Yogyakarta, February 7th 2025─Since it was first launched, the LPDP scholarship program has attracted many students. Now the government makes it easy to get educational scholarships both domestically and abroad. Along with increasing interest, policy changes and rule adjustments are also made. Career Development Center (CDC) of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada held a talk show with LPDP and LPDP Awardees on Friday (7/2) with the title “LPDP Scholarship Sharing Webinar: Registration Process and Essay Writing Tips”.
Ari Ragil Kuncoro, Head of LPDP Communication Subdivision, explained that there will be a number of changes in the LPDP implementation scheme in 2025. Some of them are the addition of doctoral scholarships, the expansion of the affirmation path area, the addition of new priority programs and financing schemes, to changes in the provisions of the Disability Scholarship of 2025. The updates are aimed at meeting the needs of domestic experts and increasing inclusiveness in the LPDP selection process.
“We have increased this affirmation program from 96 districts/cities to 127 districts/cities. This is based on a presidential decree. The hope is that it can reach a wider community,” said Ari. The proportion of additional affirmation areas includes the islands of Sumatera, Kalimantan, NTT and NTB, Sulawesi, and Papua. In addition, applicants for LPDP affirmation scholarships no longer need to attach a foreign language certificate.
As for the contribution obligation, the policy provides a reduction for the period of service in Indonesia. Scholarship recipients are required to return to their homeland a maximum of three months after graduation and stay for at least twice the study period. “This has been reduced, if in the past it was twice the study period plus one. Now we give relief for only two times the study period and must return and serve in Indonesia,” Ari explained. During the study period, scholarship recipients are also allowed to apply for an internship or work for a maximum of two years.
LPDP registration has been open since January 17 and ends on February 17. This year’s LPDP batch is planned to be dispatched by July 2025. Ari appealed to those who really want to apply for the LPDP scholarship to prepare themselves in advance. “There are many requirements needed, so you should prepare earlier for the scholarship,” Ari said.
Hayara Khairia, a 2023 LPDP awardee shares LPDP selection tips and tricks as well as things that prospective applicants should pay attention to. According to her, it is important to know the acceptance system of the destination university. LPDP applicants can apply for scholarships either after or before being accepted at the university. If they have been accepted, LPDP will give them time to attach an unconditional Letter of Acceptance (LoA). But if not, the application can still be done without attaching LoA but the applicant must make extra preparations to ensure they are accepted at the intended university.
Hayara passed as an LPDP scholarship recipient at the University of Western Australia in the International Relations study program. In addition to the procedures, she said it is also important to find a suitable university. “You will spend approximately two years, so you can consider carefully about majors, curriculum, university rankings, and campus organizations,” Hayara advised.
Not only explaining the procedures, Hayara also gave tips to pass the LPDP selection can be maximized in an essay on self-assessment. The essay can start with one main idea about your own strengths and weaknesses. The explanation about oneself must be able to explore in real terms what was learned in the self-reflection.
The talk about LPDP policies and awardee experiences held by CDC Fisipol UGM is expected to provide complete information for interested students, as well as encourage the desire to continue working at home and abroad. Of course, this is also done to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4, namely Quality Education.