Eight CT ARSA Foundation Students Admitted to ITB in 2026, an Increase on Last Year
Eight students from SMA Unggulan CT ARSA Foundation have been accepted as new undergraduate students at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) for the 2026/2027 academic year. This number has increased compared to last year.
The eight students are part of 5,468 new undergraduate students officially inaugurated during the ITB New Student Admission Open Session at Sasana Budaya Ganesha (Sabuga), Bandung, on Wednesday (5/8/2026). The eight students add to the list of SMA Unggulan CT ARSA graduates who have successfully gained entry into Indonesia’s top universities.
The school, located in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, and Sukoharjo, Central Java, provides free education to high-achieving students from underprivileged families until graduation.
To date, thousands of SMA Unggulan CT ARSA graduates have continued their education at various leading state universities in Indonesia, including ITB, the University of Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural University, Padjadjaran University, and other prominent campuses.
ITB Rector Tatacipta Dirgantara appreciated the achievements of the SMA Unggulan CT ARSA students. He said the number of CT ARSA students accepted at ITB continues to show an increase compared to the previous year.
“There are eight accepted this year; last year there were still fewer. So the number is growing,” said Tatacipta after the ITB New Student Admission Open Session.
He assessed that the success is inseparable from the consistency of CT ARSA Foundation in nurturing students until they are able to compete at the national level. He added that ITB has previously accepted CT ARSA graduates who completed their studies with commendable achievements.
“Last April, there was also an alumnus from CT ARSA Foundation who finished in 3.5 years with outstanding results. I think that is a very gratifying fact. Of course, the presence of philanthropists in Indonesia is very much needed; the more, the better,” he said.
He noted that the level of competition to enter ITB this year was very high. Of all applicants, only a small fraction ultimately secured a place as a new student.
“ITB’s acceptance rate is extremely tight, less than four per cent of those who apply. So perhaps one seat is contested by more than 25 people,” he revealed.
On that occasion, Tatacipta also reminded all new students that being accepted into ITB is not the finish line. According to him, passing the ITB selection is only the first step in a long journey of learning and character development.
“That is why I told the new students that this is only the first step. After this, there are still many more steps, and ultimately we want Indonesia to move up a class,” he said.