Jakarta

Jakarta

Chloe Lane

Updated July 15, 2021 Updated July 15

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 109th

Jakarta is a major metropolitan city, the capital of Indonesia, and the largest city in Southeast Asia. Having gone through quite a few name changes in the past, Jakarta is now nicknamed ‘The Big Durian’, after the city’s native fruit, and is seen as Indonesia’s equivalent to ‘The Big Apple’ in the US.

Jakarta is new to the QS Best Student Cities ranking this year, coming in at 109th place. The city earned its best score for the affordability indicator, ranking 19th globally. This is due to the relatively low tuition fees of US$3,100, and a cost of living which is low in comparison to other major cities, even though it’s relatively high compared to the rest of Indonesia.

Given its status as the economic, cultural and political center of Indonesia, it’s unsurprising Jakarta attracts masses of people, boasting a population of over 30 million, with many others commuting in during the day for work.

This bustling metropolis is perfect for students who want to experience a diverse culture, from food and languages to local traditions and customs. Those interested in learning more about the traditional culture should stop by Setu Babakan in South Jakarta and get to know the story of Betawi culture (the native ethnic group of Jakarta), drink the local beverage bir pletok, try the traditional dances of the area or have a bite of kerak telor (a spicy omelette dish).

Jakarta is also home to three world class universities that are ranked in the QS World University Rankings®. These are the University of Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural University and Bina Nusantara University (BINUS). As well as being the oldest state-run university in Indonesia, with more than 160 years of education under its belt, the University of Indonesia is also both Jakarta’s and Indonesia’s top university, ranked in 296th place. The university’s mission is to become a world-class research university and to provide quality education that is easily accessible to all.

Have you studied in Jakarta? Let us know your thoughts.

Internationally ranked universities in Jakarta

University of Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural University, Bina Nusantara University (BINUS)

More about Jakarta

Number of universities ranked by QS

3

Highest-ranked institution

University of Indonesia (ranked 296th)

Population

30,214,000

Average international fees (at ranked unis)

US$3,100

Desirability rank

114th

Employer Activity rank

128th

Affordability rank

13th

Student View rank

128th

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

This article was originally published in July 2019 . It was last updated in July 2021

Written by

A Content Writer for TopUniversities.com, Chloe has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Reading and grew up in Leicestershire, UK. 

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