The UK is one of the most popular study abroad destinations for Indonesian students at postgraduate level, driven by globally ranked universities, the Chevening scholarship (Indonesia is one of the largest Chevening recipient countries), and the Graduate Route visa that provides 2 years of post-study work rights. This guide covers the full picture — from IELTS requirements to the visa process in Jakarta.
Why Indonesia-to-UK Is a Strong Pathway
- Academic prestige: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, UCL, and other UK institutions consistently rank among the world's best
- Chevening: The UK's flagship scholarship — Indonesia receives one of the largest annual Chevening allocations globally
- LPDP eligible: UK universities are on the LPDP approved list — Indonesian government scholarship can fund UK study
- One-year master's: UK master's degrees are typically 1 year (vs 1.5–2 years in Australia or USA) — lower total cost and faster return to career
- Graduate Route visa: 2 years post-study work without a job offer in hand (3 years for PhD graduates)
- Indonesian community: Established Indonesian student associations at almost every major UK university
Key IELTS Point: IELTS UKVI Academic, Not Standard IELTS
This is the most important practical point for Indonesian students:
| Purpose | Test Required |
|---|---|
| University admission | IELTS Academic (standard) — OR IELTS UKVI Academic |
| UK Student visa | IELTS UKVI Academic (a Secure English Language Test / SELT) — standard IELTS Academic NOT accepted |
Indonesia is not on the UK's majority English-speaking country exemption list. Indonesian students need a SELT for the UK Student visa.
The most efficient approach: Take IELTS UKVI Academic from the outset. The content and scoring are identical to standard IELTS Academic — the difference is in the identity verification and administration conditions (UKVI-approved). IELTS UKVI Academic satisfies both your university's admission requirement and your visa's SELT requirement in one test.
Taking standard IELTS Academic for your university application and then needing IELTS UKVI separately for the visa is an avoidable extra cost and delay.
See our full UK Student Visa for Indonesian Students guide and our UK Student Visa IELTS Requirements.
IELTS Requirements at UK Universities
| University Tier | IELTS Overall | Per-Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford, Cambridge | 7.0–7.5 | No skill below 6.5–7.0 |
| Imperial, LSE, UCL | 6.5–7.0 | No skill below 6.0–6.5 |
| Most Russell Group | 6.5–7.0 | No skill below 5.5–6.5 |
| Other UK universities | 6.0–6.5 | No skill below 5.5 |
| Chevening minimum | 6.5 (no band below 6.0) | IELTS UKVI Academic for visa |
Top UK Universities for Indonesian Students
Russell Group / Top Ranked
| University | City | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Oxford | Full range; BCL, MBA, DPhil |
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge | Sciences, engineering, economics |
| Imperial College London | London | Engineering, science, medicine, business |
| London School of Economics | London | Economics, social sciences, law, international development |
| University College London | London | Full range; urban planning, engineering, law, medicine |
| King's College London | London | Medicine, law, war studies |
| University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | Business, law, medicine, engineering |
| University of Manchester | Manchester | Business, engineering, social sciences |
| University of Bristol | Bristol | Engineering, law, social sciences |
| University of Warwick | Coventry | Business, economics, engineering |
Popular One-Year Master's for Indonesian Students
| Field | Typical UK Universities |
|---|---|
| Public Policy / International Development | LSE, Oxford, King's, SOAS |
| Business / Management (MBA) | London Business School, Imperial, Cambridge |
| Engineering | Imperial, UCL, Manchester, Sheffield |
| Education | UCL, University of Bristol, Birmingham |
| Public Health | London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UCL |
| Law (LLM) | LSE, University of London, King's, Edinburgh |
| Journalism / Media | City University London, Cardiff, Sheffield |
Chevening Scholarship — Most Important for Indonesian Students
Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship, funded by the FCDO. Indonesia has one of the largest annual Chevening allocations globally.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Covers | Full tuition + monthly living allowance + return airfare + visa fees + Chevening events |
| Duration | One-year master's degree |
| Work experience | Minimum 2 years |
| IELTS minimum | 6.5 overall; no band below 6.0 (IELTS UKVI Academic for the visa component) |
| Application window | August – November each year |
| Results | March – April |
| University application | Done in parallel with or after Chevening application — you must have unconditional/conditional offers before interview stage |
Who it suits best: Indonesian professionals aged late 20s to 40s with demonstrated leadership potential and a clear plan for how the UK degree advances their contribution to Indonesia. Chevening is not a purely academic scholarship — leadership narrative and development impact are central.
LPDP + Chevening: These generally cannot be combined for the same programme (both are full scholarships). Apply to both and decide if you receive both awards — a positive problem to have.
Costs of Studying in the UK
Tuition Fees (International Students)
| Programme | Annual Tuition (GBP) |
|---|---|
| One-year master's (most fields) | £12,000–30,000 |
| MBA (top business schools) | £35,000–60,000 |
| Medicine (undergraduate) | £30,000–45,000/year |
| PhD | £15,000–30,000/year |
The one-year master's advantage: UK master's degrees being 1 year (vs 1.5–2 years in Australia or USA) means total tuition is lower even if the annual rate is similar.
Living Costs
| City | Monthly Estimate (GBP) |
|---|---|
| London | £1,400–2,000 |
| Other major cities (Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol) | £900–1,300 |
| Smaller university cities | £800–1,100 |
Student Visa Process for Indonesian Students
The UK Student visa requires:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) | Issued by your UK university after you accept an offer |
| IELTS UKVI Academic | Original Test Report Form — standard IELTS not accepted for visa |
| Financial evidence | 28 consecutive days of bank statements showing tuition + £1,334/month living costs (London) or £1,023/month (outside London) — check current figures |
| IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) | £776/year paid upfront — gives access to NHS |
| TB test | Required for Indonesian nationals — from an approved clinic in Indonesia; check approved clinics at gov.uk |
| Biometrics | At VFS Global Jakarta |
Applying from Indonesia:
- Complete the online visa application at gov.uk/student-visa
- Pay the application fee (£490) and IHS online
- Book biometrics appointment at VFS Global Jakarta
- Processing time: typically 3–8 weeks
TB test: Indonesian nationals must undergo tuberculosis testing at a UKVI-approved clinic in Indonesia. The certificate must be submitted with your visa application and is valid for 6 months. Book this early.
Graduate Route Visa (Post-Study Work)
After completing a UK bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree at a licensed student sponsor:
| Qualification | Graduate Route Duration |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's or master's | 2 years |
| PhD / doctoral | 3 years |
The Graduate Route allows full working rights in the UK — any employer, any sector, any hours — without needing a job offer at the time of application. This is a significant post-study benefit for Indonesian graduates who want UK work experience before returning home or transitioning to a Skilled Worker visa.
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble — for the UK, IELTS UKVI Academic is the required test. It uses exactly the same content and scoring as standard IELTS Academic. AI-powered Speaking and Writing practice with instant band scores helps you reach the Chevening minimum (6.5 overall, no band below 6.0) and the university admission threshold for your target programme.