Scholarship watch: Indonesia 2027 master’s offer

International students considering postgraduate study in Indonesia are being directed to the government’s Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship, a programme designed to strengthen educational cooperation between Indonesia and developing countries.

The Indonesia Global Talent Service (IGTS), an official government scholarship platform, currently lists 30 June 2027 as the KNB Scholarship deadline. However, applicants should note that the dedicated KNB application portal is still displaying the 2026 selection schedule. The 2027 application timetable and final requirements should therefore be confirmed with the scholarship administrators.

Who can apply?

The KNB Scholarship is open to foreign nationals from eligible countries and offers opportunities at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. This article focuses on the master's route.

According to the eligibility information currently displayed on the official IGTS scholarship page, master's applicants must be no older than 35 by 31 December 2026 and must hold a bachelor's degree. Applicants who already have a master's degree cannot apply for another master's award.

Applicants must also provide a curriculum vitae in English or Bahasa and demonstrate English proficiency. The stated minimum scores are TOEFL ITP 500, TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6.0 or TOEIC 575, or an equivalent qualification. The certificate must have been obtained within the previous two years.

Applicants from English-speaking countries, or those whose university records show that their previous programme was taught in English, may qualify for an exemption if they provide official evidence.

The scholarship is intended for international applicants, not Indonesian citizens. Applicants should check whether their country is accepted and whether their intended course is available at a participating university.

Documents to prepare

The official KNB information page lists several supporting documents. Master's applicants should prepare:

1. A valid official, non-diplomatic passport. The current page requires validity until at least 31 December 2027.
2. A curriculum vitae in English or Bahasa.
3. An English-language test certificate, unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption.
4. A recommendation letter from the Indonesian Embassy or Indonesian Consulate General in the applicant's country of origin.
5. A recommendation letter from the applicant's employer or immediate supervisor. Unemployed applicants may submit a statement letter instead.
6. An academic recommendation letter from a previous educational institution.
7. A scanned bachelor's degree certificate and academic transcripts, translated into English or Bahasa and legalised by the relevant authorities in the applicant's country.
8. A certified medical report.

The current official requirements also ask applicants to submit a video of no more than five minutes in English or Bahasa. It should introduce the applicant, explain why they want to study in Indonesia through the KNB Scholarship, and give reasons for choosing their preferred university and programme. Applicants must upload the video to YouTube and provide its link in their application account.

The medical report requirements are detailed. The official page says it should cover a physical examination, specified infectious-disease tests, a mental-health assessment and a negative drug screening. Documents must be in English or Bahasa and issued within the previous three months.

Applicants from or residing in Africa should also check the yellow-fever vaccination certificate requirement stated on the official scholarship page.

Deadline: What applicants need to know

The IGTS KNB listing gives 30 June 2027 as the deadline and 14 April 2026 as the opening date.

However, the separate KNB application portal currently shows the 2026 application period as 2 February to 31 March 2026, followed by document verification, academic selection and results later in the year. It does not yet show a matching 2027 application schedule.

This difference matters. Although 30 June 2027 appears on an official government scholarship listing, applicants should not assume that all 2027 dates, age calculations or document rules have been finalised.

They should check the KNB portal and contact the scholarship team or the Indonesian diplomatic mission in their country before relying on the date.

Verification and final advice

This information was checked on 11 November 2026 against the official Indonesia Global Talent Service KNB listing and the dedicated KNB Scholarship website.

Prospective applicants should revisit both pages for updates, download the latest applicant guide when available, and begin arranging academic records and recommendation letters early.

Meeting the published requirements does not guarantee a scholarship, university admission or a place in a particular programme. Final decisions remain subject to document verification and the scholarship's selection process.