Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) recognizes education as one of the key drivers in advancing human resource development. In line with this, UGM remains committed to ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all. This commitment is realized through various assistance schemes to support students throughout their academic journey.
Among these initiatives are scholarships and laptop loan programs targeted at students facing financial difficulties or those from frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) regions.
UGM offers a range of financial support options, including subsidies, scholarships through the Gadjah Mada Alumni Family (KAGAMA) network, and private scholarships. Additionally, students may apply for tuition fee reductions or appeals if they encounter difficulties meeting their educational expenses.
One of the beneficiaries of UGM’s scholarship program is Finca Cahya Fiona, an undergraduate student in Indonesian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM). In 2023, Fiona received support through the Bayan Peduli Scholarship. She shared how the program greatly helped her financially.
“I come from an underprivileged family. My mother had to borrow money from various sources to meet my needs. I once worked as a kebab stall attendant, earning IDR 600,000 monthly to pay my tuition. Of course, this limited my ability to engage in non-academic activities,” said Fiona on Saturday (May 17).
The Bayan Peduli Scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, transportation or accommodation costs, research funding, and even graduation fees. Thanks to this program, Fiona was able to pursue her studies successfully and achieve notable accomplishments at the international level.
In addition to scholarships, the laptop loan program has also gained significant interest among students in need. Many cases have been identified where students struggle with coursework due to a lack of access to laptops, particularly those working on their final projects.
Since 2022, UGM’s Directorate of Student Affairs has provided laptops to active undergraduate and applied undergraduate students to support their learning. The program has been well-received and continues to this day.
Cosmos Dimara, a student from the Urban and Regional Planning program at the Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), is among the hundreds who have benefited from the laptop loan program. Dimara shared that he once faced challenges during his studies because he did not have a laptop.
“By God’s grace, during those difficult times, the university gave me an opportunity through the laptop loan program, and I was one of the recipients. The laptop greatly helped me in writing my thesis,” he said. The student from Kampung Mutus, Raja Ampat, successfully completed his undergraduate studies on January 31, 2025.
Another recipient, Putri Nurdiana, a Software Engineering Technology program student at UGM’s Vocational College (SV UGM), also expressed her gratitude for the laptop assistance.
“This program significantly eased the financial burden on me and my family, as I didn’t have to spend extra money to buy a device when my parents were facing economic hardship,” said Nurdiana.
She expressed her relief at being able to attend online classes, attend seminars, and complete her final project without obstacles.
Secretary of the Directorate of Student Affairs, Dr. Hempri Suyatna, stated that the university will continue implementing affirmative and inclusive student programs.
“Our commitment is to ensure that UGM students can pursue their studies with peace of mind, without obstacles in continuing or completing their education, and to support their academic and social development,” said Dr. Suyatna.
He emphasized that all students, regardless of background or circumstances, are entitled to equal access to quality education. Higher education institutions are responsible for ensuring the learning process continues unhindered by any situation.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographs: Directorate of Student Affairs