Office, the office also reports directly to the Vice Rector in charge, as delineated in the existing organisational structure of the university. This structure ensures effective dissemination of information pertaining to internationalisation and other relevant matters.

By promoting international cooperation, the IRO plays a key role in enhancing the university’s academic reputation, strengthening cross-cultural understanding, and contributing to RUPP’s commitment to global engagement and development.

Vision

To establish itself as a premier centre for international cooperation, fostering significant global partnerships that enhance education, research, and cultural exchange at RUPP.

Mission

• Strengthen International Collaboration: Build and maintain strategic partnerships with universities, organisations, and institutions around the world.

• Promote Global Mobility: Facilitate student and staff exchange programmes, scholarships, internships, and international study opportunities.

• Support International Visitors: Provide assistance to visiting scholars, delegations, and research collaborators to ensure successful academic engagement.

• Enhance Global Awareness: Encourage intercultural understanding and international participation within the RUPP community.

• Facilitate International Projects: Coordinate international grants, research cooperation, and development programmes that support RUPP’s academic goals.

Objective

1. Expand international partnerships through agreements, MoUs, and collaborative academic programmes.

2. Increase student and staff participation in international exchanges, training, and scholarship opportunities.

3. Promote internationalisation at home through seminars, cultural activities, and collaborative academic events.  Coordinate international delegations and provide professional support to visiting scholars and institutions.

4. Strengthen communication with global partners through effective coordination and timely information sharing.  Support international research collaboration by assisting in project development, proposal submission, and partnership networking.

5. Improve administrative systems by adopting modern tools for managing mobility, agreements, and international activities.

6. Enhance staff capacity through continuous training in international cooperation, communication, and project management.

7. Ensure transparency and accountability in managing international programmes, scholarships, and partnership agreements.

Please follow the link below to learn more about RUPP: RUPP at a Glance!

Internationalisation is a key part of RUPP’s strategic plan, enabling the university to compete at both regional and global levels. Achieving international standards in higher education is essential to addressing local needs related to the country's socioeconomic development.

RUPP's internationalisation strategy encompasses far more than merely developing and signing Memoranda of Understanding with other international higher education institutions. The Vice Rector of International Relations, the International Relations Office (IRO), the Quality Assurance Office (QA), and all faculties work together to develop and maintain the university's internationalisation strategy.

• The Vice Rector in charge of international relations and the IR Office are the foremost committees responsible for overseeing internationalisation activities abroad, specifically with partner universities.

• The QA Office is accountable for ensuring the quality of education and securing accreditation from the educational authorities and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Additionally, it actively collaborates with the IR Office to implement the internationalisation strategy across other local higher education institutions (HEIs).

• Meanwhile, other faculties are authorised to initiate proactive collaborations that enhance the capacity-building of their respective units and to establish an interconnected network to improve the university’s research, innovation, and publication of research articles.

RUPP thus explicitly promotes international and intercultural exchange opportunities for all university members. Students, instructors, and employees who strive to participate in international exchange and cooperation programmes are fully supported by the university.

Through the IR Office, the window and channel for internationalisation, RUPP has advanced its internationalisation efforts in higher education by enhancing communication with international partners, with whom the university aims to collaborate.

These initiatives include 1) an academic exchange programme for students; 2) foreign language training; 3) mobility and training for academic and administrative staff; and 4) joint programmes focused on improving education quality, such as joint research projects, international symposia, seminars, meetings, and the publication of articles in international peer-reviewed journals across fields like science, social sciences and humanities, engineering, development, and political science and public policy.

As a conduit for connection and communication, the IR Office of RUPP has the opportunity to serve as a representative for the Studies Office and the Accounting & Finance Office regarding the financial arrangements for international students.

1. International Students Applying for the Four-year Bachelor's Programme

Any international students seeking to enrol in a four-year bachelor's degree programme at RUPP are required to pay tuition fees that are twice the amount paid by domestic students for any programme offered by the university.

2. International Students Applying for an Exchange Programme

2.1. Mobility from partner universities

International students from RUPP's partner universities, holding active Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) or Memoranda of Student Exchange Agreement (MoA), are exempt from the tuition fees ordinarily required for international students.

2.2. Mobility from non-partner universities

International students originating from universities not affiliated as partners, or those without any formal academic agreements between their institution and ours, are mandated to pay tuition fees for their selected courses that are twice the fee paid by domestic students for any programme provided by the university.

RUPP has established connections with over 230 institutions, both private and public, encompassing universities, research institutes, and mobility networks across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.

General Objectives of Cooperation

• Faculty & Researcher Exchange: Facilitating the exchange of faculty members and researchers between partner institutions.
• Student Exchange: Enabling students to study abroad and gain international academic experience.
• Joint Research Projects: Organising collaborative research initiatives that address shared regional and global challenges.
• Information & Publication Exchange: Sharing academic information, publications, and research findings across institutions.

International Networks & Mobility Programs

• ASEAN University Network (AUN): RUPP is one of the core members representing Cambodia within the regional bloc.
• SEAMEO RIHED  
• Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)  
• University Mobility in Asia & the Pacific (UMAP): RUPP hosts the National Secretariat for Cambodia.
• ASEAN European Academic University Network (ASEA-UNINET)  
• Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility & Capacity Building in Higher Education  
• Asia  International Mobility Student (AIMS)  
• Greater Mekong Subregion Academic and Research Network (GMSARN)  
• G-DORM Project with Niigata University, Japan  
• TWINCLE Program with Chiba University, Japan  
• South and Southeast Asia University Network  
• UNESCO-UNITWIN with Sookmyung Women's University, South Korea

Global Education Programs

1. Joint Degree Programs — Sogang University, South Korea

• Bachelor's Program:

  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology

• Master's Programs:

  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology

• PhD Programs:

  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Chemistry

2. Joint Degree Programs — Osaka Prefecture University, Japan

• Bachelor of Engineering in Food Technology
• Bachelor of Engineering in Data Science and Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Data Science and Engineering

3. Joint Degree Programs — Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea

• Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering

The 1+3 and 2+2 Programs at RUPP–ASU open a distinctive pathway for students to begin their higher education in Cambodia and complete their academic journey at Angelo State University, Texas, in the United States. Designed through the partnership between RUPP and ASU, these programs combine RUPP's strong local foundation with ASU's international learning environment, resources, and academic opportunities.  

In the 1+3 Program, students spend their first year at RUPP before continuing their remaining three years at ASU. The 2+2 Program allows students to complete the first two years at RUPP and transfer to ASU for the final two years of their degree. Both pathways give students time to strengthen their academic knowledge, English-language communication, independence, and readiness for an international university experience while remaining close to home during the early stages of their studies.  

More than a transfer arrangement, these programs are a bridge between local potential and global opportunity. Students benefit from a gradual transition into a new academic and cultural setting, while developing the confidence to engage with diverse ideas, people, and professional networks. By studying across two institutions and two learning environments, participants gain a broader perspective on their field of study and a stronger understanding of the world beyond the classroom.  

The 1+3 and 2+2 Programs empower motivated students to pursue an internationally recognised education without leaving Cambodia at the very beginning of their university journey. They represent an investment in academic excellence, cross-cultural understanding, and future leadership—preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully to Cambodia’s development and to succeed in an increasingly connected global community.

1) Prerequisites

To be eligible, students who have just graduated from the twelfth grade of high school or those who have completed high school level must:

• have a baccalaureate (grade 12th) degree or equivalent
• have a proficient command of the English language at least B2 level (IELTS 6.0, TOEFL ITP: 550, TOEFL-iBT: 60, or Duolingo: 96) or higher
• undergo the examination and selection process as required by the Royal University of Phnom Penh
• make a payment of USD 100.00 for the application fee

2) Major Offered, Course Prerequisites for the Major & Program Fee

2.1. Major Offered in 1+3 Program

2.2. Majors Offered in 2+2 Program

3) Application Checklist

• Complete Application Form (form provided)
• Baccalaureate Degree, Diploma, or equivalent with verification from the authority
• Birth Certificate and National Identification Card with verification from the authority
• Complete Admission Slip (form provided)
• Valid Passport on the information page
• English proficiency proof or report: IELTS, TOEFL-iBT, TOEFL ITP, Cambridge, etc. (if any)
• Photography of an applicant sized 4*6 taken without abstract or spectacle
  • Male student: taken in a white shirt with tie or in a suit on a blue background
  • Female student: taken in a white shirt or traditional shirt on a blue background

Students from the Royal University of Phnom Penh have been beneficiaries of scholarship assistance provided by our partner institutions from various sources, thereby supplementing and supporting their undergraduate academic pursuits.

For further information, please visit the information poster.