5 scholarships to study in England for Indonesian students – updated for 2023

Hello, learners!

How are you doing? Today, we’ve got some thrilling news that’s sure to brighten your day!

Ever dreamt of studying in England, only to be held back by financial constraints? Worry no more! In this article, we’ll explore 5 fantastic scholarships that could be your golden ticket to realizing your academic dreams in the land of the monarchy!

England, a country rich in history, adorned with prestigious universities, and blessed with captivating landscapes. Who wouldn’t be excited about the prospect of studying there? Imagine yourself pursuing knowledge while savoring authentic fish and chips, and experiencing the whimsically unpredictable British weather. Just kidding!

Isn’t it exciting to think about studying at a famous university in England? Regrettably, the cost can often make one’s head spin. But fret not! You’re not alone in this journey. There’s an array of scholarships available for Indonesian students that can pave the way to your dreams.

Intrigued?

Go ahead, dive into this article and discover the scholarship that’s the best fit for you!

1. Chevening scholarship

The Chevening Scholarship is a postgraduate scholarship program sponsored by the British Government (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) and supported by partner institutions in the UK. The program is designed to offer opportunities to potential leaders from various countries, including Indonesia, to pursue postgraduate degrees at renowned universities in the UK.

The Chevening Scholarship covers a wide range of fields of study, including social sciences, technology, health, arts, and other academic fields. Candidates applying for the Chevening Scholarship should have a strong leadership track record and the potential to contribute to the advancement and development of their home countries after completing their studies in the UK.

The application process for the Chevening Scholarship usually involves several stages, including filling out an online application form, writing a motivation essay, and an interview.

For the 2024/2025 academic year, the Chevening Scholarship is open from August 2, 2023, to November 1, 2023. Click here for more information regarding the application, selection, and acceptance process and timeline.

Before you apply for the Chevening Scholarship, you should ideally have chosen three degree programs that accept the Chevening Scholarship. And make sure you have already received an unconditional offer first for one of the programs. Also, ensure that you have met the following general requirements:

Indonesian citizen
Willing to return to Indonesia for at least two years after graduation.
Graduated from an undergraduate program with a minimum GPA (IPK) around 3.33 to 3.67.
Since 2020, the Chevening Scholarship no longer gives specific English proficiency requirements. The requirement follows the standards of the university you are aiming for. So please check the standards requested by your dream university respectively!
Have at least two years of work experience.

So, what does the scholarship coverage include? The Chevening Scholarship covers:

Tuition fees
Monthly allowance for accommodation and daily needs
Roundtrip ticket to Indonesia from the UK
Arrival and return allowance
Visa processing fee
Allowance to attend Chevening events

Chevening Scholarship recipients become part of a wide and influential alumni network around the world. After completing their studies, they are expected to actively contribute to the alumni community and share their knowledge and experiences. So, this is an extraordinary opportunity for you to build a strong international network that will support your career in the future.

If you’re interested, make sure to keep up to date with the latest information from the official Chevening Scholarship site and prepare your application well according to the applicable requirements. Good luck!

2. LPDP Scholarship

LPDP stands for Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan, an institution responsible for providing educational scholarships to Indonesian citizens to continue their studies both domestically and abroad. The LPDP Scholarship can be considered a sought-after scholarship by many Indonesian students looking to pursue their education overseas.

LPDP offers several types of scholarships, including Master’s (S2), Doctoral (S3), and Beasiswa Pendidikan Dokter Spesialis (PPDS) for specialist medical education programs. The LPDP scholarship covers a variety of study programs, ranging from social sciences and humanities, natural sciences, technology, to health and medical fields.

The selection process for the LPDP Scholarship includes several stages, such as online registration, administrative selection, English language proficiency exam, psychometric test, interview, and academic potential exam. For the 2023/2024 academic year, LPDP registration has closed. However, don’t worry, registration for the following academic year 2024 usually reopens around January-February, with the second stage in June to July 2024. So, you still have ample time to prepare all the required documents. Prepare yourself as best as you can!

LPDP is looking for candidates with leadership potential, good academic achievement, professional track records, and a commitment to contribute to Indonesia’s development after completing their studies. For English proficiency, LPDP requires a range of IELTS scores between 6.0 – 6.5 and 7.0. To help you prepare, we have an IELTS guide article that you can check here.

The LPDP Scholarship covers educational costs (tuition), living expenses, thesis/dissertation publication fees, research expenses, and other allowances including seminar fees and international journal publication, depending on the type of scholarship received. Regular scholarships are provided for:

Single degree Master’s program with a maximum study period of 24 months
Single degree Doctoral program with a maximum study period of 48 months

LPDP Scholarship recipients are required to return to Indonesia after completing their studies and work for at least 3 years in Indonesia to contribute to the country’s development. The LPDP Scholarship Program can change over time, therefore, prospective applicants are advised to always visit the official LPDP website or follow the latest information from the institution.

If you’re interested, make sure to understand the requirements, application process, and deadlines, and thoroughly prepare yourself to face the rigorous selection stages. You can do it!

3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and competitive postgraduate scholarships provided by the Gates Cambridge Trust. This scholarship is aimed to support international students who possess exceptional academic potential and commitment to contribute to society and advance research and understanding in various fields of knowledge. The scholarship’s purpose is to support outstanding students from all around the world to pursue postgraduate studies (MPhil, PhD, or other programs offered by the University of Cambridge) at the University of Cambridge, England.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers almost all fields of study offered at the University of Cambridge, including social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, health sciences, technology, and many more. Prospective applicants must have excellent academic achievement, a track record of leadership, and a strong commitment to contributing to society and enhancing understanding in their field of interest.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers full tuition fees, living allowance, travel allowance, and allowances for research and study materials. The scholarship also includes membership fees for the Gates Cambridge Alumni Association. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides funds between £30,000 – £45,000 per year. The exact amount will depend on the cost of the specific study program and the duration of study, and whether the awardee receives other funding awards.

Additionally, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides a range of funding beyond fees and maintenance that can add to the total funding package around £60,000 per year. This includes:

Return flight and/or train tickets to Cambridge
Visa costs and additional NHS healthcare costs
Academic Development Funds for conferences
Child allowance if you already have a family and intend to bring your child with you to Cambridge.

Registration for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship for the 2024/2025 academic year will open on September 4, 2023. The application process for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship involves filling out an online application form, providing a curriculum vitae (CV), drafting a personal essay (personal statement), uploading references, and if needed, also need to upload samples of previous writings or academic publications. You can check the detailed timeline for acceptance and selection on their official website.

For the required English proficiency, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship does not specify. However, the University of Cambridge itself has English proficiency standards as follows:

IELTS Academic – typically a minimum overall score of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or more in each section.
TOEFL Internet Based Test (IBT) – typically a minimum overall score of 110, with 25 or more in each section.

Wow! That might make you a bit nervous… But don’t worry. As the best English course provider, we can certainly accompany and help you to prepare as best as you can. Contact us now!

The selection process for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is very rigorous and competitive. After the initial application phase, successful applicants will be invited for an interview conducted by an experienced selection panel. Even so, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is an extraordinary opportunity for aspiring leaders and talented researchers from all over the world to study at one of the world’s leading universities, the University of Cambridge!

4. Oxford-Rhodes scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the world’s most prestigious scholarships for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, England. This scholarship was established based on the will of Cecil Rhodes, an English businessman and statesman, aiming to support future leaders from various countries to study at Oxford and make a positive contribution to the world.

This scholarship offers the opportunity for outstanding students from various countries to pursue postgraduate studies (master’s degree or doctorate) at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes scholarship coverage (as of £18,180 per year for 2022-2023) includes:

Full tuition fees
Living allowance
Allowance for the publication of theses or dissertations
Round-trip travel allowance from and to Oxford

Scholarship recipients must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, a strong leadership track record, and a commitment to making a positive contribution to society and their home country in the future.

The application process for the Rhodes Scholarship involves drafting a personal essay describing academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and future career goals. In addition, prospective applicants must also submit recommendations from individuals who can provide perspective on their leadership potential and academic abilities.

For Indonesian students, you can apply online starting August 1, 2023, through the Rhodes Global Scholarship. The general requirements that you must fulfill include:

a. Age

You must be between 18-23 years old on October 1, 2023 (meaning you were born after October 1, 1999, and before October 2, 2005). Or (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual).
You must be under 27 years old on October 1, 2023 (meaning you were born after October 1, 1996), and you must have completed your first undergraduate degree on or after October 1, 2022.

b. Academic achievements

You must have completed or will complete by July 2024, an undergraduate degree (usually a Bachelor’s degree) with an academic background and grades that meet or exceed the specific entry requirements for the full-time program you have chosen at the University of Oxford.

Given the extremely competitive international competition for places at the University of Oxford, candidates will have a better chance of being admitted to Oxford if they have a First Class Honours degree or equivalent, or a GPA (IPK) of 3.70/4.0 or higher.

c. English proficiency

You must have adequate English language skills to meet the English proficiency requirements according to the standards of each department at the University of Oxford. For the exact requirements, you can check at the site address we have provided above or visit the official University of Oxford website.

Make sure your Rhodes Scholarship application is approved first before applying to the study program at the University of Oxford. If unsuccessful in your first application for the Rhodes Scholarship, you can reapply only once, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.

The Rhodes Scholarship is a very valuable opportunity for future leaders to study at the University of Oxford, a prestigious university in the world, and prepare to make a positive impact on society and the world at large. So, give it a try, and hopefully, we’ll hear good news from you!

5. The University of Cambridge scholarship

The University of Cambridge International Scholarship is a scholarship program offered by the University of Cambridge in England to support high-achieving international students pursuing a Ph.D. program at the university.

a. Admission criteria

This scholarship is open to applicants from all around the world, except from the UK and Ireland.
Applicants must wish to pursue a Ph.D. program at the University of Cambridge.

b. Scholarship award basis

This scholarship is awarded based on various factors, including:

Previous academic achievements
Strong research potential
Outstanding entrance examination result
Recommendations from previous professors or researchers

c. Application and selection process

The application process for the University of Cambridge International Scholarship usually begins before the Ph.D. registration deadline at the university.
Interested prospective students must apply to the Ph.D. program at the University of Cambridge and then also submit a specific application for this scholarship in accordance with the instructions given by the university. This scholarship program is typically issued by the Cambridge Trust.
The selection process is carried out by a selection panel consisting of leading academics in specific fields.

d. Scholarship benefits

Recipients of the University of Cambridge International Scholarship will receive significant financial support for tuition and living expenses during their study period at Cambridge. The scholarship can cover full or partial tuition fees, living expenses, and sometimes research allowances.

e. Scholarship acceptance period

The deadline for applying and submitting an application for the University of Cambridge International Scholarship usually varies each year and can change. For the year 2023, registration has closed. Regularly check their official page for registration times for the next period.

The University of Cambridge International Scholarship provides an extraordinary opportunity for talented international students to pursue higher education at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. With financial support and a supportive academic environment, scholarship recipients have the opportunity to thrive and achieve remarkable achievements in their field of interest!

Summary

The scholarships for the UK we’ve discussed are not just opportunities; they’re gateways to life-changing experiences and adventures in a remarkable country!

Imagine it – walking through the historic corridors of world-renowned universities, enjoying a cup of tea amidst the iconic British architecture, and having access to world-class education!

With substantial financial backing from these scholarships, your dreams of studying in the UK are more attainable than you might think. And with that financial concern out of the way, you’re free to focus on what truly matters – your education and personal growth!

The clock is ticking. Start your preparations today. Embrace the thrill of anticipation, the rigor of preparation, and the joy of eventual triumph. You are a step away from turning your academic dreams into reality.

Good luck, future scholars. The world is waiting to hear your story.

Next steps

Do you want to speak English with confidence?

Most people lack confidence when they speak English. They are afraid to make mistakes and are embarrassed to speak in front of others.

This is because they have been taught English the wrong way!

Most English courses waste your time and money on useless exercises that don’t bring results. Even worse, they teach you bad habits that are very difficult to unlearn.

As a result, you become confused and lack confidence. This is wrong!

At IELC, we teach English the right way

Our goal is to get you speaking in English with fluency and confidence as fast as possible. We want to give you the skills you need to fulfil your potential!

Our experienced teachers will guide you along every step of the learning process to ensure that you are not wasting your time, money, and energy on useless language exercises & wrong methods.