Indonesia is a country made up of many islands and is home to many ethnic groups, a rich culture, and diverse local food. Enjoy the wonderful scenery the country has to offer, along with its friendly people. It can also be an affordable place to pursue higher education, with several Indonesian universities included in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Here, we will discuss the various scholarships in Indonesia that are available for international students. Choose from private and public universities and colleges, and explore many programs that are taught in English.
Top Scholarships in Indonesia for International Students
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| Kemitraan Negara Berkembang Scholarship | Indonesian Government | Bachelor’s
Master’s
Doctoral | Tuition waiver for the BIPA program and regular academic program
Settlement allowance
Monthly living allowance
Monthly book and research allowance
Health insurance
Scientific publication funding for master’s and doctoral students
Round-trip economy airfare and local transportation |
| SEARCA Full Master’s and PhD Scholarships | External | Master’s
Ph.D. | Tuition and school fees
Stipend for living expenses
Books and supplies allowance
Health insurance
Thesis or dissertation support
Travel allowance |
| Telkom University Scholarship Program | Telkom University | Diploma
Bachelor’s
Master’s
Doctoral | Scholarship grant packages that may cover the admission fee, tuition fee, dormitory, and/or living allowance
Distance-learning scholarship options may cover 100% or 50% of tuition fees |
| Airlangga Development Scholarship | Universitas Airlangga | Master’s
Ph.D. | Accommodation allowance of IDR 1,500,000
Health insurance
Research allowance: IDR 7,500,000 for master’s students and IDR 15,000,000 for doctoral students |
| Gadjah Mada International Fellowship | Universitas Gadjah Mada | Master’s
Doctoral, depending on the call | Program-call-based support; recent GMIF calls have included a tuition fee waiver, living allowance, airfare, health insurance, visa and ITAS support, thesis research incentive, and student dormitory |
1. Kemitraan Negara Berkembang Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Tuition waiver for the BIPA program and regular academic program, settlement allowance, monthly living allowance, monthly book and research allowance, health insurance, scientific publication funding for master’s and doctoral students, and round-trip economy airfare with local transportation
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral
The KNB Scholarship is one of Indonesia’s major government scholarships for international students. It is administered by the Directorate General of Higher Education under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. The scholarship supports qualified applicants from developing countries or countries that have bilateral relations with Indonesia who want to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. The current KNB guidelines list 47 host universities and 1,173 study programs.
To apply for the scholarship, download the KNB Scholarship Offering Letter from the scholarship website, contact the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate, and submit the required documents. These may include a passport, curriculum vitae, English proficiency test results when required, recommendation letters, academic certificates and transcripts, and a medical report. Doctoral applicants must also submit a recommendation letter from a potential research supervisor and a statement of purpose. After receiving the embassy recommendation letter, applicants complete the online application and selection process.
The current scholarship coverage includes a settlement allowance upon arrival in Indonesia, tuition fees for the Indonesian language and preparatory program (BIPA) and the regular academic program, monthly living allowance, monthly book and research allowance, health insurance, scientific publication funding once during the scholarship period for master’s and doctoral students, and round-trip economy airfare with local transportation. The scholarship duration is up to 8 semesters for bachelor’s degrees, 4 semesters for master’s degrees, and 8 semesters for doctoral degrees, with up to 12 months for the BIPA and preparatory program.
Eligibility depends on the degree level. For the current call, bachelor’s applicants must generally be no older than 21 and hold a high school degree; master’s applicants must generally be no older than 35 and hold a bachelor’s degree; and doctoral applicants must generally be no older than 40 and hold a master’s degree. Applicants must also meet the English proficiency, recommendation, health, citizenship, and online application requirements listed in the current KNB guidelines.
2. SEARCA’s Joint Graduate Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Tuition and school fees, stipend for living expenses, book and supplies allowance, health insurance, thesis or dissertation support, and travel allowance
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.
The current SEARCA Full Master’s and PhD Scholarships are awarded to applicants from SEAMEO member countries who are regular employees of academic or research institutions or government agencies. Applicants must not be more than 40 years old for a master’s degree or 45 years old for a PhD at the time of application. Areas of specialization should be relevant to agricultural and rural development, and the proposed thesis or dissertation research should contribute to outcomes such as higher farmers’ income, improved food security and nutrition, greater climate resilience, and stronger agricultural stakeholders and institutions.
The application procedure requires applicants to complete the SEARCA Scholarship Application Form online and upload required documents written in English. Successful applicants benefit from tuition and school fee coverage, travel allowance, thesis or dissertation support, book and supplies allowance, health insurance, and a stipend for food, lodging, and incidental expenses. In Indonesia, the study posts are Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and Universitas Brawijaya (UB).
3. Telkom University Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Scholarship grant packages that may cover the admission fee, tuition fee, dormitory, and/or living allowance; distance-learning scholarship options may cover 100% or 50% of tuition fees
- Eligible Degree/s: Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral
Telkom University (Tel-U) is a university in Bandung, Indonesia that focuses on ICT and business. Tel-U offers scholarships to international students from around the world who meet the general requirements. Applicants must hold foreign citizenship, be fluent in English or Indonesian, and meet the age and academic requirements for their chosen level. The current scholarship requirements list a maximum age of 23 for bachelor’s applicants and 35 for master’s applicants. Master’s applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Doctoral applicants must have a linear study program and a promoter at Telkom University.
The scholarship is offered through several grant types. For on-campus diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, the grant package may cover the admission fee, tuition fee, dormitory, and living allowance, depending on the scholarship type awarded. For distance-learning programs, the scholarship options may cover either 100% or 50% of tuition fees.
The selection process is based on the applicant’s credentials, including academic merit, motivation, language skills, recommendations, CV, and other required documents. There may also be an online interview and/or online written test. If accepted, candidates receive a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) by email or through the registration application.
4. Airlangga Development Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Accommodation allowance of IDR 1,500,000, health insurance, and research allowance of IDR 7,500,000 for master’s students or IDR 15,000,000 for doctoral students
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.
The Airlangga Development Scholarship is a scholarship opportunity offered by Universitas Airlangga for international students applying for master’s or doctoral study. The programs are generally in fields such as natural sciences, health sciences, and social sciences.
The current Airlangga Development Scholarship information lists benefits including an accommodation allowance of IDR 1,500,000, health insurance, and research allowances of IDR 7,500,000 for master’s students and IDR 15,000,000 for doctoral students. Because scholarship benefits and application requirements can change by annual call, applicants should check the current scholarship page before applying.
Applicants should prepare the documents requested in the current call, which may include a valid passport, academic transcripts, English proficiency documentation, a motivation letter, a research proposal, recommendation letters, and a CV. Applications are submitted through the university’s international admissions system.
5. Gadjah Mada International Fellowship (GMIF)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Varies by annual call; recent GMIF calls have included a tuition fee waiver, living allowance, airfare, health insurance, visa and ITAS support, thesis research incentive, and student dormitory
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s; doctoral opportunities may be listed depending on the current call
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) offers the Gadjah Mada International Fellowship (GMIF), a scholarship program for international students. UGM’s current scholarship page describes GMIF as a degree program for international students pursuing master’s and doctoral study, with special emphasis on candidates from the ASEAN region, excluding Indonesia, and Global South countries. The university states that GMIF application information is updated regularly on its scholarship page.
Because the coverage can vary by call, applicants should review the latest GMIF announcement before applying. In a recent full-time master’s call, GMIF coverage included a tuition fee waiver for four semesters, living allowance according to the Yogyakarta rate, up to one semester of Indonesian language study for students enrolled in the INCULS program, round-trip economy airfare, health insurance, e-visa and ITAS support, a thesis research incentive, and student dormitory.
Eligibility also depends on the current call. In a recent master’s call, applicants were required to be no older than 30, hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent evidence of academic qualification, show English proficiency through TOEFL ITP or IELTS, provide recommendation letters, and submit the required supporting documents through the UGM admission system.
We hope that this article on scholarships in Indonesia for international students was helpful. If you’re interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!
