Pamoso, Aron HaroldLiem, AndrianBalmores-Paulino, Rozel S.Muhiddin, SyurawastiZay Hta, May KyiWetherick, Faridah KristiSilvestre, Jeremiah PaulKiling, Indra Yohanes2025-06-302025-06-301354-067XORCID:/0000-0001-9335-8914/work/176535824WOS:001401626900001http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85216072891&partnerID=8YFLogxKhttps://hdl.handle.net/1885/733765897Despite the growing movement towards inclusivity, the voices of ethnic minority students (EMS) in Southeast Asia (SEA) remain underrepresented, resulting in marginalization that hinders their academic pursuits, and well-being. However, past research often overlooked experiences of EMS and the role of sociocultural elements that drive oppression. This study seeks to explore the experience of stigma among EMS in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 37 EMS from university-based student organizations and analyzed them using the KJ method. The results indicate that sociocultural elements significantly influence their experiences, ranging from subtle microaggressions to overt acts of harm and violence. Furthermore, these encounters necessitate a variety of strategies, including coping mechanisms, stigma management, and the management of social standing, which characterize our understanding of how they navigate stigmatization. The findings illuminate the intricate interplay between socio-cultural elements and stigma among EMS in SEA, underscoring the urgency for more inclusive policies in higher education, facilitated by community-led initiatives, allyship, and activism.We extend our gratitude to Monash University Malaysia, specifically Dr Rachel Ting Sing Kiat, for bringing us together at the first Southeast Asian Indigenous Psychology Conference in December 2020, which enabled our research team to collaborate across Southeast Asian countries. We also thank Dr Justine Thong Jian-Ai for her contributions to our project, and our research assistants in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines for their assistance with our research project. Finally, we express our appreciation to our participants, whose narratives made this research project possible.24en© 2025 The Author(s) .CopingEthnic minority studentsIndigenous studentsIndonesiaMalaysiaPhilippinesSoutheast AsiaStigma202510.1177/1354067X25131573285216072891