Indonesia Considers Allowing Private Universities to Use National Student Selection System

The Indonesian Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Science, and Technology is exploring the possibility of private universities adopting the same student selection system currently used by public institutions. Khairul Munadi, Director General of Higher Education, stated that private campuses could legally implement the National Achievement-Based Selection (SNBP) and National Test-Based Selection (SNBT) methods.

This potential shift is grounded in Law Number 12 of 2012 concerning Higher Education, which stipulates that private universities can conduct their own selections or participate in a joint selection system with public universities. "In Law Number 12 of 2012, it is mentioned that private universities can conduct selections independently or use the joint selection system with public universities," Khairul explained during a working meeting with Commission X of the House of Representatives on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Article 73 of the same law grants private universities the authority to manage their own new student admissions for each study program. However, it also allows them the option to follow the national student admission patterns organized by public institutions. Khairul noted that several private universities are already employing selection patterns similar to those of public universities.

Furthermore, Khairul clarified that non-diplomatic study programs within Diplomatic and Higher Education Institutions (PTKL) are mandated to follow the joint selection process with public universities, as per Government Regulation Number 4 of 2014. The ministry is currently refining regulations for both diplomatic and non-diplomatic programs in PTKL, following recommendations from a special committee of the House of Representatives. For the 2026 National Student Admission (SNPMB), the ministry has set a total capacity of 604,446 seats, an increase from the 595,558 seats available in 2025. The SNPMB 2026 includes SNBP, SNBT, and independent selections, with SNBP and SNBT processes completed and independent selections still ongoing.