Universitas Sebelas Maret
Surakarta's big public university, named for its founding date of 11 March 1976, with income-based fees and 70 bachelor's programmes.
- Students
- 43,675
- International
- 3%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 16.7:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- IDR 1M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1976
About UNS
Universitas Sebelas Maret was established on 11 March 1976 in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, and takes its name from that date ('sebelas maret' means 'eleven March'). It grew out of decades of local efforts to give Solo, a centre of Javanese culture, its own public university. Since 2020 it has been a legally autonomous state university (PTN-BH), and it holds the top 'Unggul' (Excellent) accreditation from Indonesia's national accreditation agency BAN-PT, awarded in July 2023.
UNS is large: 43,675 students were registered in June 2024, across 14 faculties, a vocational school and a graduate school. It offers 70 undergraduate programmes, 28 vocational programmes, 45 master's and 21 doctoral programmes, spanning medicine, engineering, teacher training, agriculture, law, economics and the arts. Most teaching is in Bahasa Indonesia, but the Faculty of Economics and Business runs English-taught international classes in Accounting, Management and Development Economics, and UNS added international classes in Medicine, Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering in 2026.
UNS suits Indonesian students who want a well-regarded public university outside Jakarta and Yogyakarta, with fees set by family income. For international students, the main route is the UNS Scholarship, which waives tuition and can include a monthly allowance, alongside an Indonesian language course (February to July 2027) before the degree begins.
Mangesthi Luhur Ambangun Nagara
“Aspire Sublimely to Build Country” — university motto
Why students choose UNS
Income-based fees: for 2026 national-selection entrants, the single tuition fee (UKT) starts at IDR 500,000 per semester in the lowest group.
The UNS Scholarship for international students waives tuition and institutional fees, and the full award adds IDR 1,500,000 a month for bachelor's students.
Seventy bachelor's programmes across 14 faculties, from Medicine and Informatics to Javanese Language Education and Fashion Design.
English-taught international classes in Accounting, Management and Development Economics include joint-degree and summer-course options with partners such as the University of Malaya and Curtin University.
Admissions
2027 intake (August 2027 for international students)
Selectivity
UNS does not publish an overall admit rate. Indonesian students enter through the national SNBP (school-report based) and SNBT (UTBK computer-based test) selections, or UNS's own Seleksi Mandiri. International applicants are selected by document screening, a computer-based test and an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Indonesian SMA/MA/SMK | Graduates of the last three years for Seleksi Mandiri (2024 or later for 2026 entry); selection by UTBK score, UNS test or school record depending on route. Some programmes have height or colour-vision requirements (e.g. sports education, midwifery, medicine) |
|---|---|
| Foreign secondary school certificate | Graduation certificate and transcripts in English or Indonesian; bachelor's applicants for the UNS Scholarship must be at most 21 years old when applying |
| English language | International applicants need a TOEFL (paper-based scale) of at least 450 for engineering and natural sciences or 500 for social sciences, a Duolingo English Test score of 100, or a medium-of-instruction letter. Most lecturers teach in Bahasa Indonesia, so admitted international students take an Indonesian language course before starting. |
Deadlines
- SNBT (UTBK), previous cycle Non-binding Passed7 April 2026
2026 cycle: UTBK-SNBT registration 25 March to 7 April 2026, tests 21-30 April, results 25 May 2026.
- Seleksi Mandiri (written test), previous cycle Non-binding Passed2 June 2026
2026 cycle: online registration 11 May to 2 June 2026, tests 8-13 June, results 24 June 2026; registration fee IDR 350,000.
- International admission (August 2027 intake) Non-binding Passed30 September 2026
Registration 1 July to 30 September 2026; test 14-15 October, interviews 21-23 October, results 12 November 2026; Indonesian language course February-July 2027; study starts August 2027.
The international deadline is for the August 2027 intake. SNBP, SNBT and Seleksi Mandiri dates shown are from the 2026 cycle; 2027 national dates are set by SNPMB and had not been published when checked.
How to apply
Indonesian applicants register via the national SNPMB portal (SNBP, SNBT) or the UNS SPMB portal (Seleksi Mandiri, international class). International applicants download UNS's Letter of Offer, obtain a recommendation letter from the Indonesian embassy or consulate, then register and upload documents on the UNS International Admission Portal, followed by a computer-based test and interview.
What admissions looks for
- Performance in the relevant selection: UTBK-SNBT scores, the UNS written test or school records (SNBP).
- For international applicants, motivation, academic background and ability to study in Indonesia, explored in the interview.
- English proficiency at the stated level, and ideally some Indonesian.
- For programme-specific routes, physical requirements such as minimum height for sports education and midwifery.
Tips for applying to UNS
- 1 International applicants: get the embassy recommendation letter early, as it is a required document alongside UNS's Letter of Offer.
- 2 Upload an Indonesian language certificate if you have one: UNS says it is strongly preferred because most lecturers teach in Bahasa Indonesia.
- 3 Check that your passport is valid for at least 18 months and that your health certificate is less than three months old.
- 4 Indonesian applicants aiming for the international class should note it has its own UTBK and UTUL selection routes and a higher flat fee.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in IDR
Indonesian students pay UKT according to family income, from group I (IDR 500,000 per semester) up to group VIII, and KIP Kuliah and affirmative Seleksi Mandiri routes exist for disadvantaged students. International students can apply for the UNS Scholarship: the full award waives tuition and institutional fees and adds health insurance, a free Indonesian course, a IDR 1,000,000 settlement allowance and IDR 1,500,000 a month for bachelor's students; the partial award covers the fee waiver, language course and insurance. Other routes include the Indonesian government's KNB and Darmasiswa programmes.
- IDR 1,500,000
- UNS Scholarship monthly allowance (bachelor's, full award)
- IDR 500,000 per semester
- Lowest UKT group (2026 entrants)
- IDR 17,000,000 per semester (Medicine IDR 30,000,000), plus a one-off institutional contribution (IPI) from IDR 30,000,000
- International class UKT (2026, Seleksi Mandiri)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Medicine (Pendidikan Dokter)
The programme with the highest UKT fees at UNS (up to IDR 21,815,000 per semester), and offered as an international class from 2026.
International Class in Accounting, Management and Development Economics
English-taught bachelor's classes at the Faculty of Economics and Business with joint-degree and short-term study abroad options.
Teacher education programmes
The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education runs a wide range of bachelor's programmes, from Primary School Teacher Education to Special Education and Javanese Language Education.
Informatics and Data Science
UNS has a dedicated Faculty of Information Technology and Data Science; Informatics is also offered on the Kebumen campus.
Architecture and Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering programmes; Civil Engineering gained an international class in 2026.
Research
- UNS holds BAN-PT 'Unggul' (Excellent) institutional accreditation, awarded 18 July 2023.
- UNS alumnus Thomas Sutikna co-led the Liang Bua excavation on Flores that found Homo floresiensis.
- UNS reports placing in the 101-200 band of the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Animal Science
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Information Technology and Data Science
- Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
- Faculty of Cultural Sciences
- Faculty of Arts and Design
Student life
UNS's main campus is at Kentingan in the Jebres district of Surakarta, entered through its carved arched gate. With more than 40,000 students, campus life runs through 32 university-level student activity units (UKM), grouped into interest and ability, religion, sport and leadership, plus many more at faculty level. They include the Voca Erudita student choir, a marching band, scouts, a Red Cross volunteer corps, the LPM Kentingan student press and BKKT, which preserves traditional Javanese arts. International students get a Student Buddy scheme and International Office help with visas.
- 32 university-level student activity units housed in two dedicated UKM buildings.
- Voca Erudita, the university's internationally competing student choir.
- BKKT, a student group that performs and preserves traditional Javanese arts of Central Java and Solo.
- Student Buddy programme and an Indonesian language course for international students.
Location
Surakarta, usually called Solo, is a mid-sized city in Central Java that UNS itself describes as a centre of original Javanese culture. It is smaller and calmer than Jakarta, and UNS's main campus is at Kentingan in the Jebres district on the city's Jalan Ir. Sutami, with some programmes also taught on a campus in Kebumen Regency.
Nearest airport: Adi Soemarmo International Airport (SOC), Surakarta
Notable alumni
- TS Thomas SutiknaArchaeologist known for the discovery of Homo floresiensis; studied ancient history at UNS (1983-1990)
- KE Karisma Evi TiaraniParalympic sprinter, silver medallist in the 100 m T63 at Paris 2024; studied Communication Science
- AM Adaljiza MagnoEast Timorese diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2020-2023); economics graduate
- AS Apolo SafanpoFormer acting governor of South Papua (2022-2024); studied civil engineering
- TP Teguh PrakosaFormer mayor of Surakarta (2024-2025); studied sports science
- MS Mooryati SoedibyoFounder-director of cosmetics company Mustika Ratu and former Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly; master's in English literature
- H HabiburokhmanLawyer and member of the House of Representatives since 2019; doctorate in law (2022)
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at UNS?
Indonesian students pay a single tuition fee (UKT) by income group: for 2026 entrants it runs from IDR 500,000 per semester in the lowest group up to IDR 21,815,000 per semester for Medicine in the top group. International classes cost IDR 17,000,000 per semester (Medicine IDR 30,000,000) plus a one-off institutional contribution.
Can international students study at UNS for free?
Through the UNS Scholarship, yes: the full award waives tuition and institutional fees and pays a monthly allowance of IDR 1,500,000 for bachelor's students, plus insurance and an Indonesian course. Airfare and visa costs are not covered.
What is the UNS application deadline for international students?
For the August 2027 intake, registration runs from 1 July to 30 September 2026, with a computer-based test on 14-15 October and interviews on 21-23 October 2026.
Do I need to speak Indonesian to study at UNS?
Most lecturers teach in Bahasa Indonesia, so admitted international students take an Indonesian course (February-July before an August start). English-taught international classes exist in some programmes, such as Accounting, Management and Development Economics.
What English score does UNS require?
TOEFL 450 for engineering and natural sciences or 500 for social sciences, a Duolingo English Test score of 100, or a medium-of-instruction letter from your previous school.
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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