Missed SNBT? 186,000 Places Available in Independent Admission Route

Eduart Wolok, Chairman of the SNPMB Committee, stated that approximately 186,000 spots in the independent admission route for state universities remain available for prospective students. “For SNBT, there were 871,000 participants with 256,000 accepted. Currently, around 186,000 spots are still open for our students,” he said during a press conference on SNBT results and KIP Kuliah announcements at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemdikbud-Ristek) on Monday, 25 May.

Independent admission is specific to each university and not conducted nationally. Interested candidates must apply directly to their chosen institution. For those who passed SNBT, Eduart urged prompt verification and re-registration as per the university’s requirements. “Those who did not pass but still wish to secure a place can apply through the independent admission route at their desired universities,” he added.

This year’s SNBT quota increase was not new capacity but a reallocation of unused SNBP slots. Eduart explained that for SNBP’s Diploma 3 level, approximately 4,000 seats out of the initial 15,758 remained unfilled, which were transferred to SNBT, raising its quota from 261,518 to 286,864. “This is not an expansion of capacity but optimisation of existing quotas,” he stated.

Of the 286,864 SNBT seats, 256,369 candidates were accepted, representing 89.37% of capacity. Around 10% of unfilled seats will be redirected to independent admission. Applicant interest showed positive trends, with 871,496 participants in UTBK-SNBT 2026, up from 785,058 in 2024. “Attendance rates improved to 97.13%, reflecting higher participant commitment,” he said.

While bachelor’s degrees remain the top choice, interest in vocational programs like Diploma 3 and Applied Bachelor’s (D4) has risen, particularly as third preferences, indicating better student understanding of career prospects. However, the SNBT pass rate remains at 29.42% of total applicants. Eduart stressed that university capacity is aligned with infrastructure, facilities, and human resources. “This selection isn’t about accepting as many students as possible but ensuring education quality is maintained,” he said.

SNPMB reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, implementing anti-cheating measures such as randomised exam locations and AI-based verification. Those found guilty of serious cheating will be blacklisted across all university admission routes. “For candidates who did not pass, we remind them that independent admission and private universities are still options. SNBT is not the only path to higher education,” he concluded.

Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) in Surakarta officially accepted 3,624 new students through the 2026 SNBT route. Meanwhile, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) admitted 2,857 candidates, with its Vocational School being the most popular faculty. Dr. Machya Astuti Dewi, M.Si, noted that the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering was the most competitive program at 3.42% acceptance rate. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology confirmed KIP Kuliah scholarships are available for all admission routes, including independent admission.