14 Best Universities In Surabaya For International Students 2025

Surabaya is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in Indonesia. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 14 universities and colleges in Surabaya, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 14 universities in Surabaya, Airlangga University and Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology are the top-performing schools in Surabaya. This list covers both public and private institutions in Surabaya.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Surabaya. 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 Surabaya.

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

Applying to the universities in Surabaya 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 Surabaya to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

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

Tuition fees at Surabaya’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 6,528,600 Rp to 50,000,000 Rp , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 30,000,000 Rp to 50,000,000 Rp. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Surabaya!

As we cover the best universities in Surabaya 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 Surabaya for International Students

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.

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.

Petra Christian University is a private Christian university that was named Indonesia’s best private university in the QS World University Rankings from 2018 to 2021. The university prides itself in having long-standing partnerships with leading institutions both in Indonesia and the world that ensure its students and alumni have valuable opportunities in their various fields. With five faculties and 22 programs, Petra Christian University is an innovative and multidisciplinary school with the vision of becoming a leading Christian university globally that impacts society.

Ranked 103rd among universities in South Eastern Asia, Surabaya State University is one of the leading public universities in Surabaya, Indonesia. The university has a rich competitive history and has won numerous national contests, including the 2009 Indonesia Intelligent Robotic Contest. In addition, Surabaya State University campuses are made accessible to students with special needs through the presence of a service center for disabled people.

The University of Surabaya is a research-based university that offers a complete range of programs, including undergraduate and postgraduate. Founded in 1966, it is known for its excellence in teaching and research. It aims to produce graduates who can work independently and effectively in their chosen field. Its curriculum is rich, detailed, and informative, taught by academic experts.

Initially founded in 1959 as the Surabaya Branch of the Veterans Enterprise Administration Academy, the National Veteran Development University of East Java has grown substantially into a large institution with notable influence in East Java. The university accepts both students from Indonesia and international students and is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate below 70%.

Established by the Muhammadiyah Foundation in East Java, the Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya is a private non-profit university that started as a collection of several existing institutions of higher education. The university is research-oriented, having partnered with several other institutions of higher learning all over the world as well as many leaders in the industry to facilitate the improvement of their research and teaching as well. Located in Surabaya, a modern and culturally-rich city in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya provides a conducive and lively environment for its students to grow personally and fully immerse themselves in the culture of the people.

Established in 1965, the State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya is one of Indonesia’s oldest Islamic universities. It offers 60 undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programs designed to address the socio-economic needs of the region while meeting international standards in education. It also takes pride in its spacious campus that houses its advanced infrastructure, facilities, and laboratories. 

Owned by the Wijaya Kusuma Foundation, the Wijaya Kusuma University of Surabaya is a private university in Surabaya with over eight faculties and various other research institutes and graduate schools. The university believes in administering the Tri Dharma of education, which involves teaching, research, and community service. Their goal is to become a high-value institution that will excel in these three areas and bring positive dividends to the community.

Established by the Widya Mandala Foundation in 1960, an organization responsible for catholic higher education in Indonesia, the Widya Mandala Catholic University of Surabaya is a private catholic university in Surabaya city. It is among the oldest universities in Surabaya and boasts four campus locations in the city. The university is also one of the most prestigious catholic universities in the nation and partners with numerous institutions in differing countries. Some of the university’s partners are in countries like Japan, the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and China.

Located in the port city of Surabaya, the 17 August 1945 University believes that education should impact three levels of society which are national, regional, and international. In the same vein, they maintain that training should develop three forms of character in an individual, which are moral, academic, and cultural. Galvanizing this belief in three levels and types of education through their teachings is the Tridharma, a group that combines the teachings of Buddhism, Confucius, and Lao-Tzu.

The university gets its name in honor of the date when Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president, declared Indonesia’s independence from the Netherlands.

Narotama University (UN) prides itself on being a modern university that has integrated information technology into its programs to facilitate enhanced learning for its students. The university mainly offers undergraduate and graduate study programs and is located just outside the city, making it a serene and conducive place to study away from the fast-paced city life.

Ciputra University is a private university committed to training its students in a manner that will enable them to not only excel in their respective fields but also equip them with the skills that can enable them to become entrepreneurs in those fields. The school motto, ‘Creating World Class Entrepreneurs’, accurately describes the school’s vision and mission. UC has partnerships with both academic and industrial institutions all over the world to ensure its students are provided with broader opportunities during and even after their studies.