Syiah Kuala University

What Syiah Kuala University does

Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) is the oldest public university in Aceh, Indonesia, founded on September 2, 1961, and headquartered in Kopelma Darussalam, Banda Aceh. Operating as a Perguruan Tinggi Negeri Badan Hukum (PTN-BH / state university with legal entity status) under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology since Presidential Regulation No. 38 of 2022, USK serves more than 30,000 students across 12 faculties and a postgraduate school spanning economics, law, engineering, medicine, agriculture, marine sciences, and other disciplines. The university delivers undergraduate, master's, doctoral, professional, and medical specialist programs through national admission channels (SNBP, UTBK-SNBT, SMMPTN) plus its own Seleksi Mandiri and international class pathways.

The university operates 28 research centers under LPPM (Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat), including the Nilam (Patchouli) IPTEK Center producing commercializable essential oil and cosmetic products, and the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC). Research output is funded through DRPM grants (Rp 13.68B in 2019) and PNBP internal allocations (Rp 21.19B in 2019, up from Rp 7.71B in 2017), supporting a portfolio of two granted patents and multiple pending applications. USK holds the 7th Scimago and 16th Scopus national research rankings (as of February 2020) and 'Unggul' (Excellent) institutional accreditation for 2025-2030.

Revenue is generated through four streams: government budget allocations (APBN), differentiated Single Tuition Fees (UKT) ranging from approximately Rp 500,000 to Rp 27,500,000 per semester, research grants (DRPM and PNBP), and student entrepreneurship venture capital (Rp 3-7 million per group). In July 2026, USK was designated Permanent Secretariat of the IMT-GT University Network (IMT-GT UNINET), coordinating 36 universities across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand—formalizing its role as a regional higher-education hub.

Name

Syiah Kuala University

Legal name

Universitas Syiah Kuala

Website

https://usk.ac.id

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Universitas Syiah Kuala is the oldest public university in Aceh, Indonesia, serving 30,000+ students across 12 faculties and a postgraduate school. Operating as a state legal-entity university (PTN-BH), it delivers undergraduate through specialist programs, operates 28 research centers, and serves as Permanent Secretariat of the IMT-GT UNINET regional university network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Public University)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Research university
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Postgraduate education services
• Applied scientific research

Headquarters

HQ city

Banda Aceh

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Budget (APBN): As a PTN-BH (Perguruan Tinggi Negeri Berbadan Hukum / State University with Legal Entity Status under PP No. 38/2022), USK receives government funding allocations for operational and development expenditures.
2. Single Tuition Fee (Uang Kuliah Tunggal / UKT): Students pay UKT (Single Tuition Fee) for regular programs. Fee tiers are differentiated by economic decile (desil) and program level. Additional development contributions (Iuran Pengembangan Institusi / IPI) apply. Professional, specialist, and postgraduate programs charge separate education development fees.
3. Research Grants — DRPM (DIKTI): Funded research proposals submitted to DRPM (Directorate General of Higher Education research fund). In 2017: 173 titles funded worth Rp 16.86 billion; 2018: 155 titles worth Rp 13.55 billion; 2019: 142 titles worth Rp 13.68 billion.
4. Research Grants — PNBP (Non-Tax State Revenue): University-funded research from own revenue. In 2017: 90 proposals worth Rp 7.71 billion; 2018: 222 proposals worth Rp 13.61 billion; 2019: 279 proposals worth Rp 21.19 billion. Growing trend indicating increasing university investment in research.
5. Student Entrepreneurship Funding: UPT Kewirausahaan distributes venture capital grants to student entrepreneurship groups. In 2021: 70 groups with 393 students received funding, up from 26 groups (64 students) in 2017. Amounts range from Rp 3 to 7 million per group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) delivers higher education and applied research services across 12 faculties and a postgraduate school, offering undergraduate (Sarjana), vocational, master's (Magister), doctoral (Doktor), professional, and medical specialist (PPDS) programs. The university operates 28 research centers under LPPM, runs student entrepreneurship and KKN community service programs, and serves as the Permanent Secretariat of the IMT-GT UNINET regional university network. Distribution is through the Kopelma Darussalam main campus in Banda Aceh and a PSDKU off-campus site in Gayo Lues.

Product overview

Universitas Syiah Kuala is a comprehensive public university offering education across 12 faculties and 1 postgraduate school. The institution delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, professional, and specialist programs through its academic faculties including Economics and Business, Veterinary Medicine, Law, Engineering, Agriculture, Teacher Training, Medicine, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Social and Political Sciences, Marine Sciences, Nursing, and Dentistry. The university operates research institutions (LPPM for research and community service, LP3M for quality assurance), student support programs including Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) community service and student entrepreneurship programs (PIPM), and provides academic support services through its library, e-learning platform, and IT services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Faculty of Economics and Business (Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis / FEB) Faculty offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in economics, management, and accounting for domestic and international students.
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan / FKH) Faculty providing professional veterinary doctor education and research in animal health sciences.
• Faculty of Law (Fakultas Hukum / FH) Faculty offering legal education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for students pursuing legal careers.
• Faculty of Engineering (Fakultas Teknik / FT) Faculty providing engineering disciplines including civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering programs.
• Faculty of Agriculture (Fakultas Pertanian / FP) Faculty delivering programs in agriculture science, animal husbandry, and related agricultural fields.
• Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan / FKIP) Faculty providing teacher education and training programs for prospective K-12 and higher education educators.
• Faculty of Medicine (Fakultas Kedokteran / FK) Faculty offering medical doctor education and serving as the base for various medical specialist residency programs (PPDS).
• Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam / FMIPA) Faculty offering programs in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology with associated research laboratories.
• Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik / FISIP) Faculty offering programs in social sciences, communication, and public administration.
• Faculty of Marine Sciences and Fisheries (Fakultas Kelautan dan Perikanan / FKP) Faculty offering programs in marine biology, fisheries, and oceanography, with regional focus on Aceh's coastal ecosystems.
• Faculty of Nursing (Fakultas Keperawatan / FKep) Faculty offering professional nursing education and nursing science programs for clinical and academic careers.
• Faculty of Dentistry (Fakultas Kedokteran Gigi / FKG) Faculty offering dental professional education for students pursuing careers in dentistry.
• Postgraduate School (Sekolah Pasca Sarjana / SPS) Postgraduate school offering master's (Magister) and doctoral (Doktor) programs across multiple disciplines including economics, law, management, agriculture, engineering, education, and mathematics.
• International Undergraduate Class (Sarjana Kelas Internasional) International class undergraduate programs delivered in English-medium instruction, recruiting both Indonesian and international students for cross-border career preparation through IMT-GT UNINET network opportunities.
• Medical Specialist Education Program (PPDS) Medical specialist residency programs spanning surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, neurology, pulmonology, and ENT, delivered through affiliated teaching hospitals for medical doctors pursuing board-certified specialist qualifications.
• Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) Community Service Program Student community service program that places thousands of students in villages each year for community development activities, literacy programs, sanitation education, and applied fieldwork as part of degree requirements.
• Student Entrepreneurship Program (PIPM / PMW) Student innovation and entrepreneurship program administered by UPT Kewirausahaan, providing venture capital grants (Rp 3-7 million per group) and support for student business ventures; 1,000+ students funded between 2017-2021.
• Research and Community Service Institution (LPPM) Research and community service institution coordinating 28 research centers, research proposal submissions to DRPM and internal PNBP funds, scientific publications, patent applications, and community outreach programs at USK.
• Nilam (Patchouli) IPTEK Center — Pusat Unggulan IPTEK Nilam Aceh Flagship S&T research center producing patchouli-based innovation products including perfumes, balms, scrubs, hand sanitizers, mosquito repellent lotion, essential oils, soaps, and spa salt for commercial distribution.
• Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) Disaster mitigation research center advancing disaster risk reduction methodologies, hosting international fellowship programs, and coordinating with the Government of Japan on disaster resilience initiatives in Aceh.
• IMT-GT UNINET Permanent Secretariat Coordination Services Coordination services for the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle University Network, connecting 36 member universities to facilitate student mobility, faculty exchange, and joint research programs across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
• Professional Education Program (Program Pendidikan Profesi) Post-degree professional education programs complementing academic degrees with practical professional certification for various fields.
• Master's Degree Programs (Program Pendidikan Magister) Master's level programs across economics, management, nursing, law, accounting, education, engineering, and other disciplines delivered in regular and independent pathways.
• Doctoral Programs (Program Pendidikan Doktor) Doctoral research programs across economics, law, management, agriculture, engineering, education IPS, mathematics, and veterinary sciences, producing original contributions to knowledge through dissertation research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7th rank nationally (Scimago, Feb 2020) — reflecting research output quality and volume among Indonesian universities.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMT-GT UNINET (Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle University Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2026USK was officially appointed as the Permanent Secretariat of IMT-GT UNINET in July 2026, endorsed by 36 member universities from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand at the 5th IMT-GT UNINET Council Meeting at Universitas Sumatera Utara. USK provides ongoing administrative and operational support, coordinates member activities, and ensures implementation of network programs in education, research, and student development across the three countries.
• Government of Japan (via KJRI Medan — Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026The Government of Japan provided Rp 7.5 billion in humanitarian aid consisting of 4 dump trucks and 4 excavators to strengthen disaster mitigation capabilities in Aceh. The equipment was officially handed over at SMA Lab School USK campus, with USK playing a coordinating role in the disaster resilience ecosystem.
• Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) / UPT Mitigasi Bencana USKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Internal center with international reach, hosting the Disaster Education and Management research cluster, receiving international fellowships and collaborations. Partners with Japanese government for disaster mitigation strengthening in Aceh.
• University of Malaya-WalesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026USK and University of Malaya-Wales are exploring strategic cooperation in academic exchange, joint research, and student mobility programs. The partnership aims to strengthen global networks and international academic collaboration.
• UniRazakminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026USK and UniRazak collaborate on the international Summer Course in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR), building disaster resilience capacity through joint educational programs and cross-institutional student participation.
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi)coreOthers · 4 February 2026Government parent ministry overseeing USK as a PTN-BH (state university with legal entity status). Manages rector appointment process, funding allocations (APBN), and regulatory framework. Under Regulation PP No. 38/2022, USK operates with greater autonomy under this ministry.
• Ministry of Education — Kemdiktisaintek (Indonesian Higher Education, Science and Technology)coreOthers · 4 February 2025Deputy Minister of Higher Education visited USK programs and expressed appreciation for community service impact, demonstrating close working relationship and ministerial support for USK's Campus Berdampak initiative.
• Prince of Songkla University (Thailand)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 December 2024Prince of Songkla University serves as the Thailand National Coordinator for IMT-GT UNINET. Together with USK as Permanent Secretariat, they co-signed the endorsement documents for IMT-GT UNINET leadership alongside Universiti Teknologi MARA (Chairman).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM): Top-tier Indonesian public research university and a national benchmark for research output and ranking. Provides the competitive ceiling that USK's research investments are measured against in Scimago and Scopus national rankings.
• Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM): Flagship Malaysian research university and IMT-GT UNINET member. Comparable comprehensive research-university profile and PTN-BH-equivalent public-research mandate in a neighboring country.
• University of Malaya: Malaysia's premier research university and a strategic USK partner via the IMT-GT UNINET network. Comparable comprehensive research-university mandate and serves as a benchmark for ASEAN university partnerships USK is pursuing.
• Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM): Largest Malaysian public university and IMT-GT UNINET Chairman institution. Comparable multi-faculty comprehensive structure and ASEAN cross-border research partnership profile with USK.

Regional players

• Universitas Malikussaleh: Public university in Lhokseumawe, Aceh — the closest regional public-university peer within Aceh province. Competes with USK for Aceh-based students, faculty talent, and regional government collaboration.
• Universitas Negeri Medan (Unimed): Public university in Medan focused on teacher training and education, comparable to USK's FKIP faculty. Both compete for the same Sumatra-region teacher-training student pool and participate in IMT-GT UNINET collaborations.
• Universitas Teuku Umar: Public university in Meulaboh, Aceh. A direct in-province competitor for Aceh student recruitment and regional applied-research mandates, particularly in agriculture and fisheries.

Direct peers

• Prince of Songkla University: Major Thai public research university that serves as Thailand National Coordinator for IMT-GT UNINET. Comparable in scale, public-university governance, and cross-border research collaboration role with USK.
• Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU): Public research university in Medan, North Sumatra, with comparable scale (~30,000+ students across multiple faculties), similar national ranking profile, and overlapping western-Indonesia student catchment. USU was the host of the 5th IMT-GT UNINET Council Meeting where USK was named Permanent Secretariat.
• Universitas Andalas (Unand): Public research university in Padang, West Sumatra, serving as one of Indonesia's oldest state universities outside Java. Comparable in faculty breadth, public-university status, and Sumatra-region student market dynamics.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@uskpodcast?si=N7G0uK-XaHTd7djI
• Xx.com/univ_syiahkuala
• Facebookfacebook.com/univ.syiahkuala.id
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universitas-syiah-kuala

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Syiah Kuala University