Studying how to save or improve another person’s life is one of the noblest professions a person can choose. Having the right expertise for the job is no easy task, and reaching a point where your knowledge may mean the difference between life and death requires rigorous study, practice, and training.
Nursing is one of the most crucial healthcare professions in any society, as shown by its worldwide presence and long history. Being a nurse involves not only caring for sick individuals, but also applying the knowledge needed to support doctors and other health professionals in providing services for people who are ill, disabled, or at the end of life.
Generally, to become a nurse, a student must study at an institution or school and earn a degree or diploma after a specified period of time. This also depends on the student’s ability to comply with all academic requirements set by the institution. Some countries also require aspiring nurses to pass competency, registration, or licensure exams before they can practice as registered nurses.
Indonesia has a large nursing workforce, and health workforce planning remains an active national priority. In Indonesia, nursing education pathways commonly include vocational nursing and professional nursing routes. The choice depends on several factors, including the student’s qualifications, career goals, and the admission requirements of the university or nursing school. In this article, we will look at how you can study nursing in Indonesia.
What Degrees are there for Nursing in Indonesia?
To become a nurse in Indonesia, students usually choose between vocational and professional pathways. A common vocational route is a Diploma III in Nursing. The professional route generally starts with a Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing Science, often followed by the Ners professional stage. For example, Universitas Indonesia describes its nursing education as having an academic phase and a professional phase, while Hasanuddin University’s current Bachelor of Science in Nursing leading to Professional Nurse curriculum lists 146 credits for the bachelor’s stage and 36 credits for the professional stage.
Graduates who wish to practice must also meet the competency, registration, and licensing requirements that apply at the time they graduate. Because health-profession rules can change, students should confirm the latest requirements with the university, the Ministry of Health, and the relevant professional bodies before enrolling.
Although a vocational qualification is one route into nursing, Indonesian universities also offer bachelor’s and postgraduate nursing options. For example, Universitas Indonesia offers an integrated Bachelor and Professional Ners program, a Master of Nursing Study Program, and a Doctor of Nursing Program. UI’s Faculty of Nursing states that it is the first and oldest nursing education institution in Indonesia and that it established its doctoral nursing program in 2008. Hasanuddin University also offers a Master of Nursing Program as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing leading to Professional Nurse. Universitas Pelita Harapan offers both Nursing and International Nursing undergraduate options. These universities are some options to consider when you are planning to study nursing in Indonesia.
Requirements to Study Nursing in Indonesia
For international students who want to study nursing in Indonesia, Universitas Pelita Harapan offers an International Nursing program and provides an online admission system. UPH states that its International Nursing program is open to Indonesian and international students who have completed high school in natural science, social science, or vocational disciplines. Applicants should check UPH’s current admission page for the latest application fee, intake schedule, and required documents.
For Hasanuddin University, admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing leading to Professional Nurse program requires applicants to meet the university’s current entry requirements. The program page states that students are awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Professional Nurse titles and that a high school diploma is required. For Indonesian state universities, the current national selection terminology uses SNBP and SNBT, while universities may also have independent selection routes. Students should therefore check the latest Hasanuddin University and SNPMB admission pages rather than relying on the older SNMPTN terminology.
UI’s International Office currently lists Nursing under its Faculty of Nursing undergraduate single-degree options and gives English-proficiency requirements of TOEFL CBT 173, TOEFL iBT 61, or IELTS 5.5. UI also has specific requirements for its RPL route, including a Diploma III in Nursing, a minimum GPA of 3.00 out of 4.00, a portfolio, a color-blindness check, and passing SIMAK UI. Applicants should confirm the route that applies to them before applying.
In What Languages Do You Study Nursing?
Language options vary by university and program. Many nursing programs in Indonesia are taught mainly in Indonesian, so proficiency in Indonesian is still important for many students, especially for clinical training and local professional practice.
There are also English-taught programs for nuring in Indonesia. Universitas Pelita Harapan lists an International Nursing undergraduate program open to international students, and Universitas Indonesia’s International Office lists Nursing under its international undergraduate options with English-language requirements. Students should confirm the language of instruction directly with each university before applying.
Best Nursing Schools in Indonesia
1. Universitas Pelita Harapan
Universitas Pelita Harapan is a private university in Tangerang and is one of the private Indonesian universities to consider for nursing. It integrates Christian values into its teaching and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in several fields. UPH lists its Nursing and International Nursing programs as 3.5-year undergraduate programs that award the academic title S.Kep. Its International Nursing program is open to Indonesian and international students who have completed high school in natural science, social science, or vocational disciplines.
Keeping in line with UPH’s holistic and Christian-centered approach, the nursing curriculum includes general university courses, Christian worldview-related courses, and core nursing subjects. The program also includes courses such as English for Nursing, Nursing Informatics, Transcultural Nursing, and clinical nursing subjects.
2. Hasanuddin University – Faculty of Nursing
Hasanuddin University was officially established in 1956 and is located in Makassar, Indonesia. Its Faculty of Nursing offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing leading to Professional Nurse program, and the program page states that graduates receive Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Professional Nurse titles. The university’s nursing page also states that the bachelor’s and professional nurse programs received A accreditation in 2019.
Aside from its BSN-PN program, Hasanuddin University offers a Master of Nursing program. The current curriculum pages show 42 credits for master’s specializations such as Medical-Surgical Nursing and Nursing Management. At this nursing school in Indonesia, students can pursue nursing education at more than one academic level.
3. Universitas Indonesia
Universitas Indonesia is one of Indonesia’s major public universities and has historical roots dating back to 1849. Its Faculty of Nursing is located in Depok, Indonesia, and the faculty’s history page states that it was authorized as an independent faculty in 1995. UI’s Faculty of Nursing describes its bachelor’s program as the largest and oldest nursing education program in Indonesia, organized through academic and professional stages.
UI offers numerous undergraduate programs aside from nursing, such as engineering, law, and other fields. UI’s International Office currently lists Nursing under its Faculty of Nursing undergraduate single-degree options and provides English-proficiency requirements for applicants.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page and Open Courses Page for International Students!
