25 Best Universities In Indonesia For International Students 2024

If you are looking to study in Indonesia, you are surely making a great choice. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 149 universities and colleges in Indonesia, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 149 universities in Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University and Bandung Institute of Technology are the top-performing schools in Indonesia. This list covers both public and private institutions in Indonesia.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Indonesia. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Indonesia.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Indonesia?

Applying to the universities in Indonesia involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Indonesia to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Indonesia?

Tuition fees at Indonesia’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 46,000 Rp to 210,307,100 Rp , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 4,500,000 Rp to 123,500,000 Rp. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Indonesia!

As we cover the best universities in Indonesia for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Indonesia for International Students

Gadjah Mada University, also known as Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, is one of the country’s finest institutions. It has earned its place not just among elite national universities but also in the rankings of the world’s best institutions. This feat is possible through decades of experience, especially as Gadjah Mada is considered Indonesia’s oldest university.

Many programs are offered at Gadjah Mada University for undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and specialist students. They may either be English or Bahasa-taught. Specific programs may also have tracks, like international exposure, that open more opportunities for admitted individuals.

Bandung Institute of Technology is an internationally-recognized technological institution that offers innovative and practical teachings when it comes to courses related to science and engineering. The university aims to produce competent human resources to serve and apply their learnings to the community’s best interests. With more than 100 years of experience, the university has already proved its significant role in society by setting up world-class centers for developing technology, research, and arts in Indonesia.

Located in the capital city of Jakarta, the University of Indonesia is known as the top university in the country and ranks among the top universities in the world. Its logo represents knowledge as a tree that gives rise to new learnings and the results of knowledge as water, which flows in different directions. The university also takes pride in having over 250 international partners with which it conducts mobility and research programs. 

Established in 1954, Airlangga University is a leading university in Surabaya and is one of Indonesia’s “Big Five” universities. The faculty of medicine and dentistry is the premier faculty of the university, but the institution has since grown to possess numerous faculties and institutes.

Owing to its unique history with medicine, Airlangga University is one of the best places to study medicine in Indonesia. It has various teaching and research hospitals for its faculties of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine. Most of these hospitals come equipped with biosafety facilities.

In addition, the university is home to many prestigious research institutes and centers like the Institute of Tropical Disease, the Cancer and Blood Malignancy Center, and the Big Data and AI Institute.

IPB University is a prestigious state university in the West Java province of Indonesia. IPB stands for Institut Pertanian Bogor, which means Bogor Agricultural Institute. Interestingly, IPB was more known by a similar name – Bogor Agricultural University – before it was eventually rebranded to IPB University in 2019.

Expectedly, IPB’s forte lies in the agriculture domain, including related disciplines like veterinary medicine, animal science, forestry, and more. There may even be international programs offered in those fields. Such programs stand out from regular courses as they offer students a chance to pursue studies abroad, widening their horizons and providing more opportunities.

Situated in Sumatra, Indonesia, the Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia, or Indonesia Technocrat University, is considered one of the best private universities in the region and its neighboring countries. Although still a relatively new university, it has already positioned itself as one of the leading undergraduate institutes providing excellent programs in engineering, computer science, education, and business. Its educational programs, training, and other relevant academic opportunities are comparable to what is being provided by other well-known Indonesian universities.

Padjadjaran University, or Universitas Padjajaran (UNPAD) in Indonesian, is an elite public school in the West Java region. It is among Indonesia’s top 10 and has secured a spot among the top international universities, as evident by stellar rankings from QS and Times Higher Education assessments. UNPAD offers Bahasa-taught and English-taught programs through its four campuses: Jatinangor, Bandung City, Pangandaran, and Garut.

Diponegoro University, or Universitas Diponegoro, is shortly known as UNDIP. It was founded as an educational foundation called the Foundation of Semarang University to cater to the rising number of students in Central Java in the 1950s. This foundation eventually became Semarang University, renamed the present-day Diponegoro University.

UNDIP offers courses across several disciplines, such as law, economics, public health, engineering, and more. International programs are also available to provide students with more globally-oriented opportunities and knowledge.

Bina Nusantara University, or BINUS University, is a prestigious private university that began as a computer school in 1974. Decades later, the institution has grown into a full-fledged institution with several campuses across Indonesia. It also founded BINUS International in 2001 to address the needs of globalization and is deemed as an alternative to out-of-country education. BINUS International also regularly offers courses in partnership with foreign and local universities. Thus, while BINUS International focuses on internationalized programs, students may pursue Bahasa-taught studies through BINUS regular.

Sebelas Maret University is a premier public institution known as Universitas Sebelas Maret, UNS, or UNS Solo. It is situated in the Central Java region and was founded after merging five various schools in Surakarta. It aims to be a prominent academic figure in science, technology, and the arts by providing an education based on self-development, independence, research, and community empowerment. UNS covers various courses, including cultural science, law, teacher training, economics, engineering, medicine, and more.

Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology is recognized as one of the top Indonesian universities in science, technology, and engineering. It strives to impart strong fundamental knowledge and advanced skills to future professionals and scientists so they can contribute to the nation’s progress. The university also carries out several activities and programs that aim to help in the improvement of communities and organizations.

Hasanuddin University, or Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS), is one of the largest and is certainly listed as one of the best reputable Indonesian universities in the province of South Sulawesi. Its ever-increasing number of student admissions shows how the students prefer to study higher education at UNHAS. Aside from offering top-quality educational programs, the university provides a unique learning environment where students will feel a sense of belonging that promotes proactive communication between students and academic staff.

Telkom University is one of only 104 Indonesian colleges to be awarded the highest accreditation level from the National Higher Education Accreditation Body. Since its foundation in 2013, the university has strived to carry out the TriDharma of higher education, namely, education, research, and community service. It offers internationally recognized and innovative academic and research programs in technology, management, and communication and carries out various activities to help the local community.

The University of Lampung is a leading educational institution in Lampung, one of the most multicultural provinces in Indonesia. It envisions itself as a national frontrunner in education and research that actively contributes to the nation’s development. The university also strives to expand its international influence by cooperating with different organizations and universities around the world in carrying out joint research projects, mobility programs, and other activities. 

The Indonesia University of Education, or Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), is a specialized public institution in Bandung. It focuses on teacher training or educational courses but also offers a limited number of programs in other disciplines, like architecture and linguistics. UPI’s forte can be traced to its origins as a teacher’s college, and its expertise and credibility in the field have only grown. This is not just evident in their education quality but also in their international rankings. For instance, in 2022, it was ranked 201st by QS rankings for education and training.

The University of Brawijaya, or Universitas Brawijaya, is one of Indonesia’s elite institutions. It is especially renowned in law, agriculture, forestry, social sciences, business, and management. However, the programs offered by UB are not limited to those disciplines. The facilities and resources are also high quality, from libraries to sports arenas. This ensures that students’ skills are honed in many aspects, thus molding them into well-rounded individuals.

The State University of Malang was established in 1954 and operates under the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields of communication, social sciences, applied sciences, and engineering. It has a long history of academic and research excellence and is recognized as one of the best universities in Southeast Asia.

The University of North Sumatra is one of the most elite universities in Indonesia, particularly in the northern region of Sumatra. The university came to fruition through the establishment of Universitas Sumatera Utara Foundation, where the leaders, during that time, proposed to build a first-class higher education school for the people of North Sumatra. Since its inception, it has transformed countless lives, which has also led to contributing to the significant developments of the local society.

Yogyakarta State University, or Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), was established in 1964 to educate competent Indonesian teachers. After several years of solely focusing on training educators, it was eventually granted university status in 1999. This has led to reforming its faculties and departments to develop study programs in other fields of study, including social sciences, engineering, and economics.

Syiah Kuala University is dedicated to training highly qualified human resources and socio-technopreneurs who possess the intellect and skills that meet the needs of industries in the region and the nation. It was established in 1961 and is known as the oldest public institution for higher education in the province of Aceh. The university consists of 12 faculties that offer undergraduate, graduate, vocational, and professional programs in diverse disciplines.

The State University of Semarang started as a small educational institution for aspiring teachers. Through time, it innovated and grew to become one of the most prominent universities in Indonesia. It now offers more than 80 academic programs with numerous research centers to cater to its technical courses. In line with the changing demands of the world industry, the university seeks only to offer the best education possible for its students.

Andalas University was established in 1956 after Indonesia gained its independence from the Dutch colonial government. The purpose of its foundation is to respond to the need for a higher education institution in the province of West Sumatra. At present, the university offers programs in a wide range of disciplines, such as agriculture, health sciences, engineering, and social sciences.

The Islamic University of Indonesia is an outstanding university in the country that offers exciting opportunities for students all over the world. It embraces diverse cultures, helping students cultivate their passions and train for their future careers. As a leading private university in Indonesia, it hopes to offer an excellent place for learning where everyone can experience highly-intellectual learning and academic freedom.

The University of Muhammadiyah Malang is a leading private Islamic university that has received various national and international recognitions. It is composed of 10 faculties and 62 departments that offer diverse and flexible programs that allow students to freely explore their interests and pursue their passions. The university also has a vast network of international partners where students can participate in exchange and internship programs.

Sriwijaya University (UNSRI) was born out of the efforts of community leaders who wanted to have a tertiary institution in Palembang city of Indonesia. One of the founding principles of the university’s creation was the idea of having an institution that constantly adapts to the development needs of society and changes in science, technology, and global trends.

Fully accredited by the National Accreditation Board of Higher Education with an (A) grade, the university has grown to become popular among students in Indonesia.