Why Indonesia is worth a look for regional students

Indonesia has a fast‑growing higher education sector, with top universities such as Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and private institutions like BINUS and UPH offering English‑medium programmes. Tuition fees and living costs are lower than Singapore or Western countries, and there are increasingly attractive scholarships for high‑achieving students.

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1. Universitas Indonesia (UI) Merit & Tuition Waiver Scholarships

Most popular for:
High‑achieving local and some international students targeting UI international programmes (e.g. Engineering, Business, Medicine‑related fields).

Coverage

• Scholarships can offer partial or full tuition waivers, sometimes including registration fees.
• Living expenses are usually not fully covered, but costs in Jakarta are moderate compared to other global capitals.

Eligibility

• Strong grades from high school / A Levels / IB / national curriculum.
• Meeting UI’s programme‑specific entry requirements.
• Some schemes focus on students from lower‑income backgrounds (need + merit).

Odds & numbers

• Limited number of places; odds are reasonable for strong students compared with ultra‑competitive Singapore awards.

How to apply

• Apply to UI via the international admissions route.
• Submit scholarship/fee waiver forms where available, including:
  • Academic transcripts
  • Statements of need and achievement

Deadlines & duration

• Deadlines vary by faculty but often fall between February and June for September intakes.
• Scholarships are typically awarded for one year at a time, renewable with good academic standing.

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2. ITB & UGM Scholarships for Engineering and STEM

Most popular for:
Students interested in Engineering, Sciences and Technology at ITB and UGM.

Coverage

• Selected schemes provide tuition reductions or waivers for high‑performing students.
• Some local government or company‑linked scholarships may also be used at these universities.

Eligibility

• Excellent results in Maths and Sciences at A Level / IB / national curricula.
• Passing entrance tests and meeting faculty requirements.

How to apply

• Apply through the university’s international or joint‑degree admissions.
• Check each faculty’s website for scholarship announcements, which may require extra documents.

Odds & timelines

• These are competitive but not impossible for strong candidates.
• Application windows often align with national and international admission rounds (usually early in the calendar year).

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3. BINUS University Global & Merit Scholarships

Most popular for:
International and Indonesian students aiming for Business, IT, Design or Computing degrees at BINUS University.

Coverage

• Global scholarships can provide partial to full tuition fee waivers for international students.
• There are also merit scholarships for strong local applicants.

Eligibility

• High academic performance in IGCSE/O Levels followed by A Levels / IB / equivalent.
• Strong interest in Business, IT, Computer Science, Design or related areas.

How many & odds

• BINUS actively promotes internationalisation, so good students from the region may have solid chances, especially for partial scholarships.

How to apply

• Apply through the BINUS international admissions portal.
• Complete the scholarship application with:
  • Transcripts and predicted grades
  • Personal statement
  • Evidence of activities/competitions (especially in IT/Business)

Deadlines & duration

• Multiple intakes per year with rolling scholarship consideration.
• Awards often last for the entire degree (3–4 years) if GPA requirements are met.

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4. Indonesian Government & Regional Scholarships

Although most Indonesian government scholarships focus on postgraduate or teacher development, there are occasionally:

• Provincial or city‑level awards for high‑achieving residents studying at Indonesian universities.
• Scholarships tied to specific industries or companies (e.g. energy, mining, technology).

For non‑Indonesian citizens, these are more limited, so focus mainly on university‑specific merit scholarships.

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What do Indonesian scholarships usually cover?

• Top merit awards at private universities (e.g. BINUS) can approach 50–100% tuition coverage.
• Public university scholarships more commonly provide partial tuition relief.
• Living costs in cities like Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta are moderate, so combining a partial scholarship + family contribution can be realistic.

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Eligibility, odds and timelines – what to expect

• Eligibility: good performance in Maths, Sciences and English; strong overall school record; sometimes income‑based criteria.
• Odds: stronger than in destinations like Singapore or the UK, but top programmes are still selective.
• Timelines: many decisions depend on entrance exam results; plan around national Indonesian admission calendars plus international intakes.
• Duration: Most scholarships are renewable annually over 3–4 years, dependent on GPA and conduct.

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Advice for families in South East Asia, South Asia & the Middle East

• View Indonesia as a value‑driven option with a mix of local recognition and English‑medium programmes.
• Students who may not secure a full scholarship in Singapore could still gain significant tuition support in Indonesia.
• Balance your applications:
  • Reach: full or near‑full awards at BINUS or top public universities.
  • Target/Safety: partial scholarships or fee waivers you are more likely to obtain.

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How Tutopiya supports Indonesia‑focused plans

Tutopiya supports IGCSE, A Level and IB students considering Indonesia by:

• Strengthening STEM subjects for Engineering/IT pathways.
• Helping compare Indonesian offers and scholarships with options in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.
• Providing structured guidance on applications, references and academic readiness.

If Indonesia is on your list, we can help your family model the costs, scholarship chances and academic pathways alongside other regional options.