1.3.3 Low or lower-middle income countries student support
Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) is committed to expanding access to higher education for international students from developing countries, particularly those originating from low-income and lower-middle-income economies. This commitment is implemented through government-funded international scholarship programmes as well as UNISSULA’s own institutional scholarship scheme.
Through these initiatives, UNISSULA seeks to reduce financial barriers to international higher education while providing academic, linguistic, administrative, and social support to help international students successfully adapt to university life and complete their studies.
Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship / Beasiswa Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB)
UNISSULA was officially appointed by the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology as one of the universities authorised to manage the Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (Beasiswa Kemitraan Negara Berkembang – KNB) in 2026. The KNB Scholarship is a full scholarship programme funded by the Government of Indonesia for international students from developing countries who wish to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degrees in Indonesia.
Through this programme, KNB recipients studying at UNISSULA receive comprehensive financial assistance covering major educational and living expenses. The scholarship includes international airfare, settlement allowance, tuition fees for language and academic programmes, health insurance, living allowance, and book and research allowances. This comprehensive package enables talented students from developing countries to pursue higher education without major financial barriers.
In 2026, UNISSULA welcomed its first three KNB Scholarship recipients, originating from Kenya, Nigeria, and Vietnam, who were admitted at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels in the Faculty of Law. Their admission demonstrates the concrete implementation of UNISSULA’s commitment to widening international access to higher education.
Table 1. KNB Scholarship Recipients at UNISSULA
| Academic Year | Number of New KNB Students | Countries of Origin |
| 2026/2027 | 3 | Kenya, Nigeria, Vietnam |
For THE reporting purposes, students should subsequently be classified according to the World Bank income classification applicable to the relevant reporting year. Under the current World Bank FY2027 classification, Kenya and Nigeria are classified as lower-middle-income economies.
UNISSULA International Moslem Scholarship (UIMS)
In addition to participating in the national KNB programme, UNISSULA operates its own international scholarship scheme, the UNISSULA International Moslem Scholarship (UIMS). The programme is specifically offered to international Muslim students who wish to pursue higher education at UNISSULA and is available across Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programmes. UIMS continued to be offered in 2025, demonstrating the university’s sustained institutional commitment to increasing international access to higher education.
UIMS represents an important institutional mechanism through which UNISSULA can provide educational opportunities to students from countries with limited financial resources, including eligible students from low-income and lower-middle-income countries.
Under the UIMS 2024 scheme, UNISSULA provided substantial tuition-related financial support. Costs covered by the university included the Institutional Development Fee (DPI), fixed semester tuition fees, student activity fees, IT practicum fees, registration fees, orientation fees, university healthcare fees, English tutorial fees, final-project fees, and community-service fees. Living expenses, travel, immigration, and certain programme-specific expenses remained the responsibility of students.
This institutional scholarship therefore reduces a substantial proportion of the direct educational costs faced by international students and complements the full financial assistance provided through the KNB Scholarship.
Table 2. UIMS Recipients from Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries
| Country of Origin | World Bank Income Group | Number of Active Students |
| To be completed from OIA data | Low / Lower-middle | – |
Additional Support for Students from Low or Lower-Middle-Income Countries
Financial assistance is complemented by a broader international student support system at UNISSULA. This is important because international students, particularly those coming from countries with limited economic resources, may encounter not only financial barriers but also language, cultural, administrative, and social challenges during their studies.
1. Office of International Affairs Support
UNISSULA’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provides institutional support for international students throughout the admission and study process. International applicants are assisted with admission procedures, Letters of Offer and Acceptance, study permits, student visas, and other immigration requirements.
This centralised support reduces administrative barriers for international students and enables them to focus more effectively on their academic activities after arriving in Indonesia.
2. Indonesian Language and Academic Support
Through the Center for International Language Development (CILAD), UNISSULA provides dedicated support for international students, including the Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) programme. The programme includes intensive Indonesian language classes, Academic BIPA, and short courses designed to help international students develop the language competencies required for academic activities and everyday life in Indonesia.
Language assistance is especially important for scholarship recipients from developing countries because it helps overcome linguistic barriers that could otherwise affect academic performance, social integration, and successful study completion.
3. Student Buddy Programme
International students at UNISSULA are also supported through a Student Buddy Programme, a peer-to-peer mentoring system that connects international students with experienced local UNISSULA students.
Student buddies assist international students with campus orientation, university administration, understanding academic systems, adapting to local transportation, finding accommodation, and managing daily life. They also provide opportunities for informal language exchange and social interaction.
This peer-support mechanism helps international students adapt to a new academic and cultural environment and contributes to their social inclusion and overall well-being.
4. International Student Helpdesk and Cultural Integration
CILAD also provides an International Student Helpdesk and consultation services for students experiencing language barriers or cultural adjustment difficulties. Students can receive individual consultation regarding language learning, academic adaptation, and cultural integration.
In addition, UNISSULA organises cultural immersion activities that introduce international students to Semarang, Indonesian traditions, local public services, food, and university student activities. Such programmes help international students develop the practical knowledge and social networks required to live and study independently in Indonesia.
5. Accommodation and Campus Facilities
UNISSULA provides student dormitory and boarding-house facilities as part of its campus infrastructure. These facilities provide accommodation options for students who require university-based housing and form part of the wider support environment available to students during their studies.
For THE reporting, however, UNISSULA should only describe accommodation as free or subsidised specifically for low/lower-middle-income international students if documentation confirming such financial support is available.
Contribution to SDG 1: No Poverty
Through the KNB Scholarship and UNISSULA International Moslem Scholarship (UIMS), Universitas Islam Sultan Agung provides multiple pathways for international students from developing countries to access higher education.
The KNB Scholarship provides comprehensive financial assistance covering tuition, living costs, healthcare, travel, and research-related expenses, while UIMS substantially reduces the direct educational costs faced by international students. These financial mechanisms are complemented by language training, academic assistance, immigration support, student buddy programmes, counselling, and cultural integration services.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate that UNISSULA’s commitment extends beyond simply admitting international students. The university provides an integrated support environment intended to enable students from economically disadvantaged countries to access, participate in, and successfully complete higher education.