Living in Indonesia

Indonesia is a safe country for international students to study in but like all countries there are some things to consider to keep safe. 

Accommodation & Living Costs in Indonesia.

Accommodation costs in Indonesia

They are vary depending on where you want to live and the standard of accommodation you choose. As it is the capital, it is generally more expensive to live in Jakarta than elsewhere. 

There are two main types of accommodation while studying: 

• University accommodation – such as halls of residence, which are normally on campus
• Private accommodation – house and flat rental

Tuition Fees in Indonesia

Undergraduate study in Indonesia has grown at a huge pace. In 1950 there were just 10 universities in the country, and today there are over 2,000. The majority of universities are private institutions with many public universities also available to international students. 

All education is supervised by the Ministry for National Education. 

Universities in Indonesia offer two types of degrees that are equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in English-speaking countries the Diploma 4 (D4) or Sarjana sains terapan and the Sarjana 1 (S1) that international students can study.

• Tuition fees in both public and private universities are affordable, as they generally don’t exceed 4,000 USD per year.
• The rent for a one-bedroom apartment costs between 150 and 300 USD per month, depending upon location.
• Living costs in big cities are about 450 EUR/month.

• The local currency is Indonesian Rupiah.
• Bahasa Indonesian language has twelve ways of saying "No" and several other ways of saying "Yes" when the actual meaning is "No".
• As Indonesia gathers the largest Muslim population in the world, women are advised to dress conservatively.
• Mudik is an annual and popular tradition in Indonesia, similar to Thanks Giving Day celebrated in the Western world.
• The equator cuts straight across Sumatra, Sulwesi, Kalimantan as well as a few other small islands that make up the middle part of Indonesia.
• Indonesia is home to around 150 volcanoes; however, most of them are not considered a threat even though the country does experience one volcanic eruption almost every year.
• Some of the most incredible attractions worth visiting in Indonesia include: Lake Toba (a volcanic lake) on the island of Sumatra, the Gili Islands, the Komodo National Park, Borobudur (one of the most famous Buddhist temple in the world), Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, and Mount Bromo.
• In Western New Guinea area, also part of Indonesia, you can check out the Baliem Valley and see the living conditions of the three local tribes, having traditions that remind you of the stone-age world.

About Indonesia

Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia consisting of 17,000 islands, most of them situated along the equator. The largest islands are Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, the Nusa Tenggara islands, the Moluccas Islands, and Irian Jaya, in the western part of New Guinea. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia.

The name for Indonesia comes from the Greek word ‘nesos’, which means ‘island’, and the Latin name ‘Indus’ which means land beyond the Indus river.

Indonesia is famous for its volcanoes, which are among the most active in the world and attract international volcanologists for study, and the tourists, for the incredibly wonderful seaside resorts.

Having over 250 million people, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world. Religion plays an active role in every-day life of an Indonesian and the country counts for the largest Muslim population of any country in the world. Many other religions are practised and officially recognised, such as: Hinduism, Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, and Confucianism.

The Dutch ruled Indonesia for nearly three centuries and by the beginning of the 20th century, after the Japanese invasion, Indonesia was encouraged towards independence, which took place in 1945.

The current legal system is still based on the old Dutch penal code and several Dutch words are still present in the Indonesian vocabulary. The cultural diversity of the country has marked the art and culture of Indonesia, today showing influences from the Far East, the Middle East, and Europe.

The World Economic Forum categorised Indonesia as an emerging economy, considered to enter the third stage of economic development. Indonesia is a member of the G-20 major economies. The Indonesian economy is the world's 16th largest by nominal GDP.

Indonesia is a republic with a presidential system. The president of Indonesia is the head of state and head of government, commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the director of domestic governance and foreign affairs.

Weather in Indonesia is affected by the location of the island, as it is placed across the equator. Mainly, there are two main seasons: the dry season that lasts from June to October, and the rainy season, which occurs from November to March.

Hundreds of distinct ethnic groups, cultures and languages means that Indonesia is a really diverse community that is perfect for international students to study in. In fact the country’s national motto is “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” which translates as “Unity in Diversity”. 

It is also home to some of the most prestigious universities in the Southeast Asia region. 

Currently around 6,000 international students have chosen to study in Indonesia. 

Study in Indonesia is a great study abroad option for international students. Read our guide to discover more about the types of degrees, tuition fees and living in Indonesia as an international student.

Listed Institutes in Indonesia

Bandung (1)

Denpasar (1)

Jakarta (1)

Student visa for Indonesia

If you are going to study in Indonesia, you will need to apply for a student visa (KITAS). This can be done at the Indonesian embassy in your home country. You should first apply for a social visit visa, and apply for a student visa when you arrive in the country. The student visa is valid for one year, and can be renewed each year up to four times. To apply for the social visit visa, you will need to provide a copy of your passport, a copy of your most recent transcript and diploma/qualification, colour passport photos, proof of financial means, proof of good health and health insurance and acceptance and sponsor letters from your chosen institution. If you  require more information about this, contact your university.

To study in Indonesia you will need a sosial/budaya (social/cultural) visa. These can be obtained by most nationalities if you have a sponsor (usually your university or educational institution). Sosial/budaya visas are generally valid for three months and are extendable. They must be obtained from an Indonesian embassy or consulate before you travel. It’s always worth checking the current visa regulations because they can change without notice.

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world and its economy is one of the fastest growing. If you’re looking for a leg up in the international business world, the challenge of living a new way of life or respite from a cold climate then spend a semester in Indonesia!

Working in Indonesia

Work and Study

If you are a foreign worker in Indonesia, you could also continue the study there. Almost of prestigious university provide an employee program for the people who want to study in weekend only. Since you will busy on weekdays, your schedule of study would be moved in the weekend.

When you have already chosen to work and study at once, you should manage your time really well. You will be really busy of not only doing the task for study, but also the possible dateline for your work. Some of people fed up of that because they couldn’t manage their time well.

Scholarships

If you are a good students in your country, you could try to join some international scholarship to study in Indonesia. There are many international scholarships available that you could choose. Make sure to be confident enough to join the international scholarship since you will compete with the people around the world.

You could start to take Bahasa Indonesia course as your beginning of struggle. Once you have got the international scholarship, you could study in Indonesia for free. You could also feel a cheap cost-living in Indonesia.

Your best bet for securing a scholarship to study in Indonesia is to look within your home country. Many governments around the world are encouraging students to learn Asian languages and will gladly contribute funds to your Indo-Odyssey (this is particularly true in Australia). Here are some places to start your search:

• ACICIS has a nifty website with heaps of info on study options, visas and scholarships for Australians and other nationals.
• More Study Abroad Grants and Scholarships