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 handbook is for the next annual cycle. The 2026 window (2 February–31 March 2026; results 19 June 2026) is closed as of 21 September 2026. Official 2027 dates have not been published. Treat February–March as the historical pattern and wait for the next Offering Letter on the official site.
The embassy letter comes first. Agents are not part of this process.
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.
What this guide covers
Eleven pages that follow the official 2026 Application Guidelines and FAQ. Amounts that the Ministry does not publish as public IDR figures are not invented here.
Eligibility
Age caps, degree-level rules, GPA floors, English tests, and who is excluded — including Indonesian citizens, refugees, and stateless applicants.
How to Apply
Offering Letter, embassy packet, online account, administrative then academic selection, interview, and psychological test.
Deadline
The closed 2026 calendar, the February–March pattern, and why a 2027 closing date should not be assumed until the Ministry posts it.
Documents
Passport, legalized records, medical report, video, employer and academic letters, and the 300 KB JPEG upload rule.
Funding
Official coverage categories and duration. No invented monthly IDR figures. No family or dependent support.
Embassy Recommendation
Country of origin, not domicile. Same-year letter. Honorary consuls excluded. Kemlu mission finder.
Universities
The 47 official 2026 hosts. Programme lists differ by campus. After admission, changing university or major is prohibited.
FAQ
Official FAQ answers on GPA, marriage, family, BIPA, dorms, Duolingo, and withdrawal sanctions.
After Selection
Re-registration, student visa window, arrival, BIPA, and the 60-day return rule after the programme ends.
Checklist
Combined planning tracker: eligibility, embassy packet, documents, apply steps, and after-selection.
Key facts at a glance
Three things aggregator sites blur
You study in Bahasa
KNB is not an English-medium international-class award. After BIPA, lectures, thesis, and dissertation work run in Bahasa Indonesia in regular classes.
Family cannot come
Official terms calculate support for the student only. Dependents are not endorsed for visas or travel. Universities cannot sponsor family immigration.
The choice is binding
Once admitted, changing university or study programme is strictly prohibited. Read the annex list before you lock a preference.