Universities & Tuition — Indonesia

Top Universities in Indonesia for International Students

Indonesia has become an increasingly popular study destination in Southeast Asia, offering affordable education, cultural diversity, and growing English-taught program options. Below is a detailed breakdown of leading institutions.

Note: Rankings (QS World University Rankings 2024/2025), tuition fees, and program details change frequently. Always verify current figures directly with university admissions offices or official government sources like PDDikti (Indonesia's Higher Education Database) before applying.

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1. Universitas Indonesia (UI)

• City: Depok/Jakarta
• Global Ranking: ~QS #237 (2024); consistently Indonesia's top or second-ranked university
• Renowned For: Medicine, law, economics, social sciences, public health; oldest and most prestigious university in Indonesia
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 20,000,000–40,000,000 (~$1,300–$2,600 USD) for undergrad; postgraduate programs can reach IDR 60,000,000+ (~$3,900 USD)
• Language of Instruction: Indonesian (majority); select English-taught postgraduate and international programs
• International Student Percentage: ~2–3% (growing via KNB scholarship intake)
• Notable Scholarships: Indonesian Government's Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship; UI Excellence Scholarship
• Acceptance Difficulty: High – competitive entrance exams (SIMAK UI) required

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2. Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)

• City: Bandung
• Global Ranking: ~QS #281 (2024)
• Renowned For: Engineering, technology, architecture, natural sciences; Indonesia's top STEM institution
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 25,000,000–50,000,000 (~$1,600–$3,200 USD)
• Language of Instruction: Indonesian primarily; some English-taught graduate programs
• International Student Percentage: ~1–2%
• Notable Scholarships: KNB Scholarship, ITB International Undergraduate Scholarship, Indonesian government STEM grants
• Acceptance Difficulty: Very High – rigorous math/science entrance exams, highly selective for both local and international applicants

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3. Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)

• City: Yogyakarta
• Global Ranking: ~QS #263 (2024)
• Renowned For: Agriculture, social sciences, medicine, public policy; strong alumni network, largest university by enrollment
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 30,000,000–45,000,000 (~$1,950–$2,900 USD)
• Language of Instruction: Indonesian; growing number of English-taught master's programs
• International Student Percentage: ~2%
• Notable Scholarships: KNB Scholarship, UGM International Undergraduate Program (IUP) scholarships
• Acceptance Difficulty: High – competitive, especially for IUP tracks

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4. Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)

• City: Surabaya
• Global Ranking: ~QS #700-750 range (2024)
• Renowned For: Engineering, marine technology, information systems, robotics
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 20,000,000–35,000,000 (~$1,300–$2,300 USD)
• Language of Instruction: Indonesian; select English-taught international classes
• International Student Percentage: ~1%
• Notable Scholarships: KNB Scholarship, ITS International Scholarship for ASEAN students
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate-High – strong in STEM entrance testing

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5. Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR)

• City: Surabaya
• Global Ranking: ~QS #601-650 range (2024)
• Renowned For: Medicine, pharmacy, veterinary science, tropical disease research
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 25,000,000–40,000,000 (~$1,600–$2,600 USD)
• Language of Instruction: Indonesian; English-taught international undergraduate/postgraduate tracks available
• International Student Percentage: ~3–4% (one of the higher rates, notable for medical/health international cohorts)
• Notable Scholarships: KNB Scholarship, UNAIR International Full-Track Scholarship
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate-High

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6. Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD)

• City: Bandung
• Global Ranking: ~QS #801-1000 range (2024)
• Renowned For: Law, communications, agriculture, dentistry
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 15,000,000–30,000,000 (~$1,000–$1,950 USD)
• Language of Instruction: Indonesian primarily
• International Student Percentage: ~1%
• Notable Scholarships: KNB Scholarship, UNPAD Scholarship for ASEAN students
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – more accessible than UI/ITB/UGM but still competitive for popular majors

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7. Universitas Bina Nusantara (BINUS)

• City: Jakarta
• Global Ranking: ~QS #801-850 range (2024); top private university in Indonesia
• Renowned For: Business, IT, computer science, creative industries; strong industry partnerships
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 40,000,000–70,000,000 (~$2,600–$4,500 USD)
• Language of Instruction: English (majority of programs) and Indonesian
• International Student Percentage: ~5% (highest among major Indonesian universities due to English program focus)
• Notable Scholarships: BINUS Global Scholarship, ASEAN Scholarship, merit-based tuition waivers (up to 100%)
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – more accessible; private university with rolling admissions

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8. Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP)

• City: Semarang
• Global Ranking: ~QS #1000+ range (2024)
• Renowned For: Engineering, marine science, public health, law
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 15,000,000–25,000,000 (~$1,000–$1,600 USD)
• Language of Instruction: Indonesian; limited English-taught tracks
• International Student Percentage: <1%
• Notable Scholarships: KNB Scholarship, Indonesian Ministry of Education grants
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – more accessible entry point for international applicants

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9. Universitas Ciputra (UC)

• City: Surabaya
• Global Ranking: Not globally ranked (regional/national recognition)
• Renowned For: Entrepreneurship, business innovation, hospitality management
• Annual Tuition (International): approx. IDR 35,000,000–55,000,000 (~$2,300–$3,600 USD)
• Language of Instruction: English and Indonesian (bilingual campus)
• International Student Percentage: ~3–5%
• Notable Scholarships: UC Entrepreneur Scholarship, partial merit scholarships
• Acceptance Difficulty: Low-Moderate – accessible private option, rolling admissions, portfolio/interview-based for some programs

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Summary Comparison Table

| University | City | Difficulty | Best For |

|---|---|---|---|

| Universitas Indonesia | Depok/Jakarta | Very High | Law, Medicine, Social Sciences |

| ITB | Bandung | Very High | Engineering, STEM |

| UGM | Yogyakarta | High | Agriculture, Policy, Medicine |

| ITS | Surabaya | Moderate-High | Engineering, Tech |

| UNAIR | Surabaya | Moderate-High | Medicine, Pharmacy |

| UNPAD | Bandung | Moderate | Law, Communications |

| BINUS | Jakarta | Moderate | Business, IT (English-taught) |

| UNDIP | Semarang | Moderate | Engineering, Public Health |

| Universitas Ciputra | Surabaya | Low-Moderate | Entrepreneurship, Business |

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Key Considerations for International Applicants

• KNB Scholarship (Kemitraan Negara Berkembang): Indonesia's flagship government scholarship for developing-country students, covering tuition, living stipend, and sometimes flights—applicable across most public universities.
• Language Barrier: Most public universities still teach primarily in Indonesian; strongly consider Indonesian language prep courses (many universities offer BIPA – Bahasa Indonesia for Foreign Speakers programs) unless enrolling in a dedicated English-taught international track.
• Cost of Living: Extremely affordable compared to Western countries—typically $150–$400 USD/month depending on city (Jakarta and Bandung pricier; Yogyakarta and Semarang cheaper).
• Visa Requirements: International students need a KITAS (Limited Stay Permit) student visa, arranged through the university's international office.

Recommendation: Verify current tuition, rankings, and scholarship terms directly through official university websites, the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, and the KNB Scholarship portal, as these details are updated annually.

More about immigrating to Indonesia