UNISSULA International Moslem Scholarship (UIMS)

A principal institutional mechanism for supporting international students is the UNISSULA International Moslem Scholarship (UIMS).

UIMS is an institutional scholarship programme available to international Muslim students pursuing Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programmes at UNISSULA.

The programme continued to be offered in 2025, demonstrating UNISSULA’s continuing institutional commitment to expanding international access to higher education.

Under the UIMS scheme, UNISSULA provides substantial tuition-related financial assistance. Covered educational costs may include:

• 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.

These provisions substantially reduce the direct educational costs faced by eligible international scholarship recipients.

For the purposes of SDG 1.3.5, UNISSULA identifies scholarship recipients originating from countries classified by the World Bank as low-income or lower-middle-income economies and, where applicable, verifies whether recipients also meet relevant financial-need or poverty-based criteria.

2025 Beneficiaries from Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries

For THE reporting purposes, UNISSULA classifies the country of origin of UIMS recipients according to the applicable World Bank income classification.

The following table presents verified 2025 data on international students from countries classified by the World Bank as low-income or lower-middle-income economies who are supported through UNISSULA scholarship or financial-assistance schemes.

The inclusion of verified financial-need or poverty-based criteria is important because SDG 1.3.5 specifically concerns poor students from low- or lower-middle-income countries, rather than all international students originating from those countries.

Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (KNB)

UNISSULA has also expanded its support for international students through participation in the Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (Beasiswa Kemitraan Negara Berkembang – KNB).

UNISSULA was officially appointed as a participating institution in the KNB programme in 2026. The programme is funded by the Government of Indonesia and provides comprehensive financial assistance for international students from developing countries pursuing Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees.

KNB financial support includes major educational and living expenses such as:

• international airfare;
• settlement allowance;
• tuition fees;
• language and academic programme fees;
• health insurance;
• living allowance; and
• book and research allowances.

In the 2026/2027 academic year, UNISSULA welcomed its first three KNB recipients from Kenya, Nigeria, and Vietnam.

Because the SDG 1.3.5 reporting period under consideration is 2025, UNISSULA’s participation in the KNB programme should be presented as evidence of the continuation and expansion of its international student-support framework from 2026 onward, rather than as primary evidence for the 2025 reporting year.

Academic, Language, and Administrative Support

Financial assistance for international students is complemented by a broader institutional support system.

These services are designed to reduce administrative, linguistic, academic, and social barriers that may affect international students during their period of study.

Office of International Affairs Support

UNISSULA’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) assists international students with a range of administrative and immigration-related matters, including:

• admission procedures;
• Letters of Offer and Acceptance;
• study permits;
• student visas; and
• other immigration requirements.

These services reduce administrative barriers that could otherwise interfere with international students’ ability to begin and continue their studies.

Indonesian Language and Academic Support

Through the Center for International Language Development (CILAD), UNISSULA provides Indonesian-language support through the Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) programme.

Language and academic support may include:

• intensive Indonesian-language classes;
• Academic BIPA;
• academic-language development; and
• other courses designed to strengthen international students’ communication skills for academic and everyday activities.

These programmes help international students adapt to the academic environment and communicate more effectively during their studies in Indonesia.

Student Buddy Programme

International students are also supported through the Student Buddy Programme.

Student buddies may assist international students with:

• campus orientation;
• university administration;
• academic systems;
• local transportation;
• accommodation;
• daily-life adaptation;
• language exchange; and
• social integration.

The programme provides peer-based assistance that can help international students adapt more effectively to university and community life.

International Student Helpdesk and Cultural Integration

UNISSULA also provides consultation and cultural-integration support through CILAD and related international-student services.

International students can receive assistance in addressing language barriers, academic adaptation, cultural adjustment, and practical issues associated with living and studying in Indonesia.

Cultural immersion activities further support international students in understanding Semarang, Indonesian traditions, public services, local food, and university life.

These activities contribute to students’ social integration and help create a supportive environment for continued study.

Accommodation Support

UNISSULA provides student dormitory and boarding-house facilities as part of its campus and student-support infrastructure.

These facilities provide accommodation options for students who require university-associated housing and form part of the wider support environment available during their studies.

Unless specific institutional evidence confirms that accommodation is provided free of charge or specifically subsidised for poor international students from low- or lower-middle-income countries, this support should be described as accommodation support rather than as a universal free-housing programme.

Supporting Successful Completion

UNISSULA’s approach extends beyond providing admission opportunities for international students.

Through scholarship assistance, tuition-cost reductions, language training, immigration assistance, peer mentoring, cultural integration, academic support, accommodation assistance, and other student services, the university provides an environment designed to help international scholarship recipients remain enrolled and successfully complete their studies.

For students from low- and lower-middle-income countries who also meet verified financial-need or poverty-based criteria, these mechanisms can substantially reduce both financial and non-financial barriers to higher education.

Through this integrated approach, UNISSULA supports international students not only in accessing higher education, but also in adapting to university life, maintaining academic progression, and progressing toward successful graduation.

Evidence of Implementation

UNISSULA’s support framework for poor students from low- and lower-middle-income countries is demonstrated through the following mechanisms:

1. UNISSULA International Moslem Scholarship (UIMS), continuously offered in 2025.
2. Substantial UIMS tuition and institutional-fee support for eligible international students.
3. Verified 2025 international students from World Bank low- or lower-middle-income countries supported through UNISSULA scholarship or financial-assistance schemes.
4. Verified financial-need or poverty-based eligibility for relevant scholarship recipients.
5. Participation in the Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (KNB), expanding comprehensive international scholarship support from 2026 onward.
6. Office of International Affairs administrative and immigration support.
7. BIPA language and academic support through CILAD.
8. Student Buddy Programme.
9. International Student Helpdesk and cultural-integration support.
10. Accommodation and other international-student support facilities supporting study continuity and student welfare.