trenddjakarta.com, Jakarta. November 14, 2024 – The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, recently announced that LPDP scholarship recipients are not obligated to work in Indonesia. This policy means recipients are free to build their careers anywhere, including abroad. As long as they uphold Indonesia’s good name. With this new opportunity, who wouldn’t want to pursue a scholarship and aim for an international career?
However, before discussing aspirations to study and work abroad, it’s important to explore scholarships beyond LPDP that also offer attractive programs.
Erasmus+
This scholarship is suitable for those pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies. Or post-doctoral research in Europe, whether for degree or non-degree programs.
Chevening Scholarship
Funded by the UK government, this scholarship offers full coverage for a one-year master’s degree.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
This scholarship supports students aspiring to study health research, engineering, sciences, and social sciences or humanities in Canada.
Armed with a degree from one of the world’s top universities, your international network and career prospects will undoubtedly grow. So, which scholarship suits you best?
After identifying the most suitable scholarship, what comes next? Understanding the requirements for LPDP or other scholarships is essential. Common requirements include:
Personal data or ID card (KTP)
Bachelor’s/Master’s diploma
Academic transcripts
University admission letter (LoA)
Valid foreign language proficiency certificate
Other supporting documents
One of the most crucial and frequently mentioned requirements is a valid foreign language proficiency certificate. Why is this important? Simply put, such a certificate proves your ability to communicate and adapt to academic or professional environments in your destination country. It indicates that you are prepared to face the challenges of studying and working abroad.
Which certificates are needed? Tests like TOEFL, TOEIC, and IELTS are common options. However, the cost of these tests in Indonesia is not cheap. The TOEFL iBT test ranges from IDR 3 million to IDR 3.5 million. While the IELTS can cost up to IDR 3.2 million – IDR 3.5 million. Given these significant expenses, it’s not ideal to retake the test multiple times due to unsatisfactory results.
This is why it’s wise to take a pre-test, such as the TOEFL Prediction. For example, the Cakap English Standardized Test (CEST) has been implemented at several universities in Indonesia. CEST has been used by over 5,453 students and 116 institutions. Including Politeknik Negeri Subang, Politeknik Bina Trada Semarang and Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya.
According to research in Cakap’s 2023 impact report, 94% of students found CEST results reliable. Meanwhile, 91% stated that CEST met standards and demonstrated good quality as a foreign language proficiency test. This pre-test helps you assess your ability before investing a large amount of money on an official test. Besides saving costs, a pre-test also provides insight into areas that need improvement.
Rani Ronsmelia, BD Manager at Cakap, explained that the program was designed to measure language proficiency before investing in an official test. “CEST is designed as a TOEFL iBT prediction test with standards equivalent to International tests. Helping participants gauge their readiness before facing the official test,” said Rani.
So, if your dream is to secure an LPDP or other scholarships and achieve a stellar career abroad. Prepare wisely and strategically. Take the initiative to undergo a pre-test, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and make the necessary improvements. This way, you’ll not only save money but also be more prepared to face future challenges. Don’t let your skills be hindered by language test results. Of the approximately 15,000 LPDP scholarship applicants each year, only 4,191 were accepted in 2024.
Plan your steps strategically before aiming higher. Stay motivated and chase your dreams wisely. Best of luck to all dream chasers!
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