Russia Plans to Increase Scholarships for Indonesian Students

KBRN, Jakarta: The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov said that they will strive to increase scholarships for Indonesian students who plan to pursue education in Russia.

“We will request the Russian government and Higher Education Ministry to provide at least 300 scholarships annually. We have also asked universities to offer at least 50 additional scholarships,” he said as quoted by antaranews.com.

Ambassador Tolchenov said this after a press conference regarding the visit of the Russian Navy warship at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, June 3, 2025.

He explained that every year the Russian government provides hundreds of scholarships for Indonesian students, and this year they have received around 1,000 applications for a quota of 250 scholarships.

“Six months ago, we received about 1,000 scholarship applications, which means four applications per scholarship,” he said.

The Ambassador expressed hope that the scholarship quota to Russia could be increased in the future. He shared his vision of possibly expanding it to four or five hundred students, adding that if demand remains high, they will strive to accommodate it.

According to him, alumni who have graduated from universities in Russia believe that Russia still offers very high-quality education.

“They gain high-quality knowledge in my country while also having valuable experiences. Education is not only available in Moscow and Saint Petersburg but also in several other cities,” he said.

Ambassador Tolchenov considered every alumnus who graduates from Russian universities as a significant legacy of Russia. He also hoped that through these scholarships, alumni can further promote bilateral relations between Indonesia and Russia and contribute to prosperity and development in Indonesia.

“Indonesia is our friend. We truly believe Indonesia can become a strong and prosperous country,” he said. ***