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Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB / BPI)

Last verified 12 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

The Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship is a highly prestigious, fully-funded scholarship program offered by the Government of Indonesia. It provides international students from developing countries, including those in Africa, with the opportunity to pursue Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at leading Indonesian universities across various fields.

Provider: Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB / BPI)
Host country: Indonesia
Deadline: March 31, 2026

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About this scholarship

## About the KNB Scholarship The Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship is a flagship initiative of the Government of Indonesia, designed to foster international cooperation and support human resource development in developing countries. Established initially for Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member countries, the program expanded its reach in 2002 to include students from a broad spectrum of developing regions, including Asia, the Pacific, South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Since its inception, the KNB Scholarship has empowered over 2,299 students from 107 countries, enabling them to pursue quality higher education in Indonesia. This fully-funded scholarship aims to build strong people-to-people connections and cultivate future global leaders. It offers a unique opportunity for recipients to immerse themselves in Indonesia's rich cultural diversity while gaining invaluable academic and professional experience. The program partners with 47 esteemed Indonesian universities, providing access to a wide array of programs at the Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral levels. ## Scholarship Coverage and Benefits The KNB Scholarship is comprehensive, covering all essential expenses for the duration of the study program. This ensures that awardees can focus entirely on their academic pursuits without financial burdens. **The scholarship benefits include:** * **Tuition Fees:** Full coverage of all academic fees. * **Monthly Living Expenses:** A generous monthly stipend to cover daily costs. * **Arrival Allowance:** Financial assistance upon arrival in Indonesia. * **Book and Research Allowance:** Support for academic materials and research activities. * **Publication Assistance:** Aid for publishing academic works. * **Transportation:** Economy class airfare for international travel from the home country to Indonesia at the beginning of the program and return travel upon graduation. * **Monthly Health Insurance:** Coverage for medical expenses throughout the scholarship period. It is important to note that while some universities may offer dormitory accommodation, specific arrangements vary by institution. The scholarship policies align with the facilities and guidelines of each partner university. ## Eligibility Requirements To be considered for the KNB Scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria, which vary slightly depending on the degree level. General requirements include: * **Nationality:** Applicants must be citizens of developing countries, with Africa being a key focus region. Indonesian citizens, refugees, and stateless individuals are not eligible. * **Age Limit:** The maximum age for Bachelor's degree applicants is 21 years old (as of December 31st of the application year). For Master's and Doctoral programs, different age limits apply, which should be verified in the official guidelines. * **Academic Qualification:** Hold the appropriate previous degree (High School for Bachelor's, Bachelor's for Master's, Master's for Doctoral) with a strong academic record. A minimum GPA of 2.75 for Bachelor's and 3.00 for Master's and Doctoral levels is generally required. * **English Proficiency:** Demonstrate English proficiency with a minimum TOEFL ITP score of 477, TOEFL IBT of 53, IELTS of 5.5, TOEIC of 510, or an equivalent test taken within the last two years. Applicants from English-speaking countries or those who completed previous degrees in English may be exempt, provided they submit official institutional proof. * **Recommendations:** Provide recommendation letters from the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in their home country, an employer/immediate supervisor (if applicable), and previous educational institutions. * **Medical Report:** Submit a certified medical report including comprehensive physical and mental health checks, infectious disease tests (Tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Mpox), and a negative drug test. * **Video Submission:** Submit a maximum 5-minute video introducing themselves, explaining their motivation for studying in Indonesia under the KNB Scholarship, and their chosen campus and study program. * **Passport Validity:** Possess an official passport valid for at least two years from the application closing date. * **Commitment:** Willingness to adhere to scholarship terms, including not marrying or being pregnant during the scholarship period, and returning to the home country after graduation. Note for African applicants: A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for those coming from and/or residing in Africa. ## Application Process The application process for the KNB Scholarship involves several key steps: 1. **Download Documents:** Obtain the KNB Scholarship Offering Letter and official guidelines from the scholarship website. 2. **Embassy Recommendation Letter:** Contact the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate General in your home country to request a recommendation letter. This typically involves submitting several documents, including the KNB Scholarship Offering Letter, passport, CV, English proficiency test scores, and academic records. 3. **Online Application:** Complete the online application form on the KNB Scholarship website, uploading all required documents, including the Embassy recommendation letter. 4. **Selection Process:** Undergo administrative and academic selections, which may include online interviews and psychological tests conducted by partner universities. 5. **Result Announcement:** Selection results are published on the official KNB Scholarship website. Applicants are strongly advised to carefully review the KNB Scholarship 2026 User Guides, available on the official website, for detailed instructions and up-to-date information regarding procedures, requirements, and crucial timelines. Any discrepancies in personal data provided in the application may lead to disqualification or sanctions. ## Vision and Mission The KNB Scholarship is guided by a clear vision and mission to achieve its impactful goals: * To contribute significantly to human resource development in developing countries. * To foster deeper cultural understanding and strengthen bilateral relationships between Indonesia and participating nations. * To enhance the research capacity of Indonesian higher education institutions, aligning with national strategies to elevate their global standing.

What's covered

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

Monthly stipend
Accommodation
Return airfare
Health insurance
Research/thesis support

Eligibility criteria

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

Open to students from developing countries, including African nations. Specific academic requirements, age limits (e.g., maximum 21 for Bachelor's), and English proficiency scores apply. Applicants must not be Indonesian citizens, refugees, or stateless persons.

Required documents

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

Valid international passport (bio page scan)
Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

How to apply

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

1
Confirm eligibility on the official site
Open https://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id/ and verify your country, level of study and English-language status against the current call. Sponsor rules change between intakes — never rely on third-party summaries alone.
2
Secure a study place or admission offer
Identify a supervisor whose research aligns with yours, exchange emails, and either obtain a conditional offer or confirmation that they will host your project. Many Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB / BPI) awards require this before the funding application opens.
3
Sit required tests and gather documents
Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.
4
Draft your essays and statements
Write a focused 1,000–2,000-word research proposal and a separate personal statement. Tailor every paragraph to the sponsor's stated priorities — generic recycled essays are the most common reason strong applicants are rejected.
5
Complete the online application
Create an account on https://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id/, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.
6
Submit at least one week before the deadline
Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
7
Prepare for shortlist interviews
If shortlisted, Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB / BPI) will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

Deadline timeline

Working backwards from the sponsor's stated deadline (March 31, 2026). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.

12 months out
5 Apr 2025
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
6 months out
2 Oct 2025
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
3 months out
31 Dec 2025
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
1 month out
1 Mar 2026
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Application deadline
31 Mar 2026
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Editorial verification note

Retry pass: resilient fetch with alt-URL + search fallback.

Last checked 5/12/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB / BPI)?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the Bachelor, Master, PhD level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB / BPI), and be able to relocate to Indonesia for the duration of the programme.

Is the Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB / BPI) fully funded?+

Funding model: Full Scholarship. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is March 31, 2026. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.

Guides for this scholarship

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