Study in Indonesia
Keishon Aban
Rural Community Development Specialist || Study Abroad Expert || Servant Leader
Hi Everyone,
I thought I would get back to my “study in Asia” series I started some months back. The next country I would introduce to you is ‘INDONESIA’.
Indonesia is one of the vibrant and less explored countries in Southeast Asia. The country has around 17,000 thousand islands, of which more than 6000 are inhabited. Besides, it is one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia. It is a study destination where you get a high-quality education at affordable prices.?Around 6000 international students in Indonesia study at universities and other higher education institutions. Hence, Indonesia is an ideal study destination for higher education, and many courses in Indonesia have an industry-focused curriculum.?Apart from education, the nation has more to offer, like amazing food, friendly people and stunning natural beauty.
It is highly recommended to stay away from major sporting events due to the overpopulation. As much as Indonesia is beautiful and cheap, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, the 4th to be exact.
Being the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia has seen a rise in religious conservatism in recent years.?Depending on the region, alcohol is illegal. In 2022, the government passed a law banning sex before marriage. Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/05/asia/indonesia-new-code-passed-sex-cohabitation-intl-hnk/index.html
About Studying in Indonesia
The official language is Indonesian, and English is widely spoken in the country.?
The World University Rankings has ranked most universities in Indonesia in the 801-1000 band in 2022. As an international student, if you study in Indonesia, you will experience a diverse culture as more than 700 regional languages are spoken in the country.?Indonesia has the second-largest biodiversity globally after Brazil, and it has a sprawling nature spread across the nation.
Though Jakarta is the Capital, I highly recommend universities in cities such as Surabaya, Surakarta, Bandung, Medan and Yogyakarta. Also, the Indonesian Government is planning on moving the Capital to Nusantara on the island of Borneo, due to the overpopulation, debilitating pollution, and?rising sea levels. Read more: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/indonesia-is-moving-its-capital
Hence, studying in universities outside of Jakarta is recommended. At universities in major cities, English is the main language of instruction, but you may have to do a few courses on the local language, bahasa and Indonesian culture. Indonesian universities offer a wide range of courses in a wide range of fields which can be chosen from by students to study. There are degrees in informatics (ICT), education, environmental sciences, many forms of engineering, agriculture, business administration, media and communication, social development and welfare, fisheries, food science, natural resource management, biotechnology, and economics are among the popular degrees studied by international students.
TUITION COST IN INDONESIA
The tuition fees for international students vary depending on the university, and the course one chooses to study in Indonesia. When?compared to other countries in south-east Asia, Indonesia offers a variety of courses at reasonable tuition fees.?The average tuition fees vary from $2400 to $6100 per year.?
The universities I recommend are:
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
As it relates to scholarships, there are endless opportunities, both university based and government scholarships. I highly recommend applying for KNB Scholarship.
Kemitraan Negara Berkembang, popularly known as KNB Scholarship, is a prestigious scholarship program offered by the government of Republic of Indonesia to selected applicants originating from developing countries. They normally offer 200 slots for this scholarship. The role of KNB Scholarship has been central in supporting Indonesian higher education institutions in their endeavor for internationalization. The number of international students is indicative of global visibility of higher education institutions. In support of Indonesian universities’ internationalization and to accommodate the increasing interests from applicants all around the world, the number of scholarships being awarded every year has continued to grow. It covers airfare, tuition, housing, health insurance and monthly stipend. Read more: https://knb.kemdikbud.go.id/
The DARMASISWA Scholarship, is annually funded by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, for international students to study in the country. The Darmasiswa Indonesian Scholarship serves as a conduit for cultural exchange, enabling gifted students worldwide to immerse themselves fully in Indonesia’s educational system, cultural tapestry, and progress. It covers airfare, tuition, housing, health insurance and monthly stipend. Learn more: https://apply.darmasiswa.kemdikbud.go.id/
Another full scholarship that international student can apply to is the International Priority Scholarship (IPS). The IPS Scholarship offers international students a fully funded opportunity that covers tuition fees, living allowance, and the costs of VISA, and Return air flight ticket.
There is also Universitas Negeri Malang International Student Scholarship (ISS). It is a prestigious scholarship offered by UM to provide access for highly qualified international students around the world to pursue a degree program at Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. The scholarship is available to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degree programs. It covers tuition fees, living allowance, and the costs of VISA, and Return air flight ticket . Learn more: https://oia.um.ac.id/umiss/
There is also the UNNES NEXTSHIP Scholarship. UNNES stands for the Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES). The scholarship is available to pursue Undergraduate, Master, and Doctoral Degree programs available at UNNES. The UNNES NEXTSHIP Scholarship will cover tuition fees, registration fees, monthly stipends, living allowance, Institutional Development Fee, and Dorm Fee. Learn more: https://unnes.ac.id/admission/en/nextship/#informasi-lengkap
As I explained in the blog on government scholarships, Indonesia is one of the governments that would select international students from unknown countries to them.
COST OF LIVING
The cost of living in Indonesia differs from one city to the other. Jakarta is the most expensive than Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Surakarta and Bandung.
Depending on your lifestyle USD $700-$1,000 would be your monthly budget to cover; traveling expenses, accommodation, utilities, food, gym, and entertainment. I recommend renting a room on-campus of the university. It will be way cheaper than being a newbie trying to negotiate with local apartment owners. Also, you would not get lost as a newbie; because all forms of public transport will know the university.
Access to transportation in Indonesia is fairly convenient. Various means of land transportation are ready to take you from one destination to another. You can choose a linked railway system or other means of transportation familiar to most Southeast Asians but with an Indonesian twist such as motorcycle cabs called “ojek”, and the widely available public minivans called “angkot.” Regular buses and taxis are also available at affordable prices. You also could choose transportation by smartphone application that widely available in Indonesia such as “Gojek” or “Grab” or the Indonesian version of Uber.
VISA PROCESS
International students looking to study in Indonesia should apply for an?Indonesia?student visa to commence their studies in the nation. The student visas can be applied at the Indonesian embassy in Suriname.
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
Van Brussellaan #3, Uitvlugt,
Paramaribo, Suriname
Phone: (597) 431-230, 431-171
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
The?Indonesia?student visa is valid for one year and can be renewed every year up to 4 times. The?Indonesia student visa cost is?around $135.?Besides, the Indonesia student visa processing time is around 1-2 weeks.?
POST-STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
International students, who want to stay in Indonesia after graduation and are fluent in Bahasa Indonesian, need to find employment before they graduate so the employers will be able to sponsor the work permits. In order to be employed as a foreign national in Indonesia, the employer will need to get formal approval from the Ministry of Manpower before making a visa application. The employer must submit an?Expatriates Placement Plan (RPTKA)?to the Ministry of Manpower. Without this, the government will not issue the?Visa.?
When the RPTKA has been approved, the employer will need to apply for a working permit or Ijin Mempekerjakan Tenaga Kerja Asing?(IMTA) which translates to?Permission to Employ Foreign Workers. DO NOT APPLY FOR A WORK PERMIT. IT IS YOUR EMPLOYER’S RESPONSIBILITY.
After the work permit (IMTA) is issued, then you can apply for the Temporary Stay Permit (VITAS) which will give you access to an Izin Tinggal Terbatas (ITAS), which will allow you to open a bank account. After three (3) years with the ITAS, you will be eligible for Izin Tinggal Tetap (ITP), which is a?permanent resident permit?for foreigners living and work in Indonesia that is renewable every five (5) years.
With such a fast-growing economy, Indonesia presents important opportunities for organizations in a variety of sectors, including?construction, oil and gas, mining and metals, Retail, transportation, media, manufacturing, telecommunications, finance, hospitality, tourism and electronics, there is a need for English-Bahasa speaking workforce. If you do not get a work in this area, there has been a rising demand for English teachers in schools.?Read: https://immigrationandmigration.com/post-study-options-how-to-get-a-work-visa-in-indonesia-after-studies/
If you do not want to stay in Indonesia, you can use it as your launch pad for employment in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Japan and South Korea. There are many embassies in Jakarta, so it’s easy to apply for visa to these countries.
Here is an article that shared some of the perspectives from international students studying in Indonesia: https://www.thejakartapost.com/culture/2023/02/14/road-less-traveled-indonesia-through-the-lens-of-international-students.html