IISMA Program Tips: How Indonesian Undergraduates Can Secure a Semester Abroad

What IISMA Is

The Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) is a one-semester study abroad program funded by Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). It launched on May 11, 2021 under the Kampus Merdeka framework. The goal is to send qualified Indonesian undergraduates to top-ranked partner universities abroad for one semester of full coursework.

IISMA is not a postgraduate fellowship and is not open to non-Indonesian nationals. It targets students mid-way through their degree (semester 4 or 6), not final-year or incoming students. Use the ASEAN ACTS Credit Estimator to estimate your ACTS credit transfer and the Indonesia SNBT UTBK Predictor for national university entry requirements.

Since 2021, IISMA has grown from 1,000 awardees in its first year to 2,277 awardees in 2024, spread across 161 host universities in 30 countries (source: Kemendiktisaintek ).

2025 Program Status: What Changed

More information: British Council Opportunities Insight, February 2025

Check your university's international office for the latest IISMA 2025 guidance directly.

Who Can Apply

Citizenship and Residency

• Indonesian citizen (WNI), currently residing in Indonesia
• No dual citizenship permitted

Academic Level and Semester

Your enrollment must be active and verified in Indonesia's national higher education database (PDDIKTI).

GPA

Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, based on your most recent official transcript.

Age

Maximum 23 years old as of July 1 of the program year (24 in some 2024 guidelines — check the official portal for the applicable cycle).

English Proficiency

If a host university requires a higher score or accepts only specific tests, the host university's requirements apply.

Other Restrictions

• Not enrolled in any other Kampus Merdeka flagship program simultaneously
• Not previously participated in more than one Kampus Merdeka program
• Not receiving a living allowance from Kemendikbudristek or LPDP during the IISMA period
• No prior violations of Indonesian law, rules, or university regulations

What the Scholarship Covers

IISMA runs three funding tracks.

Regular Track (Fully Funded)

Open to all eligible Indonesian students. Covers:

• Registration and tuition fees (at cost, paid to host university)
• Round-trip economy airfare
• Visa fees
• Settlement and living allowance (lump sum, varies by host country)
• Health insurance
• Emergency fund

Affirmation Track (Fully Funded)

Same benefits as the regular track. Reserved for:

• KIP Kuliah (Indonesia Smart Card for Education) recipients
• Bidikmisi scholarship holders
• Students from 3T regions (frontier, outermost, underdeveloped areas per Presidential Regulation No. 63/2020)

247 students were selected through the affirmation track in 2024.

Co-Funding Track (Partially Funded)

The government covers tuition, international airfare, and emergency funds only. Students pay for their own living allowance, dormitory, health insurance, visa, and domestic travel. One 2024 co-funding awardee at Hanyang University received ₩10,860,000 total — including ₩4,000,000 for tuition and ₩1,000,000+ for flights — while bearing all accommodation and daily living costs personally (Global Scholarships, Dhiya Iftikha profile ).

The co-funding quota tripled in 2024 compared to 2023's 250 slots.

Required Documents

Based on IISMA 2024 guidelines published by Universitas Gadjah Mada's Office of International Affairs (OIA UGM ):

• Academic transcript in English (official, stamped)
• Nomination letter from Head of Study Program or Department
• Recommendation letter signed and stamped by Vice Rector for Academic Affairs
• Statement letter from parents (signed and stamped)
• Valid English proficiency certificate (IELTS/TOEFL iBT/Duolingo/TOEIC)
• Scanned color copy of Indonesian National ID (KTP)
• Scanned passport (valid for the mobility period)
• Birth certificate copy
• KIP-K or Bidikmisi recipient statement (affirmation track only)
• Essay responses (submitted through the IISMA portal)

Your university's international office submits the nomination; you cannot apply directly to IISMA without an institutional nomination.

Application Timeline

The 2024 cycle followed this schedule:

The 2023 cycle opened February 8 and closed March 1. Timelines shift each year. Watch the official IISMA portal and your university's international office announcements starting in December–January.

Selection Process

IISMA uses a four-stage selection process:

1. Document screening — your uploaded application materials are reviewed for completeness and eligibility
2. Kebhinekaan (Diversity Insight) test — an online test assessing your understanding of Indonesian national identity, Pancasila values, and diversity awareness
3. Interview — conducted online; interviewers include university faculty and sometimes staff from host institutions
4. Final selection and announcement

The interview covers: self-introduction, academic and non-academic achievements, reasons for choosing the specific program and country, community engagement plans abroad, responses to hypothetical challenges (theft, family emergency, racism, academic difficulties), and post-program career goals.

How to Strengthen Your Application

GPA Is Necessary but Not Sufficient

The minimum is 3.0, but competitive applicants typically hold a 3.5 or above. One 2024 awardee at Hanyang University had a 3.75 GPA and a Duolingo score of 130, well above the 100 minimum. Treat the minimum thresholds as the floor, not the target.

Write Essays That Show Specific Impact

The IISMA portal asks for multiple essay responses. Each essay should follow a clear structure:

• Open with a concrete experience, not a general statement about wanting to study abroad
• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for achievements
• State measurable outcomes — use numbers, roles, and named organizations
• Connect explicitly to the host university and country, not just the program in general
• Describe post-program contributions — what you will bring back to Indonesia

One awardee who secured a IISMA interview in 2026 wrote essays of approximately 348-350 words each, covering achievements, community engagement plans at the host university, challenge navigation, and health and wellness — all with named examples and specific outcomes (Medium, Yuniar Puspaningrum, March 2026 ).

The selection committee does not look for the student with the most awards. It selects students who demonstrate a clear plan for growth, genuine connection to the host institution, and a credible plan to contribute to Indonesia's development after returning.

University and Program Selection Strategy

Research your target host universities before applying. IISMA has 140 partner institutions across 30+ countries. Applying to a university well-matched to your field, GPA level, and language ability signals genuine intent. Students who name specific courses, research labs, or student organizations at their target institution write more convincing essays.

Prepare for the Kebhinekaan Test Early

This test is not about English or academic ability. It assesses knowledge of Indonesian national identity, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, and Pancasila. Review the pillars of Pancasila, Indonesian constitutional history, and cultural diversity frameworks. It is online and eliminates candidates before the interview stage.

Treat the Interview as Confirmation, Not an Audition

One awardee at Hanyang University described the interview as "an affirmation, not an interrogation." Interviewers have already read your essays. Re-read everything you submitted before your interview date. Express awareness of your weaknesses and propose specific solutions. Politeness and intellectual honesty carry weight.

Plan for Hidden Costs Even on Fully Funded Tracks

Even the regular and affirmation tracks require students to budget for pre-departure expenses: passport fees, medical checks, visa application supporting documents, and domestic travel to airports or consulates. One awardee described needing an emergency loan from a faculty member just to cover visa preparation costs before departure. Start saving before the application opens. Related: studying in Indonesia and IELTS and PTE for Indonesian students.

Partner Countries and Universities

IISMA's 2024 partner networks span 30 countries across: Browse all universities in Indonesia.

• Asia-Pacific: South Korea, Australia, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand
• Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, and others
• Americas: United States, Canada
• Other regions: Additional European, Asian, and global partner institutions

Host universities must be top-ranked globally or regionally. The official host universities list is published at iisma.kemdikbud.go.id/info/host-universities-list/ . As of 2024, 161 host universities are active across the 30-country network.

Program Growth Snapshot

As of 2023, total cumulative IISMA awardees reached 6,522 students across undergraduate and diploma programs.

Sources

• IISMA Official Portal — iisma.kemdikbud.go.id
• Kemendiktisaintek — 2024 Awardees Exceed 2,000 Students
• OIA UGM — IISMA 2024 Application Guidelines (Extended Deadline)
• UGM — IISMA Student Quota Soars as Enthusiasm Takes Flight
• FEB UGM — Tips for a Successful IISMA Application from Hanyang University Awardee
• Global Scholarships — How an Indonesian Student Secured IISMA at Hanyang University
• British Council Opportunities Insight — Government of Indonesia Scholarship Cut (February 2025)
• IDP Indonesia — IISMA 2024 Preparation and Application Guide
• Unair.ac.id — Get to Know IISMA Registration Requirements
• Medium — Yuniar Puspaningrum — The Essay That Helped Me Secure an IISMA Interview (March 2026)
• Medium — Terra Dei Alibazah — Meritocracy, the Middle Class, and Being Bold to Go Abroad: An IISMA Retrospective