Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship 2027 | Application Process

The Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship is an excellent opportunity for international students who wish to study in Indonesia. This fully funded scholarship is available for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes at the top Indonesian universities. The Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship 2027 covers a settlement allowance of IDR 1,250,000, a monthly living allowance of IDR 2,550,000, and monthly health insurance of IDR 200,000. In this article, we provide a complete guide to the Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship, including scholarship benefits, eligibility requirements, required documents, application deadlines, and a detailed step-by-step application process.

Beasiswa Kemitraan Negara Berkembang, popularly known as the KNB Scholarship, is a prestigious scholarship programme offered by the government of the Republic of Indonesia to selected applicants originating from developing countries. Managed by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, the scholarship has been disbursed since 2008 to 1,290 recipients from 94 countries.

The role of the KNB Scholarship has been central in supporting Indonesian higher education institutions in their endeavour for internationalisation. The number of international students is indicative of the global visibility of higher education institutions. In support of Indonesian universities’ internationalisation and to accommodate the increasing interest from applicants all around the world, the number of scholarships being awarded every year has continued to grow.

The scholarship has also continued to expand its partnership with reputable public and private universities in the country. In doing so, the scholarship has been sustaining the quality improvement of Indonesian higher education institutions to meet the standards of internationally reputable universities.

KNB Scholarship Objectives:

The following are the programme objectives of the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship:

  • To contribute to the human resource development in developing countries.
  • To promote deeper cultural understanding and to strengthen the relationship between developing countries.
  • To improve Indonesian higher education institutions’ research capacity as part of the national strategies to increase the number of world-class universities in Indonesia.
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KNB Scholarship Highlights

Degree ProgrammesUndergraduate / Master’s / PhD
Scholarship ProviderIndonesian Government
Study DestinationIndonesia
Fields of StudyAll degree programmes are available (see list below)
Programme DurationUndergraduate: 4 years; Master’s: 2 years; PhD: 4 years
FundingFully Funded

Available Courses

Humanities

  • Literary studies
  • Linguistics
  • History
  • Philosophy
  • Anthropology
  • Cultural studies

Engineering

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
  • Geological Engineering
  • Informatics Engineering
  • Environmental
  • Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Science

  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Geography
  • Chemistry
  • Remote Sensing
  • Computer
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Public Health
  • Sports sciences
  • Pharmacy Studies
  • Nursing

Social science

  • Public Administration
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Law
  • Economics/Development Study
  • Communication & Media
  • Studies
  • International Relations
  • Accounting
  • Management
  • Community Empowerment

Education

  • Indonesian Education
  • Educational Science
  • Social Science Education
  • Natural Science Education
  • Primary School Teacher Education
  • Out-of-School Education/Informal Education
  • Applied Linguistics
  • History Education
  • Instructional Education
  • Educational Management
  • Educational Research & Evaluation
  • Vocational & Technology Education

Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship Benefits

The Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship provides the recipients with the following benefits:

  • A settlement allowance of IDR 1,250,000 will be given to new students upon their arrival in Indonesia.
  • While taking the Indonesian language course and preparatory programmes, the new students will only receive a living allowance of IDR 2,550,000 per month.
  • During the master’s programme, the KNB students will receive a scheme of monthly allowances as detailed below:
     Living Allowance IDR 2,550,000
     Research Allowance IDR 400,000
     Books Allowance IDR 350,000
  • Health insurance with a maximum of IDR 200,000 monthly premium (in case the cost of medical services exceeds that covered by the health insurance, the difference should be borne by the student).
  • A round-trip international airfare (economy class) from the international airport of the student’s home country to Indonesia, including local transport to the host university.

Eligibility Requirements for the Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship 2027

The following are the minimum eligibility requirements for the Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship:

  • The following are the English language requirements:
    – Undergraduate: Have the English Proficiency Test Score as follows: IBT TOEFL of 80, IELTS of 6.0, TOEIC of 700.
    – Master’s:
    Have at least the IBT TOEFL score of 80, or IELTS score of 6.0, or TOEIC score of 700 (the certificate must be obtained within the last 2 years).
    – Doctorate:
    Have a TOEFL or IELTS (or other certified English proficiency test) score of 90 TOEFL IBT or 7.0 IELTS or equivalent (the certificate must be obtained within the last 2 years).
  • Students from all countries are eligible to apply.
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Undergraduate:

  1. The maximum age is 25 years.
  2. Possess a high school degree (please provide the scanned degree certificate and academic transcripts in English). Please be advised that a master’s degree holder is not eligible to apply for the master’s degree scholarship.
  3. Provide the recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the Indonesian Embassy or the Indonesian Consulate General.
  4. Provide a recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the employer/immediate supervisor.
  5. Provide an academic recommendation letter from previous schools.
  6. Proof of citizenship (official passport or personal ID).
  7. Complete the online application form.

Masters:

  1. The maximum age is 35 years.
  2. Possesses a bachelor’s degree (please provide the scanned degree certificate and academic transcripts in English). Please be advised that a master’s degree holder is not eligible to apply for the master’s degree scholarship.
  3. Have at least the IBT TOEFL score of 80, or IELTS score of 6.0, or TOEIC score of 700 (the certificate must be obtained within the last 2 years).
  4. Provide the recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the Indonesian Embassy or the Indonesian Consulate General.
  5. Provide a recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the employer/immediate supervisor.
  6. Provide an academic recommendation letter from previous schools.
  7. Proof of citizenship (official passport or personal ID).
  8. Complete the online application form.

Doctorate:

  1. The maximum age to apply for the scholarship is 40 years old.
  2. Hold a master’s degree (please provide the scanned degree certificate and academic transcripts in English). Please be advised that a doctoral degree holder is not eligible to apply.
  3. Obtain a recommendation letter from the potential research supervisor at one of the universities that is a partner of the KNB Scholarship.
  4. Provide a statement of purpose that at least states the purpose of their studies, the origin of their interests in studying in Indonesia and pursuing their chosen research topic, and their plans for their academic future.
  5. Have a TOEFL or IELTS (or other certified English proficiency test) score of 90 TOEFL IBT or 7.0 IELTS or equivalent (the certificate must be obtained within the last 2 years).
  6. Complete the online application form.
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Step-by-Step Application Process for the Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship 2027

The following simple and easy application process will help you to apply for this scholarship:

Step 1: Download the invitation letter (available on the KNB Scholarship website).

Step 2: Submit the invitation letter, passport, academic certificates, and academic transcripts to the Indonesian Embassy to acquire the recommendation letter.

Step 3: Complete the online application process.

Step 4: Selection Results Announcement. The selection results will be announced online via the KNB Scholarship Website and officially announced through the Indonesian Embassy’s publication network.

Required Documents for the KNB Scholarship

  • A recommendation letter from the Indonesian Embassy in the respective country.
  • Nomination letter from the respective government official (Ministry of Education, other related government agencies—should the applicant work for the government agency, or the embassy of the applicant’s country of origin in Indonesia).
  • 2 academic recommendation letters.
  • Scanned passport (personal data page only) or birth certificate.
  • Scanned bachelor’s certificate and academic transcripts (in English).
  • Scanned TOEFL score certificate (or other English proficiency test) obtained within the last 2 years.
  • Scanned Official Medical Statement (Official Diagnosis) prepared by a certified
    physician.

KNB Scholarship Application Deadline

The annual application deadline for the Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship 2027 is 05 May.

For further information about the Indonesian Government KNB Scholarship and the application process, please visit the official website:

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the KNB Scholarship open to applicants from any country, or only developing countries?

KNB is primarily intended for international applicants from eligible developing countries. Because the eligible-country list and rules can change by intake, always confirm in the latest KNB portal/guidebook for your year before applying.

Do I need to know Indonesian (Bahasa) before applying?

You usually apply with English for the selection stage, but many host universities require awardees to complete an Indonesian language (BIPA) program (often up to one year) before or alongside starting the degree, especially when campus teaching is in Bahasa.

What happens after I submit my application (selection stages)?

In recent intakes, the process typically includes administrative checks (often involving Indonesian representative/embassy verification) followed by academic selection by host universities. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to additional assessments depending on the university.

Is there an interview for the KNB Scholarship?

Yes, many host universities conduct an online interview as part of academic selection. Prepare to explain your academic background, study plan, and why your chosen program and university match your goals.

Do universities also require a psychological test?

Some host universities mention a psychological test (psycho test) during academic selection. If you are invited, follow the host university’s instructions closely because formats can differ by campus.

Do I need a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) before applying?

KNB requirements can differ by year and by host university. In many cases, you apply through the KNB portal by choosing your target university/program, and the host university selection happens during academic screening. If a university you choose recommends an LoA or pre-contacting a department, treat it as a strong advantage, not something you assume is optional or required without checking the latest rules.

For PhD applicants, do I need to contact a supervisor in Indonesia before applying?

For doctoral applications, it is common to need a recommendation/endorsement from a potential research supervisor at a KNB partner university. Start supervisor outreach early, share a short proposal, and align your topic with the department’s research areas.

Can I get the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate recommendation letter from the country where I currently live (not my passport country)?

Some published KNB requirements state that the Indonesian representative/embassy recommendation letter must be issued from your country of origin, not your country of domicile. If you live abroad, check the latest guidance for your intake and follow what your Indonesian representative instructs.

My passport expires soon. Is there a minimum passport validity requirement?

Recent KNB requirement summaries from host universities indicate you may need an official passport valid through a specified future date (for example, through the end-of-year threshold stated in that intake). Practically, renew early if your passport has less than 2 years validity left to avoid problems at visa/arrival stages.

Do I need to upload an introduction video? What should it include?

Some recent KNB requirement summaries include a short video submission (uploaded to YouTube and linked in your application). Keep it simple: who you are, why Indonesia/KNB, and why your chosen university and program fit your academic plan.

What medical checkup is typically required, and how recent must it be?

Some recent KNB requirement summaries specify a certified medical report that may include physical examination, infectious disease checks, mental health assessment, and a drug test, issued within a recent window (e.g., within the last few months). Follow the exact checklist for your intake because the test list can be updated.

Are there restrictions related to marriage or pregnancy during the scholarship period?

Some recent published KNB requirement summaries include personal-status commitments during the scholarship (including restrictions related to marriage and pregnancy). Always read the latest intake rules carefully and only apply if you can comply with the stated conditions.