KNB Scholarship (Kemitraan Negara Berkembang)
Fully funded scholarship by the Government of Indonesia for students from developing countries to pursue Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degrees at 47 partner universities across Indonesia.
Quick Facts
Status
Currently ClosedFunding
Fully FundedDeadline
March 31, 2026
Country
IndonesiaAbout the KNB Scholarship
The Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship - translating roughly to 'Developing Country Partnership Scholarship' - is one of Indonesia's most prominent government-funded international scholarship programs. Administered by the Indonesian Directorate General of Higher Education, it reflects Indonesia's foreign policy commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation and building educational ties with developing nations across Asia, Africa, and beyond. The program has operated for several decades and now places scholarship students at 47 of Indonesia's leading state universities.
The scholarship is available at three academic levels - Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral - making it unusually inclusive compared to most government scholarships that restrict funding to postgraduate programs only. Partner universities include some of Indonesia's most prestigious research institutions: Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Universitas Airlangga, and Universitas Brawijaya, among others. The full list of participating universities and available programs is published on the official KNB portal each cycle.
The KNB scholarship package is comprehensive: full tuition fees, monthly living allowance, a settlement allowance upon arrival in Indonesia, health insurance, a research allowance for postgraduate students, and a return international air ticket. One important and distinctive feature of KNB is that all recipients are required to complete a mandatory Indonesian language preparatory course - called the Darmasiswa program - for 6 to 12 months before their degree begins. This course is fully funded and is counted as part of the scholarship period.
A key procedural requirement of the KNB is that all applicants must first obtain a Recommendation Letter from the Indonesian Embassy in their home country before they can submit their online application. This step is not optional - the embassy may request documents, review your profile, and in some cases invite you for a physical verification meeting. Only after receiving the Embassy's recommendation letter can you proceed to the official online portal. This process typically needs to begin 4-6 weeks before the application deadline.
Another distinctive element of the KNB application is the mandatory 5-minute YouTube video, which must cover your academic profile, your reasons for choosing Indonesia, your motivation for your specific university and program, and your long-term career goals. This video is reviewed as part of the academic selection process. A well-prepared, clear, and genuine video makes a real difference - treat it with the same seriousness as your personal statement.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
47 partner universities including Indonesia's top research institutions - ITB (engineering), UGM (sciences and agriculture), UI (medicine and social sciences), and more
Available at all three levels
Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD - one of the few government scholarships that funds undergraduate as well as postgraduate study
Comprehensive package: full tuition + monthly living allowance + settlement allowance + health insurance + return international airfare
Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy with a rapidly growing research and technology sector - a dynamic and ambitious study environment
The mandatory Indonesian language course (Darmasiswa) is fully funded and gives scholarship recipients a functional language skill that opens up local academic and professional networks
Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim-majority population, with halal food universally available and a welcoming attitude toward international students from Muslim-majority countries
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in Indonesia
Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy and one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world - with over 270 million people, 17,000 islands, and hundreds of distinct languages and cultures. Its major university cities - Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya - are affordable by global standards, with a tropical climate and a very welcoming attitude toward international students. Indonesia's rapid economic development, growing tech sector, and significant investments in university research infrastructure make it an increasingly attractive destination for international graduate students. Halal food is universally available across the country, and the local population is broadly welcoming and internationally curious.
Eligibility Requirements
7 requirements
Documents Checklist
11 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Contact the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad (email: pendidikan.islamabad@kemlu.go.id) to request an Embassy Recommendation Letter - send passport copy, CV, academic certificates, English test, KNB Offering Letter, and recommendation letters.
Await the Embassy's response; they may call you for a physical verification meeting.
Download the KNB Offering Letter and official guideline from the portal.
Apply online at http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id with all required documents.
Complete the selection stages: administrative screening → academic review → online interview → psychological test.
Announcement of results: June 19, 2026.
Application Timeline
February 2, 2026
Application Opens
March 31, 2026
Application Deadline
April 6-17, 2026
Embassy Verification
April 20-30, 2026
Directorate Verification
May 4 - June 12, 2026
Academic Selection
June 19, 2026
Results Announced
June 22-26, 2026
Re-Registration
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Contact the Indonesian Embassy in your country well before the application deadline - the recommendation letter process can take 3-6 weeks and cannot be rushed
Prepare your 5-minute YouTube video carefully - it is a mandatory, evaluated component and treated like a video personal statement
Check which English test formats are accepted: TOEFL ITP 477, TOEFL iBT 53, IELTS 5.5, or TOEIC 510 are the accepted options; your test must be within 2 years of the application date
Ensure your passport is valid until at least December 31, 2027 before applying - an expiring passport will disqualify your application
Do not apply for the same scholarship at multiple academic levels - choose one level and one target program before applying
The medical certificate requirement is comprehensive (TB, HIV, Syphilis, Ebola, Mpox, mental health, drug screening) - book your tests early at a government hospital that can issue an official certificate
Important Links & Contacts
🔗 Official Links
KNB Scholarship Portal: Primary application portal for the KNB (Kemitraan Negara Berkembang) Scholarship managed by Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology.
Indonesian Ministry of Education (Kemdiktisaintek): Indonesian Ministry of Education - official KNB scholarship policy, annual announcements, and updates.
For Pakistani Students
Embassy of Indonesia in Pakistan (Islamabad)
📍 222-238 Street 11, E-7, Islamabad
📞 +92-51-2275577
🌐 islamabad.kemlu.go.id →For Indonesian student visa (KITAS/Student permit) coordination and scholarship nomination queries for Pakistani applicants.
Embassy of Pakistan in Indonesia (Jakarta)
📍 53 Jl. Teuku Umar, Menteng, Jakarta 10350
📞 +62-21-3143212
🌐 mofa.gov.pk/indonesia/ →Consular services for Pakistani students in Indonesia - document attestation, passport renewal, emergency assistance.
Students from Other Countries
KNB is open to students from developing countries that have diplomatic relations with Indonesia. Contact the Indonesian Embassy in your home country for your country's KNB quota and nomination procedures.
Find Indonesia Embassies Worldwide →Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions - click any to expand
Yes. All applicants must obtain a Recommendation Letter from the Indonesian Embassy in their home country before submitting their online application. Applications without this letter will not be accepted. Contact your nearest Indonesian Embassy or consulate as early as possible, as the letter process can take several weeks.
Yes. A 5-minute YouTube video is a mandatory component of the KNB application. It should cover your academic profile, why you chose Indonesia, why you chose the specific university and program, and your long-term career goals.
No. KNB Scholarship holders cannot sponsor family members. Marriage is also not permitted during the scholarship period.
KNB includes a mandatory Indonesian language preparatory course (Darmasiswa) for 6-12 months before the degree program begins. This is fully funded. After completing the language course, you must demonstrate sufficient Indonesian proficiency before starting your main degree. English-medium programs at some universities are available, but the preparatory language year is generally required for all KNB recipients.
KNB supports study at a wide network of state (PTN) universities across Indonesia. Top participants include Universitas Indonesia (UI), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Brawijaya, and many others. The complete list with available programs is published on the official KNB portal each application cycle.
⏳
Applications Currently Closed
This scholarship is expected to reopen in February. Use this time to prepare your documents and polish your application.
Accuracy notice: Information on this page was verified as of May 2026. Scholarship details - including deadlines, eligibility criteria, and required documents - can change without notice. Always confirm the latest requirements on the official website before submitting your application.
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