Study Overseas - An Australian Government Initiative

Study Overseas - An Australian Government Initiative

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Indonesia

Spanning the equator for nearly 5000km, Indonesia encompasses more than 17,000 islands, two-thirds of which are inhabited and richly layered with character. Indonesia’s urban spaces are in a constant state of evolution. They are characterised by dense populations cohabiting with new technologies and continuous construction.

Government of Indonesia (in Indonesian and English)

The Indonesia Tourism website provides general information about Indonesia and maps of Indonesian provinces. It focuses on tourist attractions in Indonesia (in English).

Indonesian Embassy in Canberra

Planning your studies in Indonesia

Links to Indonesia Government websites

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website offers general information about the Indonesian consular services for both Indonesian nationals and foreign citizens. However, most of the information is provided in Indonesian.

The official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Links to Indonesian Government websites

Responsibility for the coordination of schools and tertiary education rests with the Ministry of National Education (Depdiknas). The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Depag) is responsible for Islamic schools and universities. Non-school vocational training is conducted by the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (Depnakertrans), while most Government Departments have their own training institutions.

The Bureau of Planning and International Cooperation of the Ministry of National Education is in charge in issuing a support letter for international students to study in Indonesia. The Ministry’s national office complex is located in Central Jakarta, at Jalan Sudirman.

The Ministry also has branch offices in each Province and Municipality, also known as the Dinas Pendidikan. However, only the National Office can issue the permit for international students to study.

The websites of the government institutions can be difficult to access from time to time and may not be updated frequently.

The official website of the Ministry of National Education (has little information in English).

The office of the Bureau of Planning and International Cooperation
Gedung C, 6-7th floor,
Jalan Jenderal Sudirman,
Senayan, Jakarta.
Phone: 6221 571 1144

The official website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (in Indonesian only).

The website of the Directorate General of Higher Education, which provides links to numerous Indonesian universities

The Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia,Canberra
8 Darwin Avenue Yarralumla, Canberra ACT 2600
Ph: 02 6250 8600 Fax: 02 6273 6017
website: http://www.kbri-canberra.org.au/
email: indonemb@kbri-canberra.org.au

Indonesian Consulate General, Sydney
236-238 Maroubra Road
Maroubra, NSW 2035
Tel: 02 9344 9933
Fax: 02 9349 6854
website: http://www.kjri-sydney.org/
email: info@indonesianconsulatesydney.org.au

Indonesian Consulate General, Melbourne
72 Queen’s Road
Melbourne, VIC 3004
Tel: 03 9525 2755
Fax: 03 9525 1588
website: http://www.kjri-melbourne.org/
email: kjri@kjri-melbourne.org

Indonesian Consulate, Perth
134 Adelaide Terrace East Perth, WA 6004
website: http://www.kri-perth.org.au/UI/Master.php

Adelaide:
TCN The Communication Network.
1st Floor, 28 Green Hill Road,
Way Ville, SA 5034, Australia
(GPO Box 2210 Adelaide SA 5001)
Phone: (61-8) 8357-8955
Fax: (61-8) 8373-3342

Brisbane:
Level 20, Riverside Centre,
123 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4001,
Australia (P.O.BOX 407)
Phone: (61-7) 3309-0888
Fax: (61-7) 3309-0999

The Australian Embassy, Jakarta
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav C15-16
Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan 12940
Phone: 62 21 2550 5555;
Fax: 62 21 2550 5467
website: www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au
The website of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta provides information about the service of the Embassy for Australian citizens.

The Australian Consulate General,
Denpasar Jl. Tantular 32, Renon, Denpasar, Bali
Phone: 62 367 241 118;
Fax: 62 367 221 195
website: http://www.bali.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/
The website of Australian Consulate General in Denpasar

The Australian Consulate, Medan
Jalan R A Kartini 32
Medan 20152 North Sumatra Indonesia
Telephone: +62 61 415 7810
Facsimile: +62 61 415 6820

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy, Consulate General or the Consulate, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

Other useful information

The Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) is a consortium of Australian universities offering a year study option in Indonesia. ACICIS’ website has a lot of useful information about being an Australian student in Indonesian universities. The majority of Australians studying in Indonesia join the ACICIS program. There is also a forum for the students and previous graduates of the ACICIS program and various articles about being an international student in Indonesia.

The ACICIS website contains valuable information for Australian students studying in Indonesian universities.

The Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) was established by the Australian Government in 1989 to contribute to a more broadly based and enduring relationship between Australia and Indonesia and to project positive images of Australia and Indonesia in each other's country. AII has promoted each country and has increased exposure to the other through media, in order to increase understanding of and to improve access for Australians to the cultural diversity of Indonesian society.

The main English language newspaper in Indonesia is The Jakarta Post. The Jakarta Globe is a recent addition to the English media in Indonesia. Some national magazines have English language version, such as Tempo.

The APBIPA-BALI website of an Indonesian language course provider in Bali.

Website of the Indonesia-Australia Language Foundation, with campuses in Jakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar. IALF offers Indonesian language courses for non-native speakers.

Website of the Indonesian language and culture program at the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta also includes information for living in Yogyakarta.

An Indonesian language practical Online learning site for people who wants to learn the difference between the daily spoken Indonesian and the one learned at schools or courses.

Wisma Bashasa is a website of a private Indonesian Language Training Centre in Yogyakarta.

Weekly magazine about national and international issues, Tempo is published both in Indonesian and English.

Inside Indonesia High quality Australian-based magazine about Indonesia.

The Jakarta Post - Daily newspaper in English

The Jakarta Globe - Daily newspaper in English

Child-care facilities are not easily found in Indonesia. In major cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, a number of quality child-care centres that provide English-speaking care-givers can be found. In Indonesia, these are normally known as pre-school education.

Public transportation in Indonesia is poorly maintained and often runs late. The Expat website provides information about various modes of transportation in Jakarta as well as advice on safety issues when taking a public transportation in Indonesia.

Major Indonesian cities have good means of communication. Phones are readily available in most houses. Mobile phones are common throughout the archipelago. Internet access is reliable in major urban centres. Leading universities in Indonesia also provide free Wi-Fi access in the campus or library areas, as do cafes and restaurants.

This section of the Expat website lists information and practical advice on choosing pre-school/child-care in Indonesia.

This section of the Expat website lists the available internet options in Indonesia.

Tertiary studies in Indonesia

Introduction

Higher education in Indonesia is offered through Polytechnics, Academies for Vocational Education stream and through Universities, Institutes and Advanced Tertiary Schools (Sekolah Tinggi) for the Academic stream. Those aiming to be enrolled at higher education institutions must have a certificate of High School completion.

Fees and funding

The cost of Tertiary Studies in Indonesia varies greatly. Some of the state-owned universities enjoy full subsidy and the cost of education can be as low as 150 AUD per semester. The private universities normally charge more, around 1,000 AUD per semester. A once-off development fee is normally charged by private universities for first year students. The cost can range from 1,000 AUD to 10,000 AUD, depending on the university and the major that a student chooses. Foreign students are subject to a fee around four times higher than Indonesian citizens. Fees can be charged in USD rather than Indonesian Rupiah. Please refer to individual university’s website for more details on tuition fees.

Scholarships

The Indonesian government provides the Darmasiswa scholarship program. The Darmasiswa program aims to foster interest in Indonesia’s language, culture and arts among friendly nations. These scholarships are funded by the Indonesian government and several are offered annually to Australians wishing to undertake one year, non degree programs at a tertiary level in Indonesia.

Applications must be received by the Education and Cultural Section of the Indonesian Embassy by the end of November and are then sent to Jakarta for consideration. Successful applicants are notified mid year and travel to Indonesia to commence their studies in August/September. The Australian government, under the Endeavour Awards, offers opportunities for Australians to study in Indonesia through their student exchange and research programs.

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia website offers more information about this particular scholarship and the contact person in Canberra.

Studying in English

Many universities now have the capacity to deliver an international quality/standard of education in English. These universities are mostly found in the Jakarta and Surabaya regions. They often offer joint programs with Australian universities and all courses are conducted in English.

Notable universities that offer undergraduate programs in English include Bina Nusantara University, University of Indonesia, Pelita Harapan University in Jakarta, and University of Surabaya and Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya.

List of and links to universities in Indonesia

Indonesia has more than 2,000 institutions of higher learning. Most of them are privately run and are not of international quality.

There are several institutions that offer Bahasa Indonesia course for non-native speakers of the language in Indonesia. Some of them are based in universities and some are privately run. Please check their websites before deciding to enrol as the quality of teaching and the fees can vary. Various Australian universities also offer Bahasa Indonesia courses. Please refer to your university’s website to check the availability of such courses.

List of and links to VET or technical colleges in Indonesia

Living in Indonesia

Costs and Budgeting

While living costs in Indonesia are cheap by Australian standards, it is wise not to underestimate cash needs. Costs change according to fluctuations in-country and according to the exchange rate. A minimum amount would be A$100 per week.

Australian Consortium for In Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS)’s webpage about frequently asked questions for Australian students studying in Indonesia: http://www.acicis.murdoch.edu.au/hi/FAQ.html

Visa and entry

In order for a foreigner to study in Indonesia for more than a few weeks, a special study visa known as a VITAS (Temporary Stay Visa) is required. These visas are not automatically issued on request, but involve a time-consuming application process.

Please visit the nearest Indonesian consulate or embassy well in advance of your scheduled departure. It may take up to one year to process the appropriate visa application. The destination university in Indonesia should also be consulted in advance. The International Office of major universities in Indonesia may provide assistance to foreign students intending to study at the university. Once a foreign student arrives in Indonesia, their visa must be converted to a temporary resident’s permit (KITAS), another laborious process. All international students enter Indonesia on a VITAS. At no time can a tourist visa be converted to a study visa in Indonesia. Students entering Indonesia on a regular tourist visa will be required to leave the country and re-enter on the correct visa.

Expat offers detailed information on Indonesian immigration regulations based on expatriate perspectives. Most information is for expatriates working in Indonesia.

Indonesian Embassy’s website provides information about how to apply for Indonesian visa in Australia

The ACICIS website has information specifically for Australian students to obtain student visas in Indonesia.

The website of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights provide information about Indonesian regulations and laws, including immigration laws.

The website of the Directorate General of Immigration The Indonesian Embassy’s website for consular and visa services

Managing and accessing money – banking

The currency of Indonesia is Rupiah. One Australian dollar amounts to approximately 7,500 Indonesian Rupiah. Currency exchange can be done in major banks throughout the country and authorised money changers. Please ensure that the exchange of currency is done at an authorised institution to avoid any fraudulence and counterfeited money bill.

It is a good idea to use a combination of different funds because some are more appropriate for certain situations and reduce the risk of losing all of your money through a single source. These include: cash and travellers’ cheques, which are useful in remote locations and ATM and credit cards, which are useful in urban centres.

Opening an Indonesian bank account is useful if you are staying for a year. The process is straight forward and then funds can be transferred from home or with an ATM card. Indonesian interest rates are quite good, even in ordinary saving accounts.

Expat provides information about banking options in Indonesia

Accommodation

Options range from renting a house, renting a room in a 'home stay', or renting a room in a student hostel, or kos. Students find that each option has its "pros and cons", all of which are part of learning about life in another culture. The majority of students choose to live in a kos, where they are surrounded by Indonesian students and have constant opportunities for language practice and learning. On the down-side however, many kos have rules that can seem quite restrictive to non-Indonesians. Most female kos, for instance, have a 9pm curfew and do not allow male visitors beyond the front guest area.

Accommodation options vary considerably in price although all are relatively inexpensive by Australian standards. Kos accommodation is probably the cheapest option and renting a private home the most expensive, with home stay accommodation being the moderate option.

The ACICIS website offers a good guide to finding accommodation for students, particularly in Yogyakarta area.

Health care and insurance

It is a good idea to consult a medical doctor or someone at a Traveller’s Medical and Vaccination Centre as early as possible to discuss vaccination requirements. It is also wise to have a general medical and dental health check before departure.

If you require medication for any personal condition in Indonesia, make sure you take an adequate supply.

Major cities in Indonesia have good health care facilities, although only a few private hospitals are equivalent to Australian standards. It is advisable to have medical insurance—with specific coverage for medical repatriation in case of emergency.

Conditions regarding Working in country

International students cannot work while studying in Indonesia.

This section of Expat provides information about working in Indonesia for expatriates.

Site and legal information