LPDP Relaxes English Proficiency Requirements for Affirmation Scholarship Applicants
The Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) has adjusted the English language proficiency requirements for affirmation scholarship applicants in the second phase of its 2026 programme. The registration period for this phase will run from 30 June to 31 July 2026.
LPDP Scholarship Director Dwi Larso stated that affirmation applicants are now required to submit an English proficiency certificate with a minimum score of 500, issued by a domestic higher education institution. Prospective applicants no longer need to attach TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or Duolingo certificates.
‘There are 35 universities that can issue this certificate,’ he said at the Ministry of Finance in Central Jakarta on Monday, 29 June 2026.
Another provision stipulates that if a prospective applicant already holds an Unconditional Letter of Acceptance (LoA) matching their chosen study programme and LPDP target university, they are not required to possess an English proficiency certificate. However, these two provisions do not apply to Specialist Doctor Scholarships, Special Partnership Scholarships, Partnership Scholarships, or Ministry/Institution Cooperation programmes.
Dwi explained that the scheme change was prompted by the number of applicants and successful awardees in the first phase of 2026, where 78,000 people registered but only around 2,700 were accepted. ‘We do not want many people to have to pay but then not receive the scholarship,’ he said.
He added that LPDP established the 35 universities as issuers of English proficiency certificates after conducting an accuracy assessment, confirming that these institutions are ready to provide valid scores.
The adjustments to the provisions for Phase 2 of the 2026 LPDP Scholarship include:
- Relaxation of English language requirements
- For affirmation criteria applicants:
Domestic study destinations: English proficiency certificates remain not required.
Overseas study destinations:
Those who already have an Unconditional LoA are not required to submit a language certificate.
Those who do not yet have an Unconditional LoA have the additional option of submitting an English proficiency certificate from a domestic university language centre.
For applicants from the Papua and West Papua affirmation group, the minimum GPA and English proficiency requirements remain waived for both domestic and overseas study destinations.
- For non-affirmation criteria applicants (general/CPNS/PNS/TNI/POLRI):
Those who already have an Unconditional LoA are not required to submit a language certificate.
Those who do not yet have an Unconditional LoA:
Domestic study destinations: additional option of an English proficiency certificate from a domestic university language centre and TOEP.
Overseas study destinations: additional option of the Duolingo English proficiency certificate.
- For National Research and Innovation Talent scholarship applicants via the Doctor by Research pathway:
Those who already have an Unconditional LoA are not required to submit a language certificate.
Those who do not yet have an Unconditional LoA:
Additional option of an English proficiency certificate from a domestic university language centre.
Lower minimum English score compared to Phase 1.