Scholarships Open Access to Higher Education, Promoting Inclusivity in Indonesia

Access to higher education remains a major challenge in Indonesia. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) via the 2025 National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas) reveals that the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for higher education stands at just 32.89% for the 19–23 age group. This means that out of every 100 young people of university age, only around 33 have the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Disparities in access are also evident between urban and rural areas. The GER in urban areas is recorded at 38.58%, while in rural areas it only reaches 23.14%. This situation demonstrates the limited opportunities for the younger generation in remote regions to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

In response to these challenges, Amartha.org, a social organisation under Amartha Financial, has reopened registrations for the Amartha Cendekia Scholarship. This programme is an educational support initiative for high school or equivalent students to create more inclusive access to education.

This year, Amartha targets 250 students from various regions across Indonesia. The programme not only provides financial support but also personal development training to prepare students for the transition to higher education.

Scholarship recipients will receive educational funding assistance worth Rp3 million, with an additional Rp5 million for those successfully admitted to universities. Beyond material aid, Amartha also provides a supportive ecosystem comprising:

“In the 50,000 villages we serve, many talented young people are hindered by limited access. We want to encourage the emergence of the ‘first generation’ in their families to achieve a bachelor’s degree,” said Harumi Supit, Vice President of Public Relations at Amartha. She added that to date, 86% of Amartha scholarship recipients have successfully progressed to higher education, far surpassing the national average.

This scholarship is open to year 11 high school/SMK or equivalent students throughout Indonesia who demonstrate high learning enthusiasm and strong commitment.

Main Requirements:

Registration Procedure: