The KNB Scholarship 2026 application will open around 10–15 February 2026 and close around 28 March 2026. Interviews happen in May–June, results come out in July–August, and winners fly to Indonesia in late August or early September 2026.
If you follow the calendar below, you will never miss anything. Every date and step is taken from the 2025 cycle and the official pattern.
December 2025 – January 2026
- Confirm your country is eligible (97 countries in 2025 – list almost never changes)
- Pick your level: Bachelor (max 25 years old), Master (max 35), PhD (max 40) on 1 September 2026.
- Start emailing Indonesian universities for the Letter of Acceptance (LoA). This step alone takes most people 2–4 months.
- Book your English test if you don’t have IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 80 / TOEIC 700 yet. Some countries now accept Duolingo 100+. You can check the exact 2026 KNB eligibility criteria and acceptable English tests here.
- Prepare passport (must be valid until at least March 2027).
10–15 February 2026 → Portal Opens
The exact link will appear at knb.kemdikbud.go.id Create your account on the first day. Last year the server was down for 48 hours because everyone waited.
What you do on day one:
- Fill personal details
- Choose up to 3 different universities and programs
- Upload scanned passport and photo (4×6 cm, red background)
- Start filling the forms (you can save and come back)
March 2026 → Final Deadline (around 28 March)
Submit at least one week early. The portal gets very slow in the last 3 days.
Must be uploaded and submitted before deadline:
- All documents in PDF
- Two recommendation letters (one usually has to come through your embassy)
- Medical certificate (not older than 6 months)
- Signed declaration form
- See the complete documents checklist with samples and common mistakes that get people rejected so you don’t mess this up.
April 2026 → Verification Period
KNB team checks every file. If something is wrong or missing, they email you once. You have 48–72 hours to fix it.
May – June 2026 → Interview Stage
Only shortlisted candidates get invited. Interview is 10–20 minutes, online via Zoom or at the Indonesian embassy in your capital. They use the same 20–25 questions every year (full list in a later post).
July – August 2026 → Announcement & Visa
Results are published on the portal, usually first or second week of August. Successful candidates receive the official award letter the same week. Start student visa process immediately (takes 3–4 weeks).
Late August / Early September 2026 → Departure
All winners fly together to Jakarta for orientation. Flight ticket is paid by KNB (economy class, return ticket included). First monthly stipend (IDR 2.55 million for Master/PhD) is paid within 10–14 days after you open Bank BNI account in Jakarta.
One-Page Countdown Table
| Month | Action Required | Hard Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 – Jan 2026 | Choose program, contact universities, English test | – |
| 10–15 Feb 2026 | Portal opens – create account & start filling | – |
| 28 March 2026 | Final submission (submit 7–10 days early) | YES |
| April 2026 | Fix documents if KNB emails you | 48–72 hours reply |
| May–June 2026 | Interview (only shortlisted) | – |
| July–August 2026 | Results + visa | – |
| September 2026 | Fly to Indonesia | – |
Bookmark this page. Dates will be updated the second the official 2026 announcement drops (usually first week of January).