KNB Scholarship 2027 Guide
Indonesia’s annual degree scholarship for citizens of developing countries. The 2026 cycle is closed and 2027 dates are not yet published, so prepare with the official rules only: embassy first, one portal, no agents.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
4 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Indonesia’s developing-country degree scholarship
The Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship is financial assistance from the Government of Indonesia for citizens of developing countries — or countries with bilateral relations with Indonesia — who want a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree at a partner Indonesian university. It is administered by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology through the Directorate of Institutional Affairs.
The idea was conceived at the 10th Conference of Heads of States of Non-Aligned Movement countries (1–6 September 1992). Indonesia first offered the award to NAM member countries; the regional restriction was lifted in 2002 when interest became global, and the programme was renamed KNB. Recipients now come from Asia, the Pacific, South America, Africa and Eastern Europe. The official aim is people-to-people relations and the education of future leaders.
Since 2006 the programme has recorded 2,299 students and alumni from 107 countries. In 2026 the Ministry ran the selection with 47 host universities and 1,173 study programmes. Academic classes after language training are taught in Bahasa Indonesia in regular (not international) classes.
This guide is for the 2027 cycle. The 2026 window (2 February–31 March 2026; results 19 June 2026) is closed. As of 6 October 2026 the official portal still shows the 2026 schedule, and no 2027 dates have been published. Based on the 2026 cycle, the next call is expected around February–March 2027 — treat that as a pattern, not a promise, and wait for the next Offering Letter on the official site.
You cannot open a valid online application without a recommendation letter from an Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in your country of origin. Honorary consuls cannot issue it. The Ministry states that soliciting is prohibited and that the only application channel is knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id.
Anyone offering to “guarantee” a seat, sell a recommendation or submit on your behalf is working outside the official process. Download the Offering Letter yourself, contact the Indonesian Representative yourself, and complete the portal yourself.
Key facts at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship |
| Administered by | Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of Indonesia |
| Who can apply | Foreign nationals from developing countries or countries with diplomatic relations with Indonesia |
| Levels | Bachelor, Master, Doctoral |
| Hosts (2026) | 47 universities; 1,173 study programmes |
| Language | Compulsory BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia) for up to 12 months, then regular classes in Bahasa |
| 2026 registration | 2 February 2026 – 31 March 2026 (closed) |
| 2026 results | 19 June 2026 |
| 2027 cycle | Annual. Official 2027 dates not published as of 6 October 2026; expected around February–March 2027 based on the 2026 cycle |
| Apply at | knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id |
Three things aggregator sites blur
KNB is not an English-medium international-class award. After BIPA, lectures, thesis and dissertation work run in Bahasa Indonesia in regular classes.
Official terms calculate support for the student only. Dependents are not endorsed for visas or travel. Universities cannot sponsor family immigration.
Once admitted, changing university or study programme is strictly prohibited. Read the annex list before you lock a preference.
What this guide covers
Eleven pages that follow the official 2026 Application Guidelines and FAQ, the latest published. Amounts that the Ministry does not publish as public IDR figures are not invented here.
Age caps, degree-level rules, GPA floors, English tests, and who is excluded — including Indonesian citizens, refugees and stateless applicants.
Offering Letter, embassy packet, online account, administrative then academic selection, interview and psychological test.
The closed 2026 calendar, the February–March pattern, and why a 2027 closing date should not be assumed until the Ministry posts it.
Passport, legalized records, medical report, video, employer and academic letters, and the 300 KB JPEG upload rule.
Official coverage categories and duration. No invented monthly IDR figures. No family or dependent support.
Country of origin, not domicile. Same-year letter. Honorary consuls excluded. Kemlu mission finder.
The 47 official 2026 hosts. Programme lists differ by campus. After admission, changing university or major is prohibited.
Official FAQ answers on GPA, marriage, family, BIPA, dorms, Duolingo and withdrawal sanctions.
Re-registration, student visa window, arrival, BIPA, and the 60-day return rule after the programme ends.
Combined planning tracker: eligibility, embassy packet, documents, apply steps and after-selection.