Studying in Indonesia

Why Indonesia?

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world and is home to hundreds of public, private and Islamic universities. In recent years Indonesian universities have expanded their intake of international students, and the number of programmes taught in English has grown.

For Arabic-speaking students, Indonesia combines three things that rarely come together: reasonable costs, a familiar Muslim-majority environment that makes halal food and prayer straightforward, and a wide spread of fields covering engineering, business, health sciences and Islamic studies.

The education system and degrees

Indonesian higher education follows a structure close to the familiar international model: a bachelor’s degree (S1) normally takes four years, a master’s (S2) around two, and a doctorate (S3) three or more.

Universities fall into three main types: public universities, private universities, and state Islamic universities under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which teach both religious and general subjects.

• Bachelor'sBachelor’s (S1): usually four years
• Master'sMaster’s (S2): usually two years
• PhDDoctorate (S3): three years or more
• Language studyLanguage and non-degree programmes: six months to a year

Language of instruction

Most programmes are taught in Indonesian, a language whose basics are relatively approachable. At the same time, the number of international programmes taught entirely in English keeps growing, especially at master’s level and at the larger universities.

Many international students begin with an Indonesian-for-foreigners programme (BIPA) for one or two semesters before starting their academic studies.

Explore language programmes

Costs

Tuition varies widely between public and private universities and between theoretical and practical subjects. Living costs also differ a great deal between a large city such as Jakarta and a student city such as Yogyakarta.

We do not publish undocumented estimates. When you contact us we give you an up-to-date estimate for the specific university and programme you are considering, based on the university’s own official sources.

Student cities

Each city has its own character and cost. These are the cities where international students most often study:

Visa and residence basics

An international student normally needs a formal offer from the university, then a study permit and the appropriate entry visa, and finally the residence formalities after arrival.

Rules and fees change from time to time, so we do not publish details that could become outdated. The official references are the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration and the Indonesian embassy or consulate in your country.

1. Obtain the letter of acceptance from the university
2. Complete the study permit requirements through the university
3. Apply for the visa with the competent official authority
4. Complete the residence formalities after arriving in Indonesia

Student life and accommodation

The common housing options are university dormitories, shared housing known locally as kos, and private apartments. Most international students start in a dormitory or in housing close to campus.

Halal food is widely available and mosques are everywhere in cities and campus neighbourhoods, which makes the move considerably easier for a student arriving from an Arab country.

Frequently asked questions