The Unofficial Survival Guide to FMIPA UGM — An IUP Student’s Perspective

PPSMB, 2022

Hello everyone! With a new academic year just around the corner and a fresh batch of mahasiswa baru getting ready to step foot on campus, I figured it’s time to write something I wish existed when I first started.

My name is Haiqal, an upcoming graduate of the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) in Computer Science at FMIPA UGM. Four years, one exchange program, one skripsi, and way too many all-nighters later… I’m finally done. And I have thoughts.

Thesis Defense, 2026

FMIPA (Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam) is one of UGM’s most distinguished faculties and home to programs ranging from Mathematics and Physics to Computer Science and Statistics. It’s a faculty with a strong academic culture, a global outlook, and genuinely exciting opportunities for students who know how to navigate it. The keyword there being: navigate.

Like any big faculty, knowing where to look and who to ask makes all the difference. Your friends, seniors, and faculty members are your biggest allies when it comes to finding information. So build those connections early and don’t be afraid to reach out.

This isn’t your official orientation guide. Think of this as a friendly heads-up from someone who’s been through it. The tips, the lessons, and the things worth knowing before you need them. Let’s get into it.

FMIPA Building, 2026

Why FMIPA is Worth It — By the Numbers

DIES NATALIES Activity Banner, 2026

If you’re reading this wondering whether FMIPA is the right place to be, let me put it plainly: it’s one of the strongest STEM faculties in Indonesia and the credentials back it up.

Multiple FMIPA programs — including Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics — consistently rank in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, placing them among the top in Indonesia and competitive globally. Several faculty members have been recognized in Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list, which means the people teaching you aren’t just academics — they’re actively contributing to global research.

On the accreditation side, certain programs hold international certifications from bodies like ASIIN (Germany), meaning the curriculum is benchmarked against global standards. Most permanent faculty hold doctoral degrees from universities across the US, Europe, and Asia — so the academic environment here is genuinely world-class.

Beyond the classroom, FMIPA has strong ties to industry. Partners like IBM, Bukalapak, and BPS (Statistics Indonesia) are among the organizations that actively collaborate with the faculty — opening doors for internships and professional networks you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

The point isn't to brag. It's to say: you're in a good place. Make the most of it.

1. International Exposure — Dream Big, Plan Bigger

If you’re an IUP student, international exposure isn’t optional, it’s mandatory. And honestly that’s one of the best things about being in IUP. But here’s the thing: it requires a lot of homework before you even submit a single application.

First, ask yourself: what kind of international experience do you actually want?

• A short program (summer/winter course, short exchange)?
• A full semester exchange?
• A double degree?
• A scholarship-funded program, or are you self-funding?

These aren’t questions to answer the week before the deadline. Each path has wildly different timelines, document requirements, and SKS conversion rules.

Spartan Stadium, 2024

I personally spent a single semester — about 4 months — at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States and it was genuinely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Landing in a foreign country to study for the first time and surrounded by a completely different culture, different food, and different everything felt like “finally, a fresh breath of air” for the first time after years of the same four walls. It was something I had dreamed about for a long time and actually living it was something else entirely.

Do be advised though: program duration varies depending on which country and university you choose. Generally speaking, programs can range anywhere from 2 to 6 months, so always check the specific timeline of your target university before committing.

Life at MSU — Beyond the Classroom

One thing that genuinely suprised me about MSU is just how much there is to do outside of academics. MSU boasts over 1,000 student organizations — yes, you read that right — covering everything from academic clubs to sports, arts, and pretty much anything in between. During orientation week, there’s a massive club fair where you can explore and sign up for whatever catches your eye.

For me, that was the Skate Club.

Skate Club’s First Gathering, 2024

I wanted something completely non-academic, something that would get me out of my head and just enjoy the moment. The Skate Club was exactly that — super chill, no pressure, just weekly skate sessions either at the skate house (a spot just outside campus) or behind Hubbard Hall. You’d show up, skate, meet people from completely different backgrounds, and just vibe. Some of my favorite memories from MSU came from those sesssions.

Indonesian Cultural Night — Serasi

Indonesian Cultural Night — Serasi, 2024

One of the mandatory programs from the scholarship was organizing an Indonesian Cultural event — essentially a chance to introduce Indonesian culture to the international community at MSU. Our group decided to go big: a full interactive theater production titled “Princess Rengganis and the Mythical Batik” a story rooted in Javanese folklore, complete with costumes, batik painting workshops, traditional Indonesian games, and audience participation.

I was chosen as the director of the production.

Cast preparing for the show, 2024

What started as a modest event turned into something far bigger than we anticipated. We promoted it through banners, word of mouth, and personal invitations — and somewhere along the way, it pulled a crowd of around 200 people. What blew us away was discovering how many Indonesians were living in Michigan — professors, staff, students — people we had never crossed paths with before, all showing up because they saw a piece of home being celebrated on stage.

The venue was a dome-shaped classroom designed for about 100 people. We made it work.

It was chaotic, it was stressful, and it was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been part of. Representing Indonesia on foreign soil, in a way that brought people together — that’s something I’ll carry with me long after graduation.

A Note on Food

American food is great, but fair warning: everything has a lot of sugar. Finding halal food, however, was easier than expected — most places label it clearly, so you won’t be scrambling. Just watch what you eat before and you’ll be fine.

Before all of that came the grind: motivational essays, academic transcripts, language proficiency scores, recommendation letters, and more. The earlier you start preparing these documents, the better. Some programs also require you to check whether your chosen university has an official collaboration (MoU) with UGM — because that affects whether your SKS can be converted or not. And most importantly, check whether your faculty has specific rules about when you’re allowed to apply for international programs. Not all faculties are the same.

2. SKS is No Joke — Maximize It While You Can

This one I learned the hard way.

Hasil Studi, 2026

During my 7th semester, I found out a little too late that my attendance for one of my classes had fallen below the minimum threshold. The consequence? I wasn’t allowed to sit for the final exam. No exam, no grade. Just like that, a blank space on my transcript.

Because of that, I had to carry extra courses into my final semester — the semester that was supposed to be fully dedicated to skripsi. Instead of going all-in on my thesis, I was juggling coursework at the same time.

So here’s my advice: maximize your SKS in your earlier semesters. Take the courses, show up to class, and don’t let attendance slip under your radar. You want your later semesters — especially your final one — to be as light as possible so you can focus entirely on skripsi. And for those of you who don’t live in Jogja? A lighter final semester might also mean you get to go home sooner. That alone should be motivation enough.

Life is unpredictable. Things happen. Having enough buffer SKS from early on gives you room to breathe when they do.

3. Skripsi — The Earlier You Start, The Better (Trust Me)

Let me tell you a story.

Me and my friends (Ren & Taichi) After Thesis Defense, 2026

I planned my skripsi timeline carefully: take Kelas Seminar in 6th semester, Seminar Proposal (Sempro) in 7th, and full skripsi in 8th. Clean, right? Except it didn’t go that way.

Midway through 7th semester, I realized I still hadn’t received my grade for Kelas Seminar. So I started digging — and found out that in order to get your Kelas Seminar grade, you need to separately register for the seminar though a standalone website. Something I had missed entirely because I hadn’t been proactive enough in checking the administrative steps.

Honestly, that one was on me. I assumed things would just fall into place without double-checking, and they didn’t. The lesson: always verify the admin process yourself- don’t wait for the grade to appear and assume everything is fine.

Because of that oversight, my timeline shifted. I ended up compressing my seminar and sempro into 7th semester and pushed full skripsi to 8th. It was stressful, but manageable — and entirely avoidable if I had just been more diligent from the start.

When I finally got to focus on skripsi after KKN wrapped up around February, I had roughly 88 days before the submission deadline. Eighty-eight days to produce a complete, defensible thesis. It was intense. But I got it done.

What I wish I had done: talk to your dosen earlier. Don’t wait until you’re enrolled in the thesis course to start the conversation. Float your research idea to a potential dosen pembimbing as early as possible. The earlier you lock in your topic and supervisor, the smoother everything else becomes.

Oh, and always — always — double-check the administrative steps. Don’t assume the grade will just appear.

4. KKN — It’s Mandatory, So Plan Around It

Upacara Pelepasan KKN, 2025

Every UGM student goes through KKN (Kuliah Kerja Nyata), no exceptions. But what a lot of students don’t realize early enough is that when you do KKN varies depending on your faculty — some faculties send their students in semester 5, some in 6, some in 7.

This matters more than it sounds, especially if you’re also planning international exposure or an internship. Stack too many big commitments in the same period and your academic timeline can get seriously derailed — delayed graduation, extra semesters, more courses to juggle.

The moment you enter FMIPA, find out exactly when your batch is expected to do KKN. Then plan everything else around it. It’s one of those things that’s easy to overlook when you’re a fresh maba, but becomes very relevant very fast.

5. Campus Life — Know Your Spots (and Your Opportunities)

FMIPA is a pretty self-contained world once you get used to it. Here are a few places and things worth knowing about:

DWP (the canteen) — The main food spot inside the official FMIPA building. It’s nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. And here’s a little gem: during exam weeks — both UTS and UAS — DWP gives out free breakfast every morning. Yes, free. Show up early and grab something before your exam. You’ll thank yourself later.

d’Science Mart, 2026

Free Breakfast Instagram Poster — caption: “Special Free Breakfast for FMIPA UGM students during exam week. Source: @fmipaugm on instagram.”

Kantin Biologi — Another option during breaks between classes. A bit further out but worth the walk if you want something different.

Kantin Biologi, 2026

The IUP Room is a free space available for all students — whether you want to study, hang out, or just meet new people. A good spot to kill time between classes and get to know your fellow IUP students.

IUP Room, 2026

The Academic Office — learn where this is on Day 1. This is where a lot of administrative things happen, and when something goes wrong (and something will go wrong), you’ll need to know exactly where to go.

Academic Office, 2026

Auditorium — FMIPA’s main event venue, used for everything from faculty ceremonies and academic events to seminars and competitions. If you’re attending any official faculty event, chances are it’s happening here.

Auditorium, 2026

What Makes FMIPA — and IUP — Worth It

Beyond the locations, FMIPA has something that not every faculty can offer: a genuine culture of global mobility. Whether it’s exchange programs, international research collaborations, or double degree opportunities, FMIPA actively pushes its students toward a broader horizon.

For IUP students specifically, this is even more built-in. Your classes are conducted in English, your peers come from diverse backgrounds, and international exposure isn’t just encouraged — it’s required. But here’s something worth knowing: that international network has real, tangible value after graduation. International companies and universities actively seek out IUP graduates, and it’s not uncommon for opportunities — job offers, further study, collaborations — to come directly through those connections. That’s not something you get everywhere.

So take it seriously. Show up, engage, and make the most of what FMIPA puts in front of you.

Last Words

FMIPA is genuinely one of the best places you could spend your undergraduate years. The academic rigor, the global opportunities, the people you’ll meet along the way — it’s a lot but it’s worth it.

Just remember: a lot of things here work on an “if you know, you know” basis. Information doesn’t always come to you — sometimes you have to go find it. Ask your seniors, stay in the loop with Himakom and your prodi’s community, and don’t hesitate to proactively seek out information when you need it.

FMIPA gave me some of the hardest and most rewarding years of my life. I hope it does the same for you.

You’ve got this. Now go make the most of it.

Haiqal, CS IUP FMIPA UGM, Class of 2022