Government Considers Ongoing KIP Kuliah Scheme

Director of Institutions at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Muhammad Najib, stated that the ministry will consider an ongoing scheme for the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah (KIP Kuliah) or during the middle of studies. Previously, the KIP-K scholarship could only be accessed by students at the beginning of university. Meanwhile, during the mid-study period, many students experience economic difficulties, making it hard to pay single tuition fees (UKT). Najib said the ministry will consider this by discussing the proposal with the House of Representatives (DPR). “We must discuss it with the DPR, whether it is possible for the ongoing scheme to also be funded by KIP Kuliah,” he said when met at the Ministry’s office in South Jakarta on Monday, 13 April 2026. Najib said the ongoing KIP-K scheme should be implemented. “It should be possible. We will try to explore it further,” he stated. Previously, various public and private universities have complained about stalled UKT payments from students. The cause is mostly new economic difficulties experienced by students in the middle of their studies. For example, at Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad). The Unpad Student Executive Body recorded more than 100 reports from students regarding difficulties in paying UKT. Head of the Advocacy and Student Welfare Department of Unpad BEM, Kezya Diynar, said most students struggling to pay UKT are due to changes in their family economic conditions. There are parents who have lost jobs, and some with reduced incomes. Unpad’s Director of Student Affairs, Inu Isnaeni Sidiq, also confirmed the reasons for many students defaulting on UKT. Generally, he said, defaulting students come from families where parents work in the formal sector. “Their incomes are unstable. We have seen this phenomenon since 2020 during COVID,” he said on Sunday, 12 April 2026. A similar situation is experienced at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). UKT arrears occur repeatedly every semester. ITB Student President Farrel Faiz Firmansyah said some students even have to rely on alumni assistance to settle tuition fees. The situation at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is not much different. UGM Vice Rector Arie Sujito said the deteriorating national economy also affects parents’ ability to pay for education. The campus must seek alternative funding through partnerships with partners and alumni to cover the shortfall.