The 2025 Indonesian Education and Scholarship Applications are set to open soon, particularly with the introduction of the Seleksi Nasional Berbasis Tes (SNBT) for students aspiring to enter higher education institutions.
According to Tribunjabar.id, the official registration for SNBT 2025 will commence in March. Students should start preparing their application requirements now to participate effectively.
This test serves as another opportunity for students who were unable to register for the Seleksi Nasional Berdasarkan Prestasi (SNBP), which is the non-test method of entering state universities.
The SNBT requires participants to take the Ujian Tulis Berbasis Komputer (UTBK), which is quite different from the SNBP route. It’s imperative for students to understand the requirements they need to meet. Here’s what participants should prepare, as outlined by Kompas.com.
Requirement for SNBT 2025:
- Students must have access to the SNPMB Student Account, which can be registered through the official portal at snpmb.bppp.kemdikbud.go.id.
- Participants must be Indonesian citizens with valid identification numbers (NIK).
- Eligible students include those from academic high schools (SMA/SMK/MA) who are currently in their final year or those who completed equivalently from Paket C programs within the maximum age of 25 years as of July 1, 2025.
- Students who have not yet received their diplomas must provide official letters from their high schools, including identity details, photos, signatures, and necessary stamps from the school.
- Graduates from 2023 and 2024 or Paket C participants from the same years must also meet the age criteria.
- Foreign high school graduates need to have their diplomas legally recognized.
- Students opting for arts or sports programs must upload their portfolios.
- A health clearance is needed to assure it does not interfere with study processes.
- For visually impaired candidates, it's mandatory to upload the appropriate statement.
- Participants will also have to pay the UTBK fee, with exceptions for those under the KIP Kuliah program.
There are several advantages to participating in SNBT, as listed by Kompas.com:
- Choice of Up to Four Study Programs: Candidates can select four different programs to apply to, enabling them to keep their options open.
- Freedom to choose from both academic and vocational state universities.
- Priority selections can reflect individual preferences among the selected programs.
- Equitable distribution of applicants across various institutions, encouraging diverse applications.
Shifting focus to scholarship opportunities, the Australia Awards, which aim to strengthen the educational ties between Indonesia and Australia, is also gaining attention. The Australian Embassy’s recent tour at Universitas Padjadjaran highlighted this program. Pikiran Rakyat reported on February 25, 2025, the tour was part of the embassy's campaign to commemorate the 75 years of diplomatic relations between both countries.
Gita Kamath, the Acting Head of Mission for Australia to Indonesia, noted during the event, “For 2026, we expect to increase the quota for the Australia Awards by approximately 200, allowing more students access to this valuable program.”
The Australia Awards particularly aim at students who choose study fields aligned with Australia’s key focus areas, such as resilient community engagement and strong institutional governance.
Public Diplomacy Coordinator for Australia Awards, Seluz Fahik, emphasized, “We prioritize fields of study related to our scholarship’s priority sectors, ensuring the selected programs align with reciprocal international education goals.”
Seluz also highlighted the advantages of these scholarships, including opportunities for research-driven academic programs within leading Australian institutions like the University of Adelaide and the University of Sydney.
For students considering international study, the Australia Awards provide numerous pathways to gain experiences and insights across various disciplines. The main goal is to create academically equipped individuals ready to make significant impacts both locally and globally.
It’s clear, the upcoming year presents numerous opportunities for Indonesian students, whether they are aiming toward domestic programs through SNBT or aspiring to join global networks via the Australia Awards. With informed preparation and strategic choices, students can maximize their chances for success.
The combination of local SNBT options and international scholarship capabilities demonstrates the country’s commitment to developing capable and competitive candidates ready for future challenges.