If you're planning to study in Indonesia with financial support, KNB scholarships are among the best opportunities available to international students. Offered by the Indonesian government, these scholarships provide fully funded study programs at Indonesian universities across a wide range of disciplines. In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know about KNB scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility requirements, required documents, and a detailed explanation of the application process to help you apply successfully.
KNB Scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year are fully funded scholarships for international students. These scholarships are available for Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD students. They include a settling-in allowance, a monthly living allowance , and monthly health insurance.
The Piasiso Kimetran Negara Berkembang (KNB) scholarship, commonly known as the KNB Scholarship, is a prestigious scholarship program offered by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to selected applicants from developing countries. Administered by the Directorate General of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education and Culture, the scholarship has been awarded to 1,290 students from 94 countries since 2008.
The KNB scholarship has played a pivotal role in supporting Indonesian higher education institutions in their pursuit of internationalization. The number of international students reflects the prestigious global standing of these institutions. In support of the internationalization of Indonesian universities and to meet the growing interest from applicants worldwide, the number of scholarships awarded annually has continued to increase.
The scholarship also continued to expand its partnerships with prestigious public and private universities in the country. In doing so, the scholarship contributed to supporting the improvement of the quality of Indonesian higher education institutions to meet the standards of leading international universities.
Objectives of the KNB scholarship:
The following are the objectives of the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) program:
- To contribute to the development of human resources in developing countries.
- To promote deeper cultural understanding and strengthen relations between developing countries.
- Improving the research capacity of Indonesian higher education institutions as part of national strategies to increase the number of world-class universities in Indonesia.
KNB Scholarship Summary
- Level of study: Bachelor's , Master's , PhD
- Institutions: 47 Indonesian universities
- Study destination: Indonesia
- Program duration: Undergraduate: 4 years; Master's: 2 years; PhD: 3.5 years.
Available training courses:
humanities
- Literary Studies
- Linguistics
- date
- philosophy
- anthropologist
- Cultural Studies
engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Architecture
- Electrical Engineering
- Naval architecture and marine engineering
- Geological engineering
- Information Engineering
- the environment
- engineering
- mechanical engineering
sciences
- biology
- Physics
- Geography
- chemistry
- remote sensing
- computer
- mathematics
- statistics
- Environmental Science
- public health
- Sports Science
- Pharmacy studies
- nursing
Social Sciences
- General Administration
- Political Science
- sociology
- psychology
- law
- Economics/Development Study
- Communications and Media
- studies
- International relations
- accounting
- administration
- Community empowerment
education
- Indonesian education
- Educational Sciences
- Social Science Education
- Natural Sciences Education
- Preparing primary school teachers
- Out-of-school education /
Non-formal education - Applied Linguistics
- Teaching history
- Educational education
- Educational Administration
- Educational research and evaluation
- Vocational and technical education
KNB Scholarship Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting applications for KNB scholarships is March 31, 2026.
KNB Scholarship Coverage
KNB scholarships offer the recipient the following benefits:
- New students will be given a settling-in allowance upon their arrival in Indonesia.
- Tuition fees for the BIPA program and the academic program (regular semester, not the international semester) for the duration of the scholarship;
- During the BIPA program and the academic program, KNB students will receive a monthly living allowance upon their arrival in Indonesia, as long as KNB students live in Indonesia for the duration of their scholarship.
- During the BIPA program and the academic program, KNB students will receive a monthly research and book allowance upon arrival in Indonesia during the scholarship period.
- Health insurance covers treatment for illnesses (outpatient and inpatient care) and accidents. The treatment covered is subject to the health insurance company's policy. Cosmetic treatments are not included.
- Funding for the publication of a scientific article, once during the scholarship period for Master's and PhD degrees;
- A round-trip economy class flight ticket from the student's home country's international airport to Indonesia, including local transportation to the host university, will be provided . A return economy class flight ticket to the student's home country, including local transportation from the host university to the international airport in Indonesia, will also be provided upon issuance of the graduation certificate.
Eligibility criteria for KNB scholarships
In order for applicants to be eligible for Indonesian government KNB scholarships, they must meet the following criteria:
- Language requirements: English
- Undergraduate level: A minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.0 on the IELTS, or 700 on the TOEIC.
- Master's level: A minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.0 on the IELTS, or 700 on the TOEIC (certificate must have been issued within the last two years).
- Doctoral level: A minimum score of 90 on the TOEFL iBT, 7.0 on the IELTS, or equivalent on another recognized English proficiency test (certificate must have been issued within the last two years). - Eligible countries: All countries
University level:
- Minimum age requirement: You must be 21 years old or younger by December 31, 2026.
- Required qualifications: You must have a high school diploma. If you already have a bachelor's degree, you cannot apply for the bachelor's scholarship.
- Curriculum Vitae: Please submit your CV in English or Bahasa.
- English language requirements (last two years):
- TOEFL ITP 477 / TOEFL iBT 53 / IELTS 5.5 / TOEIC 510 (or equivalent).
- Exception: If you are from an English-speaking country, or your previous program was taught in English (as shown on your certificate/academic record), you can upload official proof instead of a test score.
- Letters of recommendation (in English or Bahasa):
- From the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in your country of origin (not your country of residence).
- From your employer/supervisor (if you are unemployed, submit a statement letter).
- An academic recommendation from your previous school.
- Academic documents: Upload your certified high school diploma + transcripts in English or Bahasa (certified by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country).
- Passport: Submit a valid ordinary/business passport (not diplomatic), valid until at least December 31, 2027 .
- Video (maximum 5 minutes): Record it in English or Bahasa, upload it to YouTube, and send the link to your KNB account. The video must cover the following:
- Your profile
- Why Indonesia + Why KNB
- Why did you choose the university and the program?
- Medical report (issued within the last three months): Must include a physical examination, tests for infectious diseases (tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, chickenpox), a mental health assessment, and a negative drug test result (amphetamines, methamphetamines, marijuana, morphine, benzodiazepines). Documents must be in English or Bahasa.
- Declarations: You must confirm the following:
- I will not marry/engage to someone who holds or can obtain Indonesian citizenship or permanent residency (or other scholarship recipients).
- You will not be pregnant during the scholarship period.
- They do not perform military service during the scholarship period.
- Complete the online application form.
Professors:
- Maximum age limit : You must be 35 years old or younger by December 31, 2026.
- Educational qualifications: You must hold a bachelor's degree. If you already hold a master's degree, you are not eligible to apply for the master's scholarship.
- Curriculum Vitae: Please submit your CV in English or Bahasa.
- English language requirements (last two years):
- TOEFL ITP 500 / TOEFL iBT 61 / IELTS 6.0 / TOEIC 575 (or equivalent).
- Exception: If you are from an English-speaking country or your previous degree was taught in English (as shown on the certificate/academic transcript), upload official proof instead of a test score.
- Letters of recommendation (in English or Bahasa):
- From the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in your country of origin (not your country of residence).
- From your employer/supervisor (if you are unemployed, submit a statement letter).
- An academic recommendation from your previous educational institution.
- Academic documents: Upload your certified Bachelor's degree certificate + transcripts in English or Bahasa (certified by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country).
- Passport: Submit a valid ordinary/business passport (not diplomatic), valid until at least December 31, 2027.
- Video (maximum 5 minutes): Record it in English or Bahasa, then upload it to YouTube and send the link to your KNB account. Cover:
- Your profile
- Why Indonesia + Why KNB
- Why did you choose the university and the program?
- Medical report (issued within the last three months): Must include a physical examination, tests for infectious diseases (tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, chickenpox), a mental health assessment, and a negative drug test result (amphetamines, methamphetamines, marijuana, morphine, benzodiazepines). Documents must be in English or Bahasa.
- Declarations: You must confirm the following:
- I will not marry/engage to someone who holds or can obtain Indonesian citizenship or permanent residency (or other scholarship recipients).
- You will not be pregnant during the scholarship period.
- They do not perform military service during the scholarship period.
PhD:
- Minimum age requirement: You must be 40 years old or younger by December 31, 2026.
- Required qualifications: You must hold a master's degree. If you already hold a doctorate, you are not eligible to apply.
- Supervisor recommendation: Obtain a letter of recommendation (in English or Bahasa) from a prospective supervisor at a KNB partner university - it must be from the same university you choose.
- Statement of Purpose/Proposal: Provide a statement (in English or Bahasa) explaining the following:
- Why would you like to study in Indonesia?
- Your research topic/research interests, and
- Your future academic plan (doctoral dissertation proposal).
- Curriculum Vitae: Please submit a CV in English or Bahasa.
- English language requirements (last two years):
- TOEFL ITP 530 / TOEFL iBT 71 / IELTS 6.0 / TOEIC 640 (or equivalent).
- Exception: If you are from an English-speaking country or your previous program was taught in English (as shown on your certificate/academic record), upload official proof instead of a test score.
- Letters of recommendation (in English or Bahasa):
- From the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in your country of origin (not your country of residence).
- From your employer/supervisor (if you are unemployed, submit a statement letter).
- An academic recommendation from your previous educational institution.
- Academic documents: Upload your certified Master's degree certificate + transcripts in English or Bahasa (certified by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country).
- Passport: Submit a valid ordinary/business passport (not diplomatic), valid until at least December 31, 2027.
- Video (maximum 5 minutes): Record it in English or Bahasa, upload it to YouTube, and send the link to your KNB account. The video must cover the following:
- Your profile,
- Why Indonesia + Why KNB?
- Why did you choose the university and the program?
- Medical report (issued within the last three months): Must include a physical examination, tests for infectious diseases (tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, chickenpox), a mental health assessment, and a negative drug test result (amphetamines, methamphetamines, marijuana, morphine, benzodiazepines). Documents must be in English or Bahasa.
- Declarations: You must confirm the following:
- I will not marry/engage to someone who holds or can obtain Indonesian citizenship or permanent residency (or other scholarship recipients).
- You will not be pregnant during the scholarship period.
- They do not perform military service during the scholarship period.
How to apply for KNB scholarships?
Please follow the instructions below to apply for the KNB scholarship:
- Download the KNB Scholarship Offering Letter from the KNB Scholarship website
- Contact the Indonesian Embassy and submit the following documents to obtain a Recommendation Letter from the Indonesian Embassy:
- KNB Scholarship Offering Letter
- Official Passport
- Curriculum Vitae
- English Proficiency Test (for applicants from non-English-speaking countries)
- Recommendation Letter from the Employer/Immediate Supervisor
- Academic Recommendation Letter from Previous Schools
- Academic Certificate and Academic Transcript from previous degree
- Medical Report
- Recommendation Letter from the potential research supervisor at one of the KNB partner universities (for doctoral applicants only)
- Statement of Purpose for studies in Indonesia (for doctoral applicants only)
- Complete the online application process.
- Complete all stages of the selection process (administrative and academic selection), including online interviews and psychological tests conducted by the selected universities for qualified candidates.
- The selection results will be published online through the KNB Scholarship website and will be officially announced via the Indonesian publishing network.
Documents required for the KNB scholarship
- KNB Scholarship Offer Letter
- Official passport
- English Proficiency Test (for applicants from non-English speaking countries)
- the biography
- Medical report
- Letter of recommendation from the Indonesian Embassy
- Letter of recommendation from employer/direct supervisor
- Academic recommendation letter from previous schools
- Academic certificate and academic record of previous degree
Website
To learn more about KNB scholarships, please visit the official website: