Bangladeshi students aspiring to study abroad often begin their search for scholarships in more popular study abroad destinations such as Europe and North America. However, there are also lesser known destinations which provide scholarships that provide students full tuition fee reduction and stipends. One of those scholarships is the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship.

The Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship is an initiative by the Indonesian government available for students from developing countries. It offers scholarships for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs and covers much of the expenses including tuition and living costs. The scholarship is given every year and for 2025, the Indonesian government is planning for around 200 KNB Scholarship applicants in total to be accepted in 34 KNB Scholarship host universities in Indonesia, with most scholarships usually given to Masters applicants.

Naufel Anwar Ishaq, a Bangladeshi LLB Graduate who is currently pursuing his LLM at the University of Indonesia, located in Jakarta, Indonesia, is one of the recipients of this scholarship and while describing how he found out about this opportunity, he says, "I discovered the KNB Scholarship on LinkedIn in one of the posts shared by the Indonesian embassy and I thought why not just apply and see."

For each of the bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs, there are different sets of requirements to be eligible for the scholarship such as age limits, having the required English proficiency test score etc. In terms of applying, Naufel says, "One can apply through the official KNB portal where you submit the necessary documents and then candidates may undergo additional screenings via interview by the University and one will also need embassy recommendations for the final selection process."

After the selection process, the successful applicants will be allowed to study in Indonesia and during their stay, they will have to do a mandatory Indonesian Language Training program which can last up to 1 Year, a preparatory program and then move on to study their academic program.

In this regard, Naufel says, "The whole program will basically consist of one year of Language program and then your main course, which is 4 years for Bachelors and 2 years for a Masters and so on."

The most attractive aspect of this scholarship is the financial support it provides for the international students who want to study in Indonesia. The scholarship covers the tuition fee required for the language and the academic program, a settlement allowance upon arrival and a living allowance every month, health insurance and more. The KNB scholarship is calculated to cover all the required costs of the students during their stay.

On the other hand, some aspects may seem challenging according to Naufel as he says, "The only downside for this scholarship is that you have to be fluent in the Indonesian language and your course may also be conducted in the Indonesian language, although that mainly depends on which faculty you're applying for." In addition to that, after completing their program, students will need to return back as Indonesia does not provide post study work permits, which may be seen negatively by some.

The task of learning a new language wasn't much of an obstacle for Naufel as he says, "I found it very easy to be honest and if you're very good at English, you will have an easier time learning the language."

Nevertheless, the scholarship will provide students a unique opportunity to explore Indonesia while completing their studies with no costs. About the experience as a student, Naufel says, "Studying here has been a blast. The quality of education here is amazing. Alongside studies, we got to take part in fun activities and trips and the people are nice and supportive and you get to learn about the various tribes here and their cultures. From my own experience and what I have heard from others, the first year when you do the language course is more fun but after that you have to really lock in when your main course starts."

For future applicants, Naufel focuses on the importance of preparing early as he says, "Prepare early by thoroughly researching the scholarship requirements and ensuring you have all necessary documents, especially the embassy recommendation, in place. Developing a basic understanding of Bahasa Indonesia can also be beneficial, as language plays a vital role in the cultural immersion offered by the KNB Scholarship."

For students looking to study abroad with funding, the KNB Scholarship is an underrated option about which many may not be even aware of, especially for students who are looking to do their Masters as more seats are available for them. With proper preparation, one can avail this scholarship which can unlock further opportunities and help them realise their study abroad dream.

Tamjidul Hoque is an UK LLB Graduate.