Most Indonesian scholarships Pakistani students hear about are the big government ones. The Universitas Andalas International Scholarship is smaller and more practical. It is run by Universitas Andalas (UNAND), a public research university in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra Province, and it does something many university awards do not: it has three funding tiers instead of one. If your GPA is good but not outstanding, you may still get your tuition paid. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide walks through how the tiers work, what to prepare, and where applicants trip up.
UNAND was founded in 1956 and is the oldest university in the western region of Indonesia. It is known for medicine, agriculture, engineering, economics, law and veterinary science. The campus sits in the Limau Manih highlands of Padang, which gives it a cooler climate than coastal Indonesian cities. The scholarship is open to Bachelor's, Master's and PhD applicants, and the listed fields include dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, law and information technology, plus all faculties shown on the UNAND portal.
Who does this suit? Students who want a fully or mostly funded degree in a lower-cost country, who are comfortable picking up a new language, and who have a GPA of at least 3.00 with a modest English score. It is less suited to someone who needs a guaranteed full ride, because the tier you land in depends on your numbers, not on your choice.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Universitas Andalas (UNAND), Padang, West Sumatra |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Funding | Full, Partial or Tuition Fee tier |
| Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Registration window (2026 intake) | January 7, 2026 to May 10, 2026 |
| Semester start | August 2026 |
| Official site | UNAND international admission form |
Three tiers, and the GPA line that decides yours
This is the part to understand before you write a single document. UNAND does not let you pick a tier. Your GPA and your English score place you in one.
- The Full Scholarship pays tuition fees, dormitory, a living allowance, a travel ticket allowance and the BIPA Indonesian language course.
- The Partial Scholarship pays tuition fees, dormitory and BIPA. There is no living allowance or travel allowance.
- The Tuition Fee Scholarship pays tuition fees and BIPA only.
The published thresholds for Master's applicants (and Master's/PhD for the full tier) look like this:
| Tier | GPA | English score |
|---|---|---|
| Full | 3.50 or above | TOEFL 500+ or IELTS 5.5+ |
| Partial | 3.24 to 3.49 | TOEFL 450+ or IELTS 5.5+ |
| Tuition Fee | 3.00 to 3.23 | IELTS 5.0+ or TOEFL 400+ |
Two things follow from this table. First, the English bar is low compared with most scholarships abroad, so the GPA is what really separates the tiers. Second, a GPA of 3.49 and a GPA of 3.50 can mean the difference between having a living allowance and paying your own rent and food. If you are sitting just under a line, there is nothing you can do about it now, but you should budget honestly for the tier you actually qualify for.
The thresholds are described for postgraduate applicants. If you are applying for a Bachelor's degree, the tier rules for your level are not spelled out as clearly, so confirm with the UNAND international office how undergraduate applicants are placed before you count on a particular tier.
What the Partial and Tuition Fee tiers leave you paying
Pakistani students often read "scholarship" and assume everything is handled. Here it is not, unless you get the full tier. On the Partial tier you have housing and tuition covered but must fund your own daily living costs and flights. On the Tuition Fee tier you are also paying for accommodation. The source describes Padang as an affordable place to live, but no living-cost figure is given, so get current estimates from the university before deciding.
This also matters for your visa. If you land in a lower tier, expect to show that you can support yourself. Our guide on bank statements and proof of funds covers how to prepare that properly from Pakistan.
BIPA, the language course every tier includes
BIPA is the Indonesian language course for international students, and it is included in all three tiers. Teaching and daily life in Padang will involve Bahasa Indonesia, and the course is meant to help you build working Indonesian before or during your degree. Treat it seriously. Students who coast through the language course usually find shopping, transport and group projects much harder in the first year.
Eligibility for Pakistani applicants
The scholarship is for international students, and UNAND says it welcomes international applicants, so Pakistani students can apply. The requirements beyond nationality are:
- A GPA and English score that meet at least the Tuition Fee tier (GPA 3.00 and IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 400 for Master's).
- A recommendation letter from your previous institution if you are applying for a Master's or PhD.
- Scientific publications and supervisor approval if you are applying for a PhD.
The PhD requirement is the one that catches people out. You need a supervisor who has already agreed to take you before you apply. That means emailing faculty at UNAND weeks or months ahead of the registration window, not in the final fortnight.
A note for MBBS hopefuls
Medicine (Dokter, the equivalent of MBBS) is among the programs at UNAND. Whether it is available under the international scholarship should be verified directly with the university. If you want to practise in Pakistan afterwards, also check whether a medical degree from UNAND is recognised by Pakistan's medical licensing authority. Do both checks before you apply, not after you get an offer.
The ten documents UNAND asks for
- Valid passport
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Application letter addressed to the Rector, written on the UNAND template
- Medical certificate issued within the last 2 months
- English proficiency certificate (IELTS or TOEFL)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal statement answering three set questions
- Recommendation letter from your previous institution (Master's and PhD only)
- Scientific publications (PhD only)
- Supervisor approval letter (PhD only)
The medical certificate has a timing trap. It must be issued within 2 months of your application, so getting it in January for a May submission can leave you with an expired document. Plan it for the last few weeks before you submit. For transcripts and degrees, Pakistani applicants should sort out attestation early; our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process.
Writing the personal statement around UNAND's three questions
The personal statement is not free-form. UNAND asks you to answer three questions:
- Why do you want to study at UNAND?
- What are your long-term plans after studying here?
- Tell us about yourself and your educational background.
Answer them in that order and make each answer specific. "UNAND is a good university" is not a reason. Mention the faculty or program you want, what draws you to its strengths (agriculture, engineering, medicine and so on), and why Padang suits your plans. For the long-term plans question, connect your degree to something concrete you intend to do, in Pakistan or elsewhere. Committees read many statements that say the same generic things, and a detailed, honest one stands out.
The application letter to the Rector is a separate document. Download the official template from the portal and use it. A self-designed letter is an easy way to look careless.
How the application runs from portal to semester
Everything is done online through the UNAND international admission form. The order is straightforward:
- Open the online form on the UNAND portal.
- Download the Rector application letter template and complete it.
- Write your personal statement answering the three questions.
- Upload all required documents and submit before the deadline.
- Wait for the selection results, then attend the interview if shortlisted.
For the 2026 intake the dates were:
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | January 7, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | May 10, 2026 |
| Selection results | May 15, 2026 |
| Interviews | May 18-29, 2026 |
| Final announcement | June 5, 2026 |
| Semester starts | August 2026 |
The 2026 registration window has closed. If you are planning for the next intake, the pattern suggests registration opening early in the year with a deadline in May, but dates are not confirmed for future rounds. Check the UNAND International Office site for the new timeline before you plan around it.
Notice how tight the gap is between the final announcement and the semester start. Two months is not much time to get an Indonesian student visa and KITAS, book flights and arrange your move. The Embassy of Indonesia in Islamabad handles student visa and KITAS applications for UNAND scholarship recipients. Its website is islamabad.kemlu.go.id, the address is 222-238 Street 11, E-7, Islamabad, and the phone number is +92-51-2275577. Once in Indonesia, the Embassy of Pakistan in Jakarta provides consular services to Pakistani students.
Where applicants go wrong
Most failed UNAND applications are not about weak profiles. They come from avoidable slips:
- Assuming they will get the full tier when their GPA puts them in Partial or Tuition Fee, then discovering they cannot afford living costs.
- Getting the medical certificate too early, so it falls outside the 2-month window.
- Writing their own letter to the Rector instead of using the UNAND template.
- PhD applicants leaving supervisor contact until the last weeks.
- Uploading a generic statement that skips one of the three required questions.
- Not preparing for the interview, which comes only a few days after the selection results.
For a broader check of paperwork, the documents checklist for international scholarships is useful. If you are comparing options in the same country, see all Indonesia scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How is my scholarship tier decided?
By your GPA and English score. For Master's applicants, a GPA of 3.50 or above with TOEFL 500 or IELTS 5.5 gives the Full Scholarship, 3.24 to 3.49 gives Partial, and 3.00 to 3.23 gives the Tuition Fee Scholarship.
Do Bachelor's applicants need IELTS or TOEFL?
The published tier rules focus on postgraduate applicants. The English bands given are IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 400 for the tuition fee tier, IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 450 for partial, and IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 500 for full. Bachelor's applicants should confirm with UNAND which requirements apply to them.
Does every tier include the Indonesian language course?
Yes. BIPA is included in the Full, Partial and Tuition Fee tiers.
Can I study MBBS on this scholarship?
Medicine is offered at UNAND, but its availability under the international scholarship should be verified with the university. You should also confirm recognition of the degree with Pakistan's medical licensing authority if you plan to practise at home.
Is there an interview?
Yes. Interviews come after the initial screening. In the 2026 cycle they ran from May 18-29, after selection results on May 15.
Before you start, read the latest requirements on the official UNAND admission portal and keep the full scholarship page handy for reference.