Universitas Gadjah Mada
A national university founded in 1949 in Yogyakarta, with 31 English-taught International Undergraduate Programs.
- Students
- 50,090
- Tuition
- IDR 30.2M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1949
- QS World Ranking
- #206
- 2027 edition
About UGM
Universitas Gadjah Mada was officially established on 19 December 1949 as a national university, and it describes itself as one of the oldest universities in Indonesia. It started with six faculties; today it has 18 faculties, a Postgraduate School and a Vocational School, with about 278 study programmes and roughly 50,000 students, mostly on the Bulaksumur campus in Yogyakarta.
Most Indonesian students enter through the national SNBP and SNBT selections or UGM's own entrance tests, and teaching in regular classes is in Bahasa Indonesia. For applicants who want to study in English, UGM runs the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) in 31 study programmes, from Medicine, Dentistry and Law to Computer Science, International Relations, Economics and several engineering degrees. IUP admission is separate from the national selections and builds in international exposure such as exchanges, internships and double degrees with partner universities.
Foreign nationals can join IUP classes or, in some programmes, regular classes taught in Indonesian. UGM suits students who want a large, comprehensive public university in one of Indonesia's most liveable student cities, with fees well below those of Western universities.
Mengakar Kuat, Menjulang Tinggi
“Locally Rooted, Globally Respected” — university motto
Why students choose UGM
31 International Undergraduate Program degrees taught in English, including Medicine, Law, Computer Science and International Relations.
Undergraduate tuition for foreign students ranges from IDR 15.1 million to 67 million per semester depending on the programme (Rector's Decree 625/2025).
Compulsory student community service (KKN-PPM) sends students to live and work in villages across Indonesia.
Double degree options with partners such as Erasmus University Rotterdam, the University of Groningen and the University of Melbourne in economics and business.
Admissions
August 2027 intake (IUP dates shown are from the 2026 cycle)
Selectivity
UGM does not publish an overall acceptance rate. For the International Undergraduate Program it publishes applicant-to-place ratios by programme: for 2026, Medicine 1:18, Psychology 1:7, International Relations 1:6, Dentistry 1:6, Economics and Management 1:5, Law 1:3, Computer Science 1:2, while several sciences were about 1:1.
Typical entry requirements
| Indonesian SMA/SMK and equivalents (IUP) | Selection by UGM's IUP tests (GMST and English test), separate from SNBP/SNBT and the UM UGM entrance tests |
|---|---|
| Foreign nationals | Online application on the UGM international admissions portal; administrative and faculty review, then a Letter of Offer |
| English language | IUP applicants take UGM's academic English proficiency test (AcEPT) as part of selection. Programme-specific English score requirements are set on each IUP's own website. |
Deadlines
- IUP Intake 1, 2026 (reference) Non-binding Passed19 February 2026
Applications 20 January to 19 February 2026; offline tests 5-7 March; results 10 March 2026.
- IUP Intake 2, 2026 (reference) Non-binding Passed28 April 2026
Applications 1-28 April 2026; online tests 7-9 May; results 13 May 2026.
- IUP Intake 3, 2026 (reference) Non-binding Passed2 June 2026
Applications 19 May to 2 June 2026; offline tests 11-13 June; results 18 June 2026.
These are the 2026/2027 IUP intake dates for Indonesian citizens; dates for the 2027/2028 intake had not been published on the pages checked. Undergraduate programmes start each August. Foreign applicants should check the international admissions timeline page for their intake.
How to apply
Indonesian citizens apply for IUP on the UGM admissions site in one of three intakes and sit the GMST and English test, uploading a statement of document authenticity and a letter of financial support. Foreign applicants create an account on admissions.ugm.ac.id/enrollment, complete the form and upload documents; if selected they receive a Letter of Offer, pay the fees, get a Letter of Acceptance, and UGM's Office of International Affairs arranges the study visa.
What admissions looks for
- Performance in the Gadjah Mada Scholastic Test (GMST).
- Academic English, assessed through UGM's English proficiency test.
- For foreign applicants, complete documents that pass administrative and faculty review.
- Proof that fees can be covered: IUP applicants upload a letter of financial support.
Tips for applying to UGM
- 1 Check the published IUP selectivity ratios: Medicine (1:18 in 2026) is far more competitive than programmes such as Chemistry or Biology (about 1:1).
- 2 IUP has three intakes a year; applying in the first intake gives you the later ones as fallbacks.
- 3 Indonesian applicants who register in an IUP cannot also be accepted to a regular programme through UGM's Seleksi Mandiri, so choose deliberately.
- 4 Budget for the one-time Institutional Development Fee on top of semester tuition: for foreign IUP students it ranges from nothing in engineering to IDR 134.96 million in Dentistry.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in IDR
Indonesian students admitted through SNBP and SNBT pay an income-based single tuition fee (UKT), which is zero for the lowest income groups. UGM's admissions site lists scholarships for international students, and all fees must be paid in Indonesian rupiah.
- IDR 35,145,000 (Indonesian SNBP/SNBT entrants pay UKT by income group)
- Medicine full cost per semester (BKT), 2026/2027
- IDR 0 per semester
- Lowest UKT groups
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (odd semester from August, even semester from February)
Medicine (IUP)
The most competitive IUP programme, with about 18 applicants per place in 2026.
Computer Science (IUP)
ASIIN-accredited, with a focus on AI, software, networks and security, plus double-degree and five-year bachelor's-master's fast-track options.
International Relations (IUP)
About 6 applicants per place in 2026; alumni include former foreign minister Retno Marsudi.
Economics, Management and Accounting (IUP)
Double degree tracks with partners including Erasmus University Rotterdam, Groningen and Melbourne.
Psychology (IUP)
About 7 applicants per place in 2026, one of the most sought-after IUP programmes.
Research
- UGM reports 23 research centres and 2,635 registered intellectual property items.
- It runs KKN-PPM, a large student community service and empowerment programme in villages across Indonesia.
- UGM lists 125 joint degree arrangements with partner institutions.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Forestry
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Postgraduate School
- Vocational College
Student life
UGM's main campus at Bulaksumur is a green, walkable part of northern Yogyakarta, with the Balairung administration building and the Grha Sabha Pramana hall at its centre. New students start with PPSMB, a large orientation programme known for its mass card formations. Student life runs through faculty student organisations, clubs for arts, sport and research, and KKN-PPM, the community service term that sends students to live in villages across Indonesia. Yogyakarta is a student city with a low cost of living.
- PPSMB, the orientation programme for new students.
- KKN-PPM community service placements across Indonesia.
- Grha Sabha Pramana, the university's large ceremonial hall.
- Student organisations such as Himakom and OmahTI in computer science.
Housing. UGM runs student dormitories (asrama) and a homestay service for students.
Location
Yogyakarta, in central Java, is the seat of a sultanate and one of Indonesia's best-known student towns. UGM's admissions site describes it as affordable and friendly, with learning that spills out of the classroom into its cultural heritage and cafés. The Bulaksumur campus is in Sleman, just north of the city centre.
Nearest airport: Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA)
Notable alumni
- JW Joko Widodo7th President of Indonesia (2014-2024); studied at UGM
- HX Hamengkubuwono XSultan of Yogyakarta and Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta; graduate of the Faculty of Law
- RM Retno MarsudiIndonesia's first female foreign minister; international relations graduate (1985)
- AB Anies BaswedanFormer Governor of Jakarta and minister of education; studied at UGM
- GP Ganjar PranowoGovernor of Central Java (2013-2023); studied at the Faculty of Law
- BH Basuki HadimuljonoHead of the Nusantara Capital City Authority and long-time public works official; bachelor's degree from UGM (1979)
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study at UGM in English?
Yes. UGM's International Undergraduate Program offers 31 study programmes taught in English, including Medicine, Law, Computer Science, International Relations and several engineering degrees.
How much does UGM cost for international undergraduates?
Under the 2025 rector's decree, foreign undergraduates pay IDR 15.1 million to 67 million per semester depending on the programme, plus a one-time Institutional Development Fee in many programmes. Fees must be paid in Indonesian rupiah.
How hard is it to get into UGM's IUP?
It depends heavily on the programme. In 2026 Medicine had about 18 applicants per place and Psychology about 7, while Biology and Chemistry had roughly one applicant per place.
What tests does UGM IUP require?
IUP applicants sit the Gadjah Mada Scholastic Test (GMST) and UGM's academic English proficiency test, with extra components in some programmes.
When does the academic year start at UGM?
Undergraduate programmes start each August. IUP selection for Indonesian applicants ran in three intakes between January and June in 2026.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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