Study in Indonesia

Higher Education Structure in Indonesia

Study In Indonesia

Indonesia has a highly developed college system, with nearly 3,000 private Higher Education Institutions, and more than 100 public Universities. Different categories of HEIs cater to broad-based education, specialized research in one discipline, and professional training. The relatively low cost and high quality of the higher education system in Indonesia make it an attractive destination for international students.

The Republic of Indonesia is an island country in Southeast Asia. Its large and diverse population (fourth in the world) and extensive land area (fourteenth in the world) ensure that it has a powerful economy, currently ranked seventh in the world on a PPP basis. The economy has tourism as a primary contributor. Jakarta is the capital and largest city. Indonesia is home to prominent Institutions of Higher Education like Gadjah Mada University and the University of Indonesia.

The Perks of Studying in Indonesia

Indonesia is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

  • The country is ranked #99 in the world in the WiseVoter “Best Countries for Education” report in 2023.
  • The country is ranked #47 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” (Global Peace Index) ranking by WiseVoter in 2023.
  • The country is ranked #96 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP) in 2023.
  • The country is ranked #73 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report in 2019.

Higher Education Framework in Indonesia

There are four kinds of higher education institutions (HEIs) to study in Indonesia, with three providing academic courses and the fourth focusing on technical education.

1. Universities: They are similar to HEIs of the same name in other countries. They have several departments, which conduct research and teach courses in a wide range of technical, artistic, commercial, and social disciplines.

2. Tertiary Schools and Institutes: These are limited versions of Universities; their courses and research are confined to one discipline. For example, Engineering Institutes may have separate departments for Mechanical and Civil Engineering, for example, but they normally do not have Humanities departments.

3. Academies: They teach courses in a single branch of a discipline, and ordinarily only have one department. Language learning academies fall into this category.

4. Polytechnics: They focus on professional education, usually in technical fields, and cater to the market demand by producing trained qualified tradespeople.

Professional Training Diploma Programs

Indonesian Polytechnics award diplomas or certificates, depending on the length of study. These are usually in various technical trades, and students may choose to enter immediately after completing high school. Polytechnics are well integrated with the industry, and most students can look forward to an immediate job placement.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Bachelor’s Programs in Indonesia take either three or four years to complete, depending on the discipline (engineering courses usually last four years). They are offered by Academies, Institutes, and Universities, with the latter offering undergraduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines. Candidates are expected to complete a semester-long project towards the end of their program, which is either called a Bachelor’s Thesis or course project.

Postgraduate Programs

Postgraduate programs in Indonesia are of many types. Some students choose to complete Master’s degrees, which last two years. Many students join integrated Master’s and PhD programs, which can take up to seven years to complete. Finally, there are integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in medical and dental disciplines; these are usually completed in five or six years. No student will be issued a postgraduate degree without defending his/her Master’s Thesis before a panel of qualified external examiners.

Doctoral Programs

PhD programs in Indonesia usually take five years to complete. After 1-2 years of coursework and training in analytical techniques, students spend several years working on one large research problem under the guidance of a faculty member. Once there is sufficient original work and progress made, students usually spend 1-2 semesters writing the PhD thesis, before defending the work in front of an examination panel. A successful doctoral thesis defense is required for award of a PhD degree.

Popular Disciplines Available in Indonesia

The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available to study abroad in Indonesia are-

Medical ScienceCivil EngineeringComputer Science and Engineering
Mechanical EngineeringLawPsychology
Communication ScienceIslamic BusinessNaval Engineering
AnthropologyLibrary ScienceElectronics Engineering
Nursing ScienceSocial Welfare StudiesPublic Administration

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Indonesia

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Indonesia. The numbers given below correspond to the distribution of the 60+ Public Universities only; there are thousands of institutes and private Universities over and above these e.g. 35+ Private HEis in Jakarta alone.

The name of the city No. of Public Universities 
Jakarta3
Bandung2
Surabaya3
Malang2
Sleman3

Average Monthly Expenses in Indonesia for International Students

Tuition fees in prominent public universities (e.g. the University of Indonesia) vary by program. For example, most courses are associated with annual fees of approximately 2,000 USD (31 million Rupiah), while medical and dental courses have tuition fees of almost 4,000 USD (62 million Rupiah) per year. There is also a one-time admission fee to be paid by students. Even with this, the cost of education is on par with most other Asian countries, and much lower than that in Europe or the United States.

The Indonesian student visa regulations mandate that applicants must show that they have access to the equivalent of 4,500 USD (71 million Rupiah) per year, sufficient to cover accommodation and living costs. The authorities estimate that the major contributors to this amount are rent (either for student housing or private housing) and food costs. Students should also budget for flight costs to and from the country, and mandatory field trips abroad (for certain programs).

Students Visa Requirements

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Indonesia.

Applicants for a long term Visa to study in Indonesia must complete the steps listed below, and submit the following documents during the online visa application process:

  • Letter of sponsorship (either from the Indonesian University which has offered admission or a local resident of Indonesia).
  • An international passport, valid for at least six months more than the expected duration of study in Indonesia.
  • A bank statement showing that the student has access to at least 2,000 USD or equivalent.
  • Two passport size photographs.
  • A Letter of Admission issued by a University in Indonesia and recommended by the relevant Government ministry.
  • Proof of having received at least two doses of the COVID vaccine.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The fee for an Indonesian student visa varies according to the length of stay. For example, international students who require a visa to enroll in short term courses for six months must pay 1 million Rupiah. A one year visa and residence permit costs 1.5 million Rupiah, while a two year duration is associated with a cost of 2 million Rupiah.

The two photographs submitted with the long term Indonesian student visa application must have dimensions 40 mm by 60 mm. The photographs must be in color, with a white background, and show the face of the applicant prominently.

An Indonesian student visa application may be rejected for several reasons, including incomplete document submission, an undisclosed criminal record, or lack of proof of financial stability. There is no provision to appeal the rejection; however, students should visit the nearest Indonesian Embassy after a rejection, and try to ascertain the reason. They may submit a new application at any time after paying the visa registration fees again.

Candidates who study abroad in Indonesia are allowed to work part time to help pay living costs. During the semester, students can work for a maximum of 20 hours. During vacations, corporate employers can apply for a temporary work visa on international students’ behalf to allow them to work full time (up to 40 hours per week).

Medical courses usually cost less in Indonesia than in India or in Western countries, with the annual tuition fee rarely exceeding 4,000 USD (63 million Rupiah). Therefore, it is a good value for money option.

Gadjah Mada University of Indonesia is the highest ranked HEI in the country, at position #263 in the World University Rankings released by QS in 2024. Other highly ranked Universities include Bandung Institute of Technology and the University of Indonesia, both of which are also in the top 400 HEIs in the QS 2024 rankings.

Highly ranked HEIs in Indonesia (like Gadjah Mada University and the University of Indonesia) have excellent MBA programs. The graduates of these programs can choose among jobs in consulting, investment banking, marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, or leadership.

Thousands of international students study in Indonesia. It is a safe country for international students, though they should be wary of petty crime while traveling or spending time in public places. Any student who abides by the law of the land and the rules of the University will not have any problem during his/her stay in Indonesia.

There are several scholarships for international students in Indonesia. For example, the Darmasiswa Scholarship, offered by the Government, funds the tuition fee for all international students who wish to study any course offered in the Indonesian language. There are also several scholarships that are offered by all the prominent Universities in the country to enable international students to complete their degree in Indonesia without taking a loan.