Universities in Indonesia

Indonesia has one of the largest higher-education systems in the world. According to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), the country has 4,303 higher-education institutions, 34,711 study programmes and about 10.75 million students. Institutions include public and private universities, among them universities run by religious foundations such as Petra Christian University. Most teaching is in Indonesian, but some universities run international classes and graduate programmes in English.

For an international student, Indonesia offers English-taught degrees at a relatively low cost, government scholarships for students from developing countries, and the chance to learn Indonesian while living in Southeast Asia's largest country.

How it works

Universities are overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. Study programmes and institutions are accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (BAN-PT) or, in a growing number of fields, by independent subject accreditation bodies (LAM); you can check a programme's accreditation status on the BAN-PT website. Degrees follow three levels: the bachelor's degree (sarjana, S1), the master's degree and the doctorate. Universities such as UI also run vocational education programmes.

Our directory lists three universities:

• Universitas Indonesia (UI), on its Depok campus on the southern edge of Jakarta, traces its history to 1849 and took the name Universiteit van Indonesië in 1947; it describes itself as having 17 faculties
• Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) in Surabaya was officially founded on 10 November 1954 and grew out of a medical school opened in the city in 1913; it reports 16 faculties, 191 study programmes (10 of them international) and more than 30,000 students, 6.5% of them international
• Petra Christian University (Universitas Kristen Petra) is a private Christian university in Surabaya

Admission

International students usually apply directly to the university. At UI, for example, anyone without Indonesian nationality applies through the international admission portal. Undergraduate applicants need a secondary-school certificate obtained in 2022 or later, a transcript, a passport and a health certificate, plus proof of English: TOEFL ITP 500, TOEFL iBT 61 or IELTS 5.5, with certificates dated March 2024 or later. Master's applicants need a bachelor's degree and the same English scores. Registration for UI master's and doctoral programmes starting in the second term of 2026 ran from 6 August to 2 November 2026.

UI's international undergraduate classes (Kelas Khusus Internasional, KKI) are bachelor's programmes taught in English. In the single-degree version, students take all courses at UI with at least one semester abroad; the double-degree version leads to degrees from UI and a partner university. Each faculty may set extra requirements, so check the programme page.

Costs and funding

Tuition fees for international students are set by each university; UI publishes a separate tuition fee schedule for international applicants for 2026/2027. The main government scholarship is Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB), which funds students from developing countries. At UI it covers master's and doctoral programmes, with a maximum age of 35 for a master's and 40 for a doctorate, and applicants need a recommendation letter from the Indonesian embassy.

Degree students need a student visa (index E30B). According to UI's international office (information updated in 2025), visa and limited stay permit fees total IDR 6,000,000, the permit is valid for up to one year and can be extended, and applicants must show a bank statement with at least US$2,000 over the last three months. Paid work is not allowed on a student visa.

How to choose

• Language: regular programmes are in Indonesian; look for international classes or English-taught graduate programmes if you do not speak it
• Accreditation: check the programme's accreditation with BAN-PT or the relevant LAM before applying
• Degree type: single degree at an Indonesian university, or a double degree with a partner university abroad
• Funding: check whether your country is eligible for KNB and when the call opens
• Location and climate: Jakarta and Surabaya are large, hot and humid cities; in Jakarta, temperatures range from about 25 °C at night to 34 °C at noon, with rains from November to April

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Indonesia?

Yes. Universities such as UI run international undergraduate classes taught in English, and many master's programmes for international students are delivered in English. Regular programmes are taught in Indonesian.

What English level do Indonesian universities ask for?

At UI, undergraduate and master's applicants need TOEFL ITP 500, TOEFL iBT 61 or IELTS 5.5, with certificates from March 2024 or later. Individual faculties may ask for more.

Is there a scholarship for international students in Indonesia?

The Indonesian government's KNB scholarship supports students from developing countries. At UI it covers master's and doctoral programmes, with age limits of 35 and 40.

Can I work in Indonesia on a student visa?

No. The student visa (E30B) does not allow paid work, and applicants must show at least US$2,000 in their bank account over the previous three months.