ABOUT THIS SCHOLARSHIP
Important date : This scholarship is open every year
The Kemitraan Negara Berkembang Scholarship, commonly referred to as the KNB Scholarship, is a financial aid program provided by the Indonesian Government for international students from developing countries who wish to study for a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree at a university in Indonesia. This scholarship was introduced during the 10th Conference of Heads of State of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, which took place from September 1st to 6th, 1992. The Indonesian Government started offering the scholarship to students from NAM member countries the following year. In 2002, the scholarship's exclusivity to regional countries was removed due to growing global interest. It was then officially named the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang Scholarship (KNB), and the eligibility was expanded to include students from other developing countries. Today, the scholarship is available to students from developing nations in Asia, the Pacific, South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
The main goal of the KNB Scholarship is to foster better people-to-people ties between Indonesia and the recipient countries and to help develop future leaders. It provides students with the opportunity to study at top universities in Indonesia while living in a diverse and vibrant society. Through this scholarship, students can access quality academic programs offered by 34 university partners, which are designed to improve their knowledge, build their skills, and open up more career opportunities, helping them succeed after graduation. They will also get the chance to experience life in a multicultural and multilingual environment. In 2025, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, along with the 34 KNB Scholarship host universities, will accept around 200 applicants for the scholarship, including those awarded for Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs.
REQUIREMENT
Bachelor’s Degree
- The maximum age for applying to the scholarship is 21 years old, which means you must be born on or after January 1st, 2004, and must have your birthday by December 31st, 2025.
- You must hold a High School diploma. It is important to note that individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply for the bachelor’s degree scholarship.
- You must meet the minimum English proficiency test scores as follows: TOEFL ITP of 477, TOEFL IBT of 53, IELTS of 5.5, or TOEIC of 510, or an equivalent score. The certificate must be issued within the last two years. Participants from English-speaking countries or those who are enrolled in programs taught in English (as stated on their diploma or transcript) are not required to submit an English proficiency document, provided they attach official proof from their home university.
- You must provide a recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the Indonesian Embassy or the Indonesian Consulate General. Please note that the KNB Scholarship Management only accepts recommendation letters from the Indonesian Representative in your home country, which includes the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia or the Consulate General.
- You should also provide a recommendation letter from your employer or immediate supervisor, either in English or Bahasa (if applicable). An academic recommendation letter from your previous school should also be provided in English or Bahasa. You must submit a scanned copy of your High School academic certificate and academic transcripts, also in English or Bahasa, that have been legalized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
- Proof of citizenship is required, and you should submit an official, valid passport that remains valid Complete the online application form at http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id.
- All required documents must be scanned into electronic format, in .jpeg or .jpg format, with a maximum file size of 300kb to avoid technical issues during upload, especially if you have a poor internet connection or server problems. Please note that each applicant is allowed only one account on the KNB Scholarship website. Therefore, ensure all your documents meet the requirements and are complete and correct before finalizing your registration. *Note: Documents (5), (6), and (7) must be in English or Bahasa.
- The maximum age for applying to the scholarship is 35 years old,
- You must hold a bachelor's degree. It should be noted that individuals with a master's degree are not eligible to apply for the Master Degree scholarship.
- You must have a minimum score in an English proficiency test, which includes: TOEFL ITP of 500, TOEFL IBT of 61, IELTS of 6.0, TOEIC of 575, or an equivalent score. The certificate must have been obtained within the last two years.
- Participants from English-speaking countries or those enrolled in English-taught programs at their university (as stated on their diploma or transcript) are not required to submit an English proficiency document, provided they include official proof from their home university. You must provide a recommendation letter for the KNB scholarship from the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate General. Additionally, you need a recommendation letter from your employer or immediate supervisor in English or Bahasa (if applicable).
- You must also submit an academic recommendation letter from your previous schools in English or Bahasa. You are required to provide scanned copies of your bachelor's degree academic certificate and transcripts in English or Bahasa, which must be legalized by your country's Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prove your citizenship by submitting an official passport that remains valid until at least December 31st, 2026. Complete the online application form at http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id.
- All required documents must be scanned into electronic format, either .jpeg or .jpg, with a maximum file size of 300KB to prevent technical issues during upload, especially if you have a poor internet connection or server problems. One applicant can only have one account on the KNB Scholarship website, so ensure all documents are complete and correct before completing your registration. *Note: Documents 5, 6, and 7 must be in English or Bahasa.
- The maximum age for applying to the KNB Scholarship is 40 years old
- Applicants must hold a master's degree, and those with a doctorate are not eligible. You must obtain a recommendation letter in English or Bahasa from a potential research supervisor at one of the partner universities of the KNB Scholarship.
- You also need to submit a statement of purpose that explains the purpose of your studies, the reason you are interested in studying in Indonesia, your chosen research topic, and your academic future plans (dissertation proposal), all in English or Bahasa. An English proficiency test score is required, with the following minimums: TOEFL ITP of 530, TOEFL IBT of 71, IELTS of 6.0, TOEIC of 640, or equivalent (the certificate must be less than two years old).
- Participants from English-speaking countries or those enrolled in English-taught programs at their university (as stated in their diploma or transcript) do not need to submit an English proficiency test, but they must attach official proof from their home university. The recommendation letter should be obtained from the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate General. If you are currently working, you must also provide a recommendation letter from your employer or immediate supervisor in English or Bahasa.
- You must also submit an academic recommendation letter from your previous institution in English or Bahasa. You should provide a scanned copy of your academic certificate and transcripts from your master’s degree in English or Bahasa, which must be legalized by your country's Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You must also submit an official, valid passport that remains valid until at least December 31st, 2026. Complete the online application form at http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id. All required documents must be scanned into electronic files in .jpeg or .jpg format, with a maximum size of 300KB per file to prevent technical issues when uploading, especially if you have a slow internet connection. Remember that each applicant can only have one account on the KNB Scholarship website, so make sure all your documents are complete and correct before you finish registration. Note: Documents 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 must be in English or Bahasa.
