The Best Universities in Indonesia in 2020

The best universities in Indonesia are the dream places for high school students who are about to graduate and move on to higher education. The author believes that friends have been planning where they want to study since the 11th grade.

There are many universities in Indonesia. In fact, many students are willing to travel to other islands to get into the best universities they can. For example, people from Sulawesi are willing to go to Java just to study at UI, ITB, or IPB.

Here are some of the best universities in Indonesia in 2020 according to the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture. Does your dream university also make it to the following list?

1. Bogor Agricultural University (Score 3.648)

Who doesn't know Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). From its name, it is clear that its main focus is on engineering related to agriculture. However, for friends who want to try studying at IPB, there are other faculties besides engineering. There are also medicine, mathematics and natural sciences, business, and so on.

Abbreviation: IPB

Established: September 1, 1963

Location: Bogor, West Java

2. University of Indonesia (Score 3.414)

Besides IPB, the second best university in Indonesia is the University of Indonesia (UI). I am sure if friends want to enter medical school, they would want to get into UI, right?

Abbreviation: UI

Established: 1849 (under the name Dokter-Djawa School Batavia) and 1954 (under the name University of Indonesia)

Location: Depok, West Java

3. Gadjah Mada University (Score 3.315)

The third position is held by Gadjah Mada University (UGM). Studying here is highly sought after because it is among the top three in Indonesia and the cost of living in Yogyakarta is relatively cheap compared to other places. The most popular majors at UGM are medicine and pharmacy.

Abbreviation: UGM

Established: December 19, 1949

Location: Sleman, Yogyakarta

4. Airlangga University (Score 3.299)

In fourth place, the best university in Indonesia is Airlangga University (Unair). This university is very popular among the people of East Java. On average, those who want to study medicine aim for Unair. Besides medicine, pharmacy is also a favorite major at Unair.

Abbreviation: Unair / UA

Established: November 10, 1954

Location: Surabaya, East Java

5. Bandung Institute of Technology (Score 3.275)

For friends who want to study engineering, you must go to the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). ITB graduates are well-known in the job market. Not only that, some founders of the startup Bukalapak are also ITB alumni.

Abbreviation: ITB

Established: July 3, 1920 (as Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng) and March 2, 1959 (as Bandung Institute of Technology)

Location: Bandung, West Java

6. Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (Score 3.218)

If you want to study engineering but don't want to go far from East Java, you can choose the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology. The favorite faculties there are the Faculty of Electrical Technology and Intelligent Informatics (FTEIC / ELECTICS) and the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Planning, and Earth Sciences (FTSPK / CIVPLAN).

Abbreviation: ITS

Established: November 10, 1957

Location: Surabaya, East Java

7. Hasanuddin University (Score 3.161)

In seventh place is Hasanuddin University (Unhas). This university has popular majors including: medical education, public health, civil engineering, and pharmacy. For friends living in Sulawesi, Unhas can also be a good choice for college.

Abbreviation: Unhas

Established: September 10, 1956

Location: Makassar City, South Sulawesi

8. Brawijaya University (Score 3.161)

For friends living around Malang, East Java, you can choose to study at Brawijaya University (UB). UB is a university that often wins in the PKM competitions organized by Dikti. Popular majors there include agroecotechnology, pharmacy, medicine, and informatics engineering.

Abbreviation: UB

Established: January 5, 1963

Location: Malang, East Java

9. Diponegoro University (Score 3.111)

For friends living in Semarang, you can choose Diponegoro University (Undip). Initially, Undip was named Semarang University, then changed to Undip in 1960. Popular majors at Undip include medicine, nutrition science, civil engineering, and architecture.

Abbreviation: Undip

Established: January 9, 1957 (as Semarang University) and 1960 (as Diponegoro University)

Location: Semarang, Central Java

10. Padjadjaran University (Score 3.007)

Besides ITB, you can choose to study at Padjadjaran University (Unpad). At Unpad, you can enter several of its favorite majors such as medicine, psychology, informatics engineering, and pharmacy.

Abbreviation: Unpad

Established: September 11, 1957

Location: Bandung, West Java

11. Sebelas Maret University (Score 2.930)

When hearing UNS, you might think that UNS is the State University of Solo or Semarang University. However, the correct name is the State University of Surakarta, or now known as Sebelas Maret University. This is very common, like most people who refer to ITS as the Institute of Technology Surabaya, when the correct name is the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology.

For friends living in Surakarta (Solo), you can study here. The favorite majors at UNS are medicine, law, pharmacy, and civil engineering.

Abbreviation: UNS

Established: March 11, 1976

Location: Surakarta, Central Java

12. Yogyakarta State University (Score 2.908)

Besides UGM, in Yogyakarta you can choose Yogyakarta State University (UNY). The favorite majors at UNY include informatics engineering education, civil engineering and planning education, biology, and chemistry.

Abbreviation: UNY

Established: May 21, 1964