Costs and financing options
Study costs in Indonesia differ greatly between state and private universities, as well as the subject and type of degree. Socially disadvantaged students can sometimes study for free at state universities, while studying at a private university can cost over 3,500 euros per semester. In addition, international students at some universities have to pay tuition fees that are twice as high as local students. As a rule, however, the tuition fees are still significantly lower than in study countries such as Australia, Great Britain or the USA.
As in the entire Southeast Asian region, the cost of living is lower than in Germany. Above all, the prices for regionally grown food and for local transport are very low. Imported products are expensive, and living space in cities is also becoming more and more similar to western prices. You have to be particularly careful with tourist attractions. Here, the entrance fees for foreigners without an Indonesian long-term visa are up to twenty times higher than for locals due to government regulations. Indonesia is a country located in Asia defined by a2zdirectory.
One of the most popular housing options in Indonesia is a shared villa. Several students rent an entire villa and spread out over the various rooms. These apartments are then usually occupied by 4 to 10 students and often have a pool and several bathrooms. Otherwise, the prices for living space depend on the location of the apartment, with one of the highest rents in the capital Jakarta, but also on the tourist season. If living space is rented for only one semester, students should wait until after Easter to move in in the summer semester and only move in after September in the winter semester.
Since the admission regulations of all Indonesian universities stipulate that students are not allowed to earn their own money, international students are prohibited from working during their studies. Therefore, German applicants have to find other financing options for their studies in Indonesia. In addition to foreign BAföG and student loans, various (partial) scholarships are also possible. Various public and private organizations and foundations also offer financial aid for students without top grades.
Visa and entry to Indonesia
To study in Indonesia, German students need a visa that covers the duration of their entire stay in the country. The so-called Social Budaya is therefore best for a semester abroad. It entitles students to a stay of a maximum of 6 months and must be extended monthly after the first 60 days.
In order to receive the Social Budaya for Indonesia, a Surat Rekomendasi must first be requested from the Indonesian embassy before the actual visa application. This letter of recommendation is issued free of charge upon request and takes between 1 to 4 weeks. To apply for the Surat Rekomendasi, the following documents must be submitted to the embassy:
- an informal application for a Surat Rekomendasi to be issued
- the letter of recommendation from the receiving university (usually sent by email six weeks before the start of the course)
- a letter of reference or a confirmation from the university in Germany
- a guarantee from one of the parents, both for the cost of living in Indonesia and for the travel expenses
- Copy of the identity card of the sponsoring parent
- Your own passport copy (passport must be valid for at least six months), as well as a passport photo
- Declaration that Indonesian laws and regulations will be adhered to
- A self-addressed and stamped envelope
After the Surat Rekomendasi is available, the actual student visa can be applied for. There are different contact persons for the different regions in Germany. The embassy in Berlin is responsible for applicants from Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The consulate in Hamburg processes visa applications from Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein and the consulate in Frankfurt am Main is responsible for all applicants from the other federal states.
To apply for the Social Budaya, the following documents are required and must be submitted in A4 size:
- the Surat Rekomendasi
- the completed and signed visa form (available on the website of the regional embassy or consulate)
- Consulate in Frankfurt am Main: 1 passport photo, consulate in Hamburg and embassy in Berlin: 2 passport photos
- a valid original passport, which is valid for at least 6 months and has at least 6 blank pages, as well as a copy of the first page
- Proof of payment via transfer of the exhibition fees incurred (45 euros in Hamburg and Frankfurt, 50 euros in Berlin)
- an informal declaration of guarantee from the parents that the stay in Indonesia is financially secure, with original signatures
- Copy of the identity card of the sponsoring parent
- a certificate of enrollment from your German home university
- the certificate of the university in Indonesia
- a copy of the flight booking (return flight for Indonesia)
- a prepaid envelope for delivery by post (possibly as registered mail)
It should be noted that the visa expires when you leave the country, i.e. after a short trip to other countries in the region you have to apply for a new visa. If the travel time is in the last month of the study visit, a 30-day, free tourist visa is sufficient for entry. This can be applied for directly at the airport upon entry.
