en.malanginspirasi.com – The government has begun calculating budget requirements and implementation schemes for free tuition at public universities (PTN).
This process involves reviewing revenue from the Single Tuition Fee (UKT), Institutional Development Fees (IPI), and other sources of university income.
These discussions took place during a limited meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto stated that the President requested the free tuition program for public universities be prepared as quickly as possible, while still taking into account implementation stages and the state’s fiscal capacity.
“We have already conducted several calculations and analyses—ranging from current UKT revenue and IPI from independent admission tracks to other miscellaneous income—since, in public universities, revenue from postgraduate programs sometimes subsidizes undergraduate programs,” said Brian Yuliarto.
According to Brian, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology had previously conducted a preliminary study regarding the funding requirements for free higher education.
The results of these calculations will be further discussed with consideration given to the fiscal space within the State Budget (APBN).
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“The President certainly hopes that this free tuition program can be implemented as soon as possible; however, we will naturally proceed through various stages rather than doing it all at once,” Brian Yuliarto explained.
Prabowo also instructed the formation of a special team to conduct a more in-depth study regarding financing and implementation stages.
The team is led by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Menko PMK), Pratikno, and involves several ministries, including the Ministry of State Secretariat, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
“Furthermore, the President instructed that a deeper analysis be conducted; a special team led by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs has been formed to break down the calculations further,” explained Brian Yuliarto.
He stated that the team is expected to produce more refined calculations and clearer implementation stages within a timeframe of approximately two weeks to one month.
“It is expected within perhaps two weeks to a month, we will obtain more rational calculations and better implementation stages,” said Brian.
The results of the study will subsequently be reported back to the President to serve as the basis for determining the scheme and implementation stages for the free education policy at state universities.
“We will then report back to the President—under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister—to establish the steps and stages required to realize the President’s wish and directive to make state higher education free of charge,” he concluded.
