Introduction
The Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship is a financial aid program by the Government of Indonesia for international students from developing countries to pursue undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees at selected Indonesian universities.
Initiated in 1992 following the 10th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Conference, the program was initially limited to NAM member countries. In 2002, it was expanded globally and officially renamed the KNB Scholarship. Since then, it has welcomed students from Asia, the Pacific, Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe to strengthen people-to-people connections and develop future global leaders.
The scholarship offers access to quality higher education at 47 partner universities across Indonesia, including Universitas Islam Bandung (UNISBA), while providing rich academic and cross-cultural experiences. Since 2006, the KNB Scholarship has supported 2,299 students from 107 countries. In 2026, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, in collaboration with UNISBA and other host universities, will continue the implementation of the KNB Scholarship program.
Vision and Mission
- To contribute to the human resource development in the developing countries.
- To promote deeper cultural understanding and to strengthen the relationship between developing countries.
- To improve Indonesian higher education institutions’ research capacity as a part of the national strategies in increasing the number of world class universities in Indonesia.
Procedures
- Download the KNB Scholarship Offering Letter from the KNB Scholarship website:http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id
- Contact the Indonesian Embassy and submit the following documents to obtain a Recommendation Letter from the Indonesian Embassy:
- KNB Scholarship Offering Letter
- Official Passport
- Curriculum Vitae
- English Proficiency Test (for applicants from non-English-speaking countries)
- Recommendation Letter from the Employer/Immediate Supervisor
- Academic Recommendation Letter from Previous Schools
- Academic Certificate and Academic Transcript from previous degree
- Medical Report
- Recommendation Letter from the potential research supervisor at one of the KNB partner universities (for doctoral applicants only)
- Statement of Purpose for studies in Indonesia (for doctoral applicants only)
- Submit the following documents:
- KNB Scholarship Offering Letter
- Official Passport
- English Proficiency Test (for applicants from non-English-speaking countries)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Medical Report
- Recommendation Letter from the Indonesian Embassy
- Recommendation Letter from the Employer/Immediate Supervisor
- Academic Recommendation Letter from Previous Schools
- Academic Certificate and Academic Transcript from previous degree
- Complete the online application process.
- Complete all stages of the selection process (administrative and academic selection), including online interviews and psychological tests conducted by selected universities for eligible candidates.
- Selection results will be published online through the KNB Scholarship website and officially announced via the Indonesian Publication Network.
KNB Scholarship 2026 Guideline
Study Programmes offered at Unisba
- Law Studies
- Industrial Engineering
- Psychology
- Doctor of Communication Science
more information : tinyurl.com/UnisbaprofileforKNB
For other study programs, you can check the Unisba Scholarship for the International Student
Program Structure
- Indonesian Language Training Program (BIPA Program)
Maximum 1 (one) academic year Indonesian Language (Bahasa) course is a compulsory for all KNB students as all courses required to complete the academic program (lecture, thesis, or dissertation) will be conducted in Bahasa. BIPA Program will be provided by each university.
- Preparatory Program
Preparatory program prior to the academic program will be arranged in accordance with the university’s policy and program planning.
- Academic Program
The Maximum length of scholarship disbursement;
- 8 (eight) semesters for Doctorate Degree Program. There are two schemes of Doctorate degree offered under the scholarship; Doctorate Program by Research, and Doctorate Program by a Combination of Coursework and Research;
- 4 (four) semesters for Master Degree Program;
- 8 (eight) semesters for Bachelor Degree Program.
All research in academic program will be held in Indonesia. In order to successfully complete the program, it is important for all KNB awardees to consistently produce a good academic performance by developing a good attitude, stay focus, as well as being punctual, and discipline.
Scholarship Coverage and Duration
1.Settlement Allowance will be given to new students upon their arrival in Indonesia;
2.Tuition Fee in BIPA Program and Academic Program(regular class, not international class) as long as duration of scholarship;
3.During BIPA and Academic Program, the KNB students will receive living allowance monthly upon their arrival in Indonesia as long as KNB students living in Indonesia during their duration scholarship;
4.During BIPA and Academic Program, the KNB students will receive research and book allowance monthly upon their arrival in Indonesia during their duration scholarship
5.Health insurance covers treatment of illnesses (outpatient and inpatient care) and accidents. Coverage treatment follows the policy of the health insurance provider. Not for aesthetic treatments;
6.Funding for Publishing Scientific Article, once during scholarship period for master and doctoral degree;
7.Provide economy class airline ticket for arrival from the international airport of the student’s home countries to Indonesia, including local transport to the host university. And provide economy class airline ticket for returning to student’s home countries including local transport from host university to international airport Indonesia after the students after the graduation certificate was issued by the university.
8.The duration of scholarship is exclusively and correlated to the duration of the academic program as indicated below:
9.Please be advised that the KNB Scholarship is calculated to support the KNB Student costs only. There is no provision for dependents or family. KNB Students are not allowed to bring dependents or family to Indonesia. The KNB Scholarship provides no financial or pastoral support for dependants or family and will not endorse the visa application of, nor provide travel for dependants.
Timeline
