Australia Awards Garuda Scholarships
The Government of Indonesia has launched the Sekolah Garuda (Garuda Schools) initiative to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, expand equitable access to high-quality secondary education, and prepare students for future leadership roles.
The Garuda Schools Program is a direct manifestation of President Prabowo Subianto's vision and stems from the "Quick Wins No. 7" presidential directive. This program aims to establish a network of beacon educational institutions across Indonesia. These schools will focus on delivering world-class education, critical thinking, and robust character development, thereby cultivating future Indonesian leaders and innovators prepared for global engagement.
Central to the Garuda Schools Program's mission is the provision of equitable access to an enriched and advanced curriculum for talented students from diverse backgrounds. The program intends to create clear pathways for its graduates to enter top-tier national and international universities. These schools are envisioned as centres of excellence, employing modern pedagogical approaches and attracting high-quality educators to foster a culture of academic rigour and innovation.
Garuda Schools Network
The Garuda Schools initiative consists of two main streams:
- Garuda Transformasi (SGT) – Upgrading selected existing schools to meet Garuda standards in teaching quality, infrastructure, and student outcomes.
- Garuda Baru (SGB) – Establishing entirely new schools in underserved provinces, with the first batch scheduled to open in 2026.
The Indonesian government’s target is 100 Garuda Schools nationwide by 2030 (20 new, 80 transformed).
The following 12 schools are designated as Garuda Transformasi schools:
|
No. |
Schools |
Location / Province |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
SMAN 10 Fajar Harapan |
Banda Aceh, Aceh |
Public high school with a STEM excellence track |
|
2 |
SMAS Unggul Del |
Toba, Sumatera Utara |
Linked to DEL Institute of Technology |
|
3 |
MAN Insan Cendekia OKI |
Sumatera Selatan |
Islamic senior high school with STEM specialisation |
|
4 |
SMAN Unggulan M.H. Thamrin |
Jakarta |
Flagship Jakarta STEM high school |
|
5 |
SMA Cahaya Rancamaya |
Bogor, Jawa Barat |
Private high school with a STEM focus |
|
6 |
SMA Pradita Dirgantara |
Boyolali, Jawa Tengah |
Linked to the Indonesian Air Force |
|
7 |
SMA Taruna Nusantara |
Magelang, Jawa Tengah |
National military-linked leadership school |
|
8 |
SMAN Banua |
Gambut, Kalimantan Selatan |
Boarding school |
|
9 |
SMAN 10 Samarinda |
Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur |
Regional STEM high school |
|
10 |
MAN Insan Cendekia Gorontalo |
Gorontalo |
Part of the national IC school network |
|
11 |
SMAN Siwalima Ambon |
Ambon, Maluku |
Regional flagship school |
|
12 |
SMA Averos |
Sorong, Papua Barat Daya |
Flagship private school in the Papua region |
The first wave of Garuda Baru Schools is planned for the following priority provinces/locations:
- Soe (East Nusa Tenggara/NTT)
- Belitung (Bangka Belitung)
- Tanjung Selor (North Kalimantan)
- Konawe (Southeast Sulawesi)
- Additional candidate sites under consideration: Nabire (Papua Tengah), Mempawah (West Kalimantan), Katingan (Central Kalimantan), and West Nusa Tenggara.
Target Audience for the Australia Awards Garuda Scholarships
The primary target audience for the Australia Awards Garuda Scholarships is Indonesian citizens who are, or will be, directly involved in the Garuda Schools Program. This may include:
1. Sekolah Garuda Transformasi (SGT):
- Principals and teachers currently employed at the 12 designated SGT schools.
2. Sekolah Garuda Baru (SGB):
- Teachers who are completing (or have completed) the Teacher Profession Certification (Pendidikan Profesi Guru - PPG) and are committed to relocating for placement at an SGB school.
-
and are based in one of the following provinces:
- East Nusa Tenggara/NTT
- Bangka Belitung
- North Kalimantan
- Southeast Sulawesi
People with disability and women from disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Dates (for study commencing in Australia in 2027)
- Opening date: 1 February 2026
- Closing date: 30 April 2026 (11.00 WIB)
Applications and/or supporting documents received after the closing date will not be considered.
The application process
Apply online at this link. When applying online, all essential supporting documents must be uploaded to the online application form to meet the specific requirements for Indonesia. For applicants with disability who require assistance filling out the application form, please reach out to us at aas-garuda@australiaawardsindonesia.org.
We advise applicants to submit their online application well before the closing date. The online application system experiences peak usage in the days leading up to the closing date, and applicants may experience delays or errors.
Applicants selected as scholarship recipients will be invited to and assisted with completing the OASIS system.
