The Universitas Gadjah Mada Strategic Plan 2022-2027 outlines our university’s commitment to admit students from the lowest 20% of household income groups, as stated on page 36. In 2022, UGM distributed Rp 304.5 billion in financial support to over 18 thousand students. This support is a result of cooperation with 165 partners in the form of 192 types of scholarships. This number represents a 3.08 % increase compared to the amount of financial support distributed in 2021 of Rp 295.4 billion. In 2024, 13,005 students enrolled in UGM were recipients of financial aid and scholarships. Besides tuition fee subsidies, our university also provides tuition payment support, alumni and corporate scholarships, and zakat-based and community engagement financial assistance.
Tuition Fee Subsidies
As the oldest and one of the largest public universities in Indonesia, UGM implements the Single Tuition Fee (Uang Kuliah Tunggal or UKT) system wherein students only need to pay their tuition once per semester, with a fixed (flat) amount that remains the same throughout their period of study. The system complies with the Indonesian Ministry of Education Regulation No. 25 of 2020 and applies to all Indonesian public universities. UKT at UGM is divided into 6 levels; UKT Levels 1 and 2 receive 100% tuition subsidy, Level 3 receives 75% subsidy, Level 4 receives 50% subsidy, Level 5 receives 75% subsidy, and Level 6 receives zero subsidy (meaning they pay the full tuition). At UGM, students who fall into the bottom 20% of household income groups fall into UKT Levels 1 and 2. In 2024, over 50% of the university’s student body received a subsidized tuition fee and 555 students enrolled received 100% tuition subsidy.
Source: Faculty of Economics and Business
In the Faculty of Animal Science alone, 61.5% of freshman students received tuition subsidies during the start of the 2024 academic year. A total of 205 out of 333 new students received subsidies, consisting of 74 students with a 25% subsidy, 77 students with a 50% subsidy, 49 students with a 75% subsidy, and 5 students with a 100% subsidy. Meanwhile, in the Faculty of Economics and Business, 50.12% of freshman students received tuition subsidies. Among them, 13.32% were awarded the 100% subsidy.
Tuition Payment Support
In 2024, 21 UGM students received the Cendekia Baznas Scholarship. Each student receives scholarship assistance in the form of tuition fee support (UKT) of up to IDR 5 million, along with mentorship and scholarship guidance. The scholarship funds were collected from public and corporate contributions through zakat, infaq, and sadaqah donations, including contributions from companies such as PT Henan Putihrai Sekuritas.
Scholarship Programs
For students requiring full scholarships, UGM offers several programs funded by the government, corporate partners, and employment-linked initiatives. Government-funded scholarships include the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah program, which covers full tuition and living expenses for low-income students. Another option is the Higher Education Affirmation (Afirmasi Pendidikan Tinggi or ADik) program, which has four track options for students from Papua, students from 3T or Indonesia’s outermost regions, children of migrant workers, and students with disabilities. In 2024, UGM supported 8,955 students through the KIP Kuliah program and 149 students through the ADik program.
An inspiring story comes from Shareent Violent Kusuma Ayu Wardhani (18), a young woman accepted as a new student at the Faculty of Economics and Business in 2025 without taking a test, through the National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP) track. As a recipient of the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah scholarship, she is also exempted from tuition fees until graduation. Since childhood, she has had a strong desire to pursue higher education and reach the university level. She firmly believes that education can change her life and elevate her family’s social standing.
Another success story is Awane Theovilla, a remarkable young woman from Awabutu, Paniai District, Central Papua, who turned her dream of obtaining a quality education into reality despite growing up in one of Indonesia’s underdeveloped regions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from UGM in 2024 with the support of the ADik scholarship. Awane’s journey was not without challenges—she once had to pause her studies in 2019 following widespread incidents of racism against Papuan students. Now a proud graduate, Awane plans to return to Awabutu to contribute to regional development and help transform the region into a leading destination that uplifts the welfare of its community.
Alumni and Corporate Funded Financial Assistance
As the oldest public university in Indonesia, UGM’s alumni association, Keluarga Alumni Universitas Gadjah Mada (KAGAMA), is a vibrant and extensive community which has donated to scholarship funds that financially support disadvantaged students access education and academic services. The scholarship funds come from alumni donations as well as grants from KAGAMA and UGM partners. By the end of 2023, the total amount collected for the Foster Parent Scholarship Program reached IDR 505 million, benefiting 25 scholarship recipients. The assistance was provided in the form of Single Tuition Fee (UKT) support and monthly living allowances. Meanwhile, the Gadjah Mada Peduli Scholarship distributed a total of IDR 227 million in financial aid to 74 students.
The Faculty of Economics and Business’ own alumni association (KAFEGAMA) holds the annual KAFEGAMA Open Golf Tournament (KOGT) aimed at raising funds for scholarships and educational support facilities for UGM students. In 2024, alumni made through direct donations, including a song auction that successfully raised IDR 30 million.
The cost of education has been steadily increasing in Indonesia, making it challenging for many students to pursue higher education. When government and alumni scholarships are unable to reach all students who fall into the bottom 20% of household income groups, these students can turn to corporate scholarships given by UGM’s partners, which are financial aid created by a corporate business/organization with the intention of helping one or many hopeful candidates complete their education at UGM.
Source: Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation Scholarship from Japan
For instance, Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), one of the largest national banks, handed over scholarship funds worth DR 2.3 billion to aid students from economically disadvantaged families to cover their tuition expenses. The Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) Foundation provided scholarships for 24 students from the Faculty of Engineering and the Vocational School reaching IDR 321.5 million. In 2024, 45 UGM students received scholarships fromPT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) under the Bakti BCA Scholarship. The scholarship covers their UKT along with a monthly allowance of IDR 500,000. Likewise, the Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation Scholarship from Japan was awarded to 16 students and each of the sixteen recipients received a scholarship of IDR 5 million for a one-year period.
Zakat-Based and Community Engagement Financial Assistance
UGM also integrates community engagement with financial assistance through its zakat-based programs. The PTH Scholarship and Volunteers Batch 33 initiative provides living allowances in three scholarship tiers and transportation stipends while involving students in zakat distribution activities. This approach not only supports students financially but also promotes social responsibility and community involvement, reflecting UGM’s commitment to fostering well-rounded and socially conscious graduates. Together, these programs ensure that financial challenges do not impede students’ academic and personal growth at UGM.
References:
- UKT Levels 1 and 2
- Faculty of Animal Science
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Cendekia Baznas Scholarship
- Government-funded scholarships
- Inspiring story from Shareent
- Success story from Awane Theovilla
- Scholarship funds from alumni KAGAMA
- KAFEGAMA scholarship funds
- Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) scholarship
- Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) Foundation scholarship
- Bakti BCA Scholarship
- Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation Scholarship from Japan
- PTH Scholarship and Volunteers Batch 33