SURABAYA — The hope for Surabaya students to pursue higher education without financial burden is becoming more attainable. The Surabaya City Government is accelerating the realization of a scholarship program for private university students by targeting the completion of campus data collection in January 2026.
This policy is part of the commitment to expand access to higher education, especially for residents holding Surabaya ID cards. The scholarship program will be regulated in the latest Mayor Regulation, which is currently in the finalization stage.
It was explained that this new regulation is a refinement of Mayor Regulation Number 135 of 2022, which has now been updated through Mayor Regulation Number 45 of 2025 and will come into effect in 2026.
“In the new regulation, the Surabaya City Government will not just wait for proposals but will intervene directly with state and private universities, and even other educational institutions. The goal is singular: to ensure Surabaya’s children get the opportunity to study through scholarships,” the official stated.
The Surabaya City Government is accelerating the scholarship realization for private university students. Campus data collection is targeted for completion in January 2026 with a quota of 6,000 recipients.
Currently, the Surabaya City Government has signed memorandums of understanding with 27 universities. After the Mayor Regulation is officially signed by the Mayor of Surabaya, the cooperation will proceed to the technical stage through a Cooperation Agreement.
“The Cooperation Agreement process is relatively fast and can even be completed in one day. After that, both current and new students can immediately register through the Be Smart system,” it was explained.
This scholarship program is prioritized for Surabaya ID card holders from poor, near-poor families, as well as high-achieving students, orphans, and those who have lost both parents. Another main requirement is that students must be registered at a university that has partnered with the Surabaya City Government.
It was emphasized that this new policy provides certainty of assistance until the student graduates, provided all stipulations are met.
“If previously a minimum GPA of 3.0 was the main requirement, now we provide support until graduation, as long as the student’s status continues to meet the criteria,” it was stated.
The conditions that must be maintained include not getting married during the study period and not being involved in drug abuse. If all requirements are met, the assistance will continue to flow until the student completes their studies on time.
“Our target is simple: for students to graduate on time,” it was added.
For the implementation of the program this year, the Surabaya City Government has prepared a quota of approximately 24,000 scholarship recipients. The breakdown is 18,000 state university students and 6,000 private university students, with the allocation adjusted according to data from each campus.
The Vice Rector II of the University of 17 August 1945 Surabaya welcomed the Surabaya City Government’s step. According to the official, this program is an answer to the tuition fee problems often faced by students.
“Assistance from local governments like this has not been widely felt at the university level. This program is a real solution for students facing financial constraints,” the Vice Rector stated.
