SNBT UGM 2026: 76,139 Applicants Compete for 2,857 Seats as Vocational School Emerges as Most Popular Choice

University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) recorded 76,139 applicants for its 2026 National Selection Based on Test (SNBT) pathway, reinforcing its status as one of Indonesia’s most sought-after universities. Wening Udasmoro, UGM’s Vice-Rector for Education and Learning, stated that the high applicant numbers reflect public confidence in the university’s academic quality and inclusivity. ‘Student interest in continuing studies at UGM remains very high. This motivates us to maintain educational quality and inclusive access,’ Wening said at UGM Campus on Monday, 25 May 2026. For the 2026/2027 academic year, UGM has a total intake capacity of 9,403 new students for regular programmes, with only 2,857 seats allocated for the SNBT pathway. Surprisingly, the Vocational School emerged as the most popular faculty with 21,730 applicants, followed by the Faculty of Engineering with 10,702 and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) with 5,463. ‘The data shows a shift in student preferences towards vocational education,’ Wening added. Applicants who do not secure a place through SNBT can still apply via UGM’s Independent Selection pathway, which accounts for 40% of total intake capacity, or approximately 3,729 seats, to ensure transparent and accountable access for Indonesia’s best talents from all backgrounds. UPI analyst Cecep Darmawan proposed criminal sanctions and a Rp1 billion fine for SNBT cheating perpetrators to deter syndicates. Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) in Surakarta has officially admitted 3,624 new students through the 2026 SNBT pathway. According to Darmawan, SNBT fraud stems from social pressures, extreme competition culture, and disparities in education quality. SNPMB Committee Chairman Eduart Wolok noted around 186,000 slots in university independent selection pathways remain available for applicants. Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Brian Yuliarto affirmed zero tolerance for SNBT 2026 cheating, with photo database systems deployed to track syndicates.