Three UGM Study Programmes Enter the World Top 100
Rektor Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D., said the university has 28 fields of study listed in QS World University Rankings by Subject (QS WUR). Of these, three social sciences and humanities subjects are in the world’s top 100. “Theology ranks in the top 45 globally, a position that is highly strategic,” she said during the Graduation Ceremony for the Undergraduate and Applied Bachelor’s degree programs, Period III of 2026, at Grha Sabha Pramana on Wednesday, 20 May. In addition, the fields of Anthropology and Development Studies also secured places in the global top 100.
She noted that UGM’s quality of scholarship is increasingly recognised internationally and demonstrates that academic development is directed and sustainable. “Higher education has a responsibility to prepare human resources who are adaptable in the face of global change. The development of technology and the dynamics of society require cross-sector collaboration as well as strengthening students’ character.” UGM continues to promote the development of competencies, networking, and the strengthening of an inclusive education paradigm so that graduates can confront increasingly complex social realities.
She added that the establishment of new study programs should align with needs—from industry, community life, sustainability, and the development of knowledge itself. Academic development at UGM is carried out comprehensively, including through strengthening the social sciences and humanities that have gained global recognition. “Education acts as a space of liberation that brings justice and progress to society, because human needs are not always measured by industrial demands alone, but also by the needs of life itself,” she said.
She emphasised the importance of producing graduates who have an impact on society. “A academic degree does not stop at administrative achievements or the successful transition into employment.”
Learning experiences on campus are expected to build integrity, critical thinking, and the courage to face future challenges. Through collaborative learning experiences, research, KKN-PPM (community service programme), and student activities, character is formed for UGM students.
“Becoming an UGM graduate is not merely about collecting a diploma, but about becoming a person with superior moral character who can contribute to the life of society,” she said.
In the same event, Anies Baswedan, a member of the Expert Council of the Central Board of KAGAMA, urged graduates to view life after graduation with realism and hope. They were reminded that today’s job market is not easy and the work landscape is increasingly competitive. Challenges are not to be feared but spaces for learning that build resilience.
A total of 1,762 graduates took part in the proceedings: 1,644 with bachelor degrees and 118 with diploma qualifications, including five foreign graduates. The average duration of study for bachelor graduates was 3 years 11 months, with an average GPA of 3.6. Seventy-two percent of graduates received commendation and three graduates posted a perfect GPA of 4.00.
According to the Rector, an academic degree does not end with an administrative achievement or securing employment. The aspiration to become a developed and prosperous country is not only determined by economic and technological development, but also by the existence of a just and integrity-based legal system.