Interest among international students in pursuing higher education in Indonesia continues to grow. One example comes from Malaysia through higher education networks such as Goon International College, which encourages and facilitates its students to continue their studies abroad, including at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM).
Established in 1936, the institution manages thousands of students through a unique approach: a full-scholarship financing scheme that students repay only after graduating and securing employment. This strategy is considered a solution to the limited access to higher education in Malaysia.
“We currently have around 10,000 students under our institution, and all of them receive scholarships. They do not need to pay upfront. Repayment only begins after they start working, and there is no interest,” said dr. Kartigeyan Perumal, representative of Goon International College.
Tight Quotas Push Students to Seek Alternatives
The increasing interest in studying abroad is closely linked to the strict quota system in Malaysian public universities. Intense competition, combined with certain affirmative policies, has made it difficult for some students to secure placements, especially in highly sought-after programs such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.Dr. Kartigeyan was welcomed by the Head of the Dentistry Study Program at FKG UGM, drg. Aryan Morita, M.Sc., Ph.D.; the Secretary of the Dentistry Study Program, drg. Heriati Sitosari, MDSc., Ph.D.; the Head of the Cooperation Unit at FKG UGM, drg. Raras Ajeng Enggardipta, MDSc., Sp.KG, Ph.D.; along with their teams and the Public Relations Unit of FKG UGM on 4 May 2026.
“The main issue in Malaysia is limited quotas. Many students with excellent grades still fail to secure seats, so they choose to study abroad,” he explained.
He added that public universities in Malaysia indeed offer highly affordable, almost free education because they are heavily subsidized by the government. However, limited capacity remains the primary challenge.
Indonesia Becomes a Strategic Destination
According to him, Indonesia has become one of the most attractive higher education destinations. In addition to relatively affordable tuition fees, Indonesia’s education system is considered more flexible compared to Malaysia’s. Several partnerships have also been established with Indonesian universities.
Malaysian students generally undergo preparatory programs before entering universities in Indonesia. This is intended to help them adapt, particularly to examination systems that are considered different.
“We prepare them first for adaptation because the examination system in Indonesia is different. For example, many exams here do not allow calculators, whereas students in Malaysia are already accustomed to using them,” he explained.
A Financial Scheme Without Burden
One of the main attractions of Malaysia’s education financing system is its zero-interest repayment model. Students are not burdened with tuition costs during their studies, and repayment only begins after they obtain employment.
“There is absolutely no interest, zero percent. Payments are made in installments after they start working, so it does not become a burden,” he concluded.
This model is considered capable of expanding educational access while also maintaining the financial sustainability of educational institutions.
Opportunities and Challenges
Amid the increasing mobility of students across countries, Indonesia has significant potential to become a regional education hub within ASEAN. However, considerable challenges remain, ranging from quality standardization to the modernization of selection systems.
The growing interest from international students serves as a positive signal that Indonesia is increasingly being recognized as a destination for quality education. With the right strategy, Indonesia could potentially become a new magnet for higher education in Southeast Asia.
(Reporter: Andri Wicaksono, Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti)
