Surabaya, MINA — The Surabaya City Government plans to nearly quadruple the number of recipients of its Pemuda Tangguh (Resilient Youth) scholarship program in 2026, with a target of assisting 24,000 university students. The initiative will be supported by a budget of Rp 192.8 billion (approximately USD 11–13 million).
Since its launch in 2021, the program has supported 5,900 students, with a budget allocation of Rp 71 billion
The Pemuda Tangguh scholarship provides two types of financial support: monthly living allowances and payment of tuition fees (Uang Kuliah Tunggal or UKT). This applies to both public and private universities that have official agreements with the city administration.
While the program is open to all Surabaya students, priority is given to applicants from low-income or “near-poor” families. A merit-based track is also available for students with outstanding academic or extracurricular achievements.
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Eligibility requirements are detailed in Mayor Regulation (Perwali) No. 45 of 2025, which also outlines monitoring mechanisms. Scholarships may be revoked if recipients violate conditions, such as marrying during their studies or receiving funding from another scholarship provider. Students are also required to maintain a minimum grade point average and participate in academic or community activities.
The funding covers a maximum of eight semesters for bachelor’s (S1) or applied bachelor’s (D4) programs and six semesters for diploma-3 (D3) programs.
Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi said the expansion of the program reflects the city’s broader commitment to education and poverty reduction.
“The goal is not only to make higher education more accessible, but also to break cycles of poverty and prepare graduates who can contribute meaningfully to Surabaya’s development,” he said.
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He also encouraged students to embrace the opportunity: “Continue learning, creating, and achieving. Surabaya is always here to nurture the spirit of its resilient generation.”
As of September 2025, 2,766 students had been selected under the scholarship program.
The city has put in place a verification system to ensure the aid reaches those who need it most. In some cases, applicants declared their parents as “self-employed” (wiraswasta), but further checks revealed discrepancies in income. Priority is therefore directed to families with greater financial vulnerability.
Applicants must be Surabaya residents, verified through local family registration documents (Kartu Keluarga). The program also extends to students enrolled in private universities outside Surabaya, as long as those institutions maintain cooperation agreements with the city government. []
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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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