Gunadarma University in IKN to Commence Operations in September 2026, with 1,500 Students
The Nusantara Capital Authority (IKN) received a visit from Gunadarma University at the IKN Authority City Hall Office on Thursday (16 April 2026). On that occasion, the Rector of Gunadarma University, Prof. Dr. ES Margianti, SE, MM, along with her team, stated that the university would begin conducting lectures in September 2026, signifying the presence of the first higher education institution operating in the Nusantara area.
“Yesterday afternoon, I personally inspected the first building, which has seven storeys. As soon as the permit is issued, and given that it currently appears safe, we will promptly commence lectures this semester, with the inaugural lecture scheduled for 28 September this year (2026),” said Prof. Margianti.
In this initial stage, Gunadarma University will offer eight priority study programmes, including Civil Engineering, Architecture, Informatics, Information Systems, Communication Studies, Psychology, Accounting, and Management. The presence of these undergraduate (S1) programmes is aligned with the development needs, including the digital ecosystem in the Nusantara area.
Currently, the construction of Nusantara Campus 1, located in the Core Government Centre Area (KIPP) of Nusantara, has entered the initial phase with one tower already standing, out of a planned total of three towers. Meanwhile, the construction of Nusantara Campus 2 is in Desa Giri Mukti, Penajam Paser Utara Regency.
In her presentation, Prof. Margianti also explained that the learning process had already begun earlier through a soft launch based on smart classrooms.
“Actually, we have already started the inaugural lecture in the form of a soft launch via smart classrooms. This activity took place in September last year in the form of distance learning connected to five locations, including up to France,” she elaborated.
In response, the Head of the IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, expressed his support for Gunadarma University’s initiative in taking the lead in strengthening the educational ecosystem in the Nusantara Capital.
“Welcome back to Nusantara, thank you for being present through teaching facilities in the Nusantara Capital going forward. We are ready to support Gunadarma University in providing education to the younger generation, especially the people of Nusantara. This is serious,” said Basuki.
With the available facilities, the initial capacity of the Gunadarma Campus in IKN is estimated to accommodate around 1,500 students. Additionally, Gunadarma University provides and accepts various scholarship schemes, both through internal campus policies and external sources, one of which is the Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) programme.
In the future, the presence of Gunadarma University in the Nusantara Capital will be part of the development of higher education services in the area. With eight initial study programmes, a capacity of around 1,500 students, and support for scholarship schemes, these lecture activities are expected to meet the talent needs in various development sectors.