The UMSU Global Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded award from Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), a private Islamic university in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is open to international students at bachelor's, master's and PhD level, and it pays 100% of tuition plus an annual living allowance, health insurance and visa support. Female scholars also get a free dormitory place.
What makes it stand out for Pakistani applicants is how low the barrier to entry is. You apply through a Google Form, there is no portal account to create, no processing fee, and an IELTS or TOEFL certificate is optional. If you have been shut out of other scholarships because you do not have an English test score yet, this one deserves a look. You can find the full scholarship details on our scholarship page, and this guide walks through how to put together a strong application.
A quick look at the UMSU award
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), Medan |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Study levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Country | Indonesia |
| 2026 application window | April 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026 |
| English test | Optional |
| Official site | UMSU Global Scholarship application |
The 2026 window ran from April 1 to May 31, 2026. If you are reading this after that date, treat this guide as preparation for the next round and check the UMSU International Office for the new dates.
Who this scholarship suits, and who should think twice
This award suits students who want a full tuition waiver at a university with a strong Islamic identity. UMSU is run under the Muhammadiyah organization, and its policies and campus culture follow Islamic values. For many Pakistani families, a campus built around prayer times and halal food makes the decision to send a son or daughter abroad much easier.
It also suits students whose main obstacle is the English test. Since proof of English is not mandatory, you can apply on the strength of your grades, documents and motivation letter.
Who should think twice? Anyone who needs to study entirely in English. Programs at UMSU are primarily taught in Bahasa Indonesia, with some available in English. Before you apply, confirm the language of instruction for your exact program with the university. Getting a full scholarship for a degree taught in a language you cannot follow is a bad trade.
Students who expect the allowance to cover all their living costs should also be careful. More on that below.
What the IDR 18,000,000 allowance really means
The package covers:
- 100% of tuition fees
- An annual living allowance of approximately IDR 18,000,000 (around USD 1,100 per year)
- Free dormitory accommodation, for female students only
- Visa support
- Health insurance
Look closely at the allowance. It is an annual figure, and it is listed as approximate. Roughly USD 1,100 spread over twelve months is a modest amount, so think of it as help with daily costs rather than a full salary. Plan to bring some savings of your own, and ask the university how and when the allowance is paid.
Why the dormitory rule changes your budget
The free dormitory is for female scholars only. If you are a male student, you will need to find and pay for private accommodation in Medan yourself, and that rent comes out of the same allowance or your own pocket. Research student housing near the UMSU campus before you travel, not after you land. For female students, the free room is a real saving and makes the allowance stretch much further.
Eligibility for Pakistani and other international students
The scholarship is advertised as open to international students worldwide, and UMSU lists contacts for Pakistani students, including the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad. Even so, UMSU also asks applicants to verify eligible nationalities on its official portal, so confirm that Pakistan is on the list for the current round before you spend time on paperwork.
The listed requirements are short:
- You must be an international student
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- A motivation letter of no more than 500 words
- A valid passport
- A medical certificate
- English proficiency proof (optional)
No minimum GPA or age limit appears in the published requirements. Do not read that as a guarantee that there is none. If you are unsure whether your profile fits, contact the international office before applying.
Fields you can study
The eligible fields listed for the scholarship are Islamic Studies and Islamic Banking; Economics, Accounting and Management; Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical); Computer Science, Information Technology and Data Science; Law; Education and Teacher Training; Communication and Social Sciences; Agriculture and Agribusiness; and Mathematics and Biomedical Science. UMSU also teaches programs such as Medicine and Public Health. If you are aiming for one of those, check directly with UMSU that it is covered by this scholarship before you apply.
The eleven documents, and the ones Pakistani students forget
The full checklist has 11 items:
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- Valid passport
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Motivation letter (max 500 words)
- Health or medical certificate
- Passport-size photograph
- Birth certificate
- Father's identification document
- Mother's identification document
- Family register document listing family members and relationships
- English proficiency proof (optional, include if available)
The family documents are where applicants slow down. You need ID documents for both parents and a family register that shows everyone in the family and how they are related. UMSU itself says to check which equivalent document applies in your country. For a Pakistani applicant, that means working out which official family record best matches this description and getting it ready early. If a parent's ID is not easily available, sort that out weeks ahead.
Uploads must be in PDF or image format, with a maximum of 10 MB per file. Scan clearly, name your files sensibly, and check every page is readable before you submit. Our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful companion for preparing scans and translations.
Writing the 500-word letter on innovative education
The motivation letter is the one place where you can stand out, and it has a fixed theme: "My Role in Advancing Quality and Innovative Education." The limit is 500 words.
Most weak letters ignore the theme and recycle a generic statement of purpose. Do not do that. Tie your field directly to education. An engineering student might write about training technicians or improving how practical skills are taught. A computer science student could discuss digital learning tools for schools in Pakistan. An Islamic finance applicant could write about teaching financial literacy. The point is to show the committee a concrete role you plan to play, not a list of ambitions.
Keep it tight. With 500 words, every paragraph should do one job: who you are, what problem in education you care about, what you will study at UMSU and why, and what you will do with it afterwards.
Submitting through the Google Form
- Open the UMSU Google application form, or use the short link bit.ly/UGS-2026.
- Write your motivation letter on the set theme, within 500 words.
- Upload all documents as PDF or image files, each under 10 MB.
- Submit before the deadline. For 2026 this was May 31, 2026.
A Google Form is easy to fill but also easy to rush. Prepare every file and your letter offline first, then complete the form in one sitting. UMSU's own advice is to apply early rather than waiting for the deadline, because earlier submissions tend to receive responses sooner.
Mistakes that cost UMSU applicants
From the way this scholarship is set up, a few errors are easy to predict.
- Assuming every program is taught in English. Most teaching is in Bahasa Indonesia, so confirm your program's language first.
- Male students budgeting as if housing is free. It is not, and the allowance is modest.
- Leaving the family register and parents' IDs to the last week.
- Writing a motivation letter that never mentions education, even though that is the stated theme.
- Skipping the English proof when you actually have it. It is optional, but if you hold IELTS or TOEFL, include it.
After you are selected: visa and embassy contacts
The scholarship includes visa support, but you will still deal with the Indonesian side for your student visa and KITAS. The Embassy of Indonesia in Islamabad is at 222-238 Street 11, E-7, Islamabad (phone +92-51-2275577, website islamabad.kemlu.go.id). Contact them about documentation requirements before departure.
Once in Indonesia, the Embassy of Pakistan in Jakarta at 53 Jl. Teuku Umar, Menteng, Jakarta 10350 (phone +62-21-3143212, mofa.gov.pk/indonesia) handles consular services for Pakistani students. Applicants from other countries can find their nearest Indonesian mission through the Indonesian foreign ministry directory.
If Indonesia is one of several options you are weighing, browse all Indonesia scholarships to compare packages.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for the UMSU Global Scholarship?
No. English proficiency proof is not mandatory. If you have a certificate, include it, but you can apply and be considered without one.
Is the dormitory free for everyone?
No. The free dormitory is for female scholars only. Male international students must arrange their own accommodation in Medan.
Is there an application fee?
No processing fee is listed. The application is a Google Form with no account creation or fees required.
Are classes taught in English?
Programs are primarily taught in Bahasa Indonesia, with some available in English. Confirm the language of instruction for your program with UMSU before applying.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The scholarship is promoted to international students worldwide and includes contacts for Pakistani students, but UMSU asks applicants to verify eligible nationalities on its official portal. Check this for the current round.
How much is the living allowance?
Approximately IDR 18,000,000 per year, which is around USD 1,100. The figure is approximate, so confirm the current amount and payment schedule with UMSU.
For the latest dates and forms, go to the official UMSU Global Scholarship page, and keep the full UMSU scholarship page bookmarked for updates.