Indonesia minister probes why students skip university registration

Indonesia's Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, has directed all state universities to investigate why admitted students are not completing their registration. The minister emphasized that this is crucial to ensure no aspiring student misses out on higher education due to financial limitations.

"The investigation is to obtain a more complete picture of the various factors influencing a student's decision not to complete the registration process," Yuliarto stated in a written release on Friday, July 3, 2026. While the ministry respects students' choices to pursue other educational paths, it insists that if economic hardship is the primary reason for non-registration, universities must reconsider their tuition fee structures.

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The investigation is to obtain a more complete picture of the various factors influencing a student's decision not to complete the registration process.

"If there are prospective students who do not continue their studies due to economic constraints, we want to ensure the state is present to provide solutions," Yuliarto added. Beyond adjusting tuition fees, he urged universities to seek other aid schemes for underprivileged students. These include university-funded scholarships, support from alumni and partners, and work-study programs that offer both financial assistance and practical experience.

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If there are prospective students who do not continue their studies due to economic constraints, we want to ensure the state is present to provide solutions.

Yuliarto highlighted the University of Mataram's policies as an example, where approximately 42 percent of students pay the lowest tuition bracket (Rp 500,000 to Rp 1 million per semester). Additionally, 690 students, including 13 from the medical program, received full tuition waivers. The minister stressed that higher education is a strategic investment for the nation's future, and universities must ensure that top Indonesian talent has the opportunity to study, regardless of economic background.

"It should not be that Indonesian children with academic ability and a passion for learning lose their chance to study solely because of cost issues," he said. This directive follows reports that thousands of admitted students failed to register. Out of a total capacity of 627,957 seats in state universities for 2026, 60,131 admitted students did not complete their registration across various admission pathways.

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It should not be that Indonesian children with academic ability and a passion for learning lose their chance to study solely because of cost issues.