Frequently Asked Questions

# 1. What mix of language and regular subjects should I take at UGM?

ACICIS requires students to study at least 12 credit points (known as "SKS"), and no more than 15. Most subjects are worth 2 or 3 credit points, so students should take four to six semester subjects. Students may make their own choices, but will need to obtain approval from the ACICIS Resident Director. For the Indonesian Language subject choice, the Resident Director will take advice from UGM based on the placement test.

Beginners (with no or little previous Indonesian language) should choose the full 12 credit points of language offered, at either beginners or intermediate level. A total of 12 contact hours per week, over 14 weeks amounts to 168 hours of instruction.

Intermediate student (with less than 4 semesters of university level Indonesian language, or equivalent) should choose at least 10 credit points of language at intermediate or advanced level.

Advanced students (with 4 or more semesters of university level Indonesian language, or equivalent) should choose about 4 credit point of advanced language (somehwere between 0 and 8 credit points depending on language competency). The better the student's language, the less language classes will be needed.

# 2. How do I choose regular curriculum subjects?

Several methods of choosing regular curriculum subjects are suggested. One possibility is for students to choose a subject about which they know nothing and study it at a basic level, for example, Ethnography of Java. The readings would be in Indonesian. Another method is to choose subjects in which the concepts are already understood, for example, Sociology, and study it at basic level to focus on the language. Alternatively, choose a higher level subject in your own area of specialisation and really stretch yourself.

As the Flexible Immersion program is focused on Indonesian language acquisition, students must select courses in which all lectures, tutorials, and assessment are in Bahasa Indonesia, and as far as possible, all texts as well. In practice, however, the set readings for many subjects are in English as books available in Indonesian may not be available. Whilst ACICIS discourages students from studying subjects where the readings are in English, this can't always be avoided. ACICIS encourages students to take as many subjects in Indonesian as possible to maximise the immersion experience. Students must consult ACICIS Yogyakarta staff before finalising their subject choices. Home institutions have the right to determine guidelines for their own students who should notify ACICIS staff of these. It is not possible for students to find out precisely which courses are offered at UGM in any particular semester prior to departure, and ACICIS will not attempt to convert or translate Indonesian university units into Australian or other university equivalents.

In addition to the courses outlined above, ACICIS offers several cultural activities which all ACICIS students at UGM may choose to join according to their interests. Information about these activities is provided during Orientation.

# 3. When do I select my subjects?

Unfortunately, it currently lies outside UGM’s (and therefore ACICIS’) administrative capabilities to provide a definitive list of available subjects prior to the commencement of orientation. At orientation, students will be presented with a list of subjects on offer for their semester. For this reason ACICIS advises incoming students not to pin their in-country study plans on a set of pre-selected immersion subjects but to leave their subject selection until orientation when they have the proper information regarding available subjects in front of them. The information on the ACICIS website regarding specific courses/subjects offered at UGM is the most up to date information that ACICIS has available. We provide this information on the website to illustrate – in general terms – the range of subjects on offer at UGM for ACICIS immersion students. It is not a definitive list of the subjects that will be on offer during your Flexible Immersion semester. In all likelihood, many of the subjects offered in past years will be offered again during your semester but ACICIS cannot guarantee this prior to orientation.

# 4. Can I go travelling before my ACICIS semester?

The short answer to this one is not really! Because of strict Visa regulations, you may not arrive in Indonesia until three days before Orientation. You will have time at the end of your study to do some travelling around Indonesia, but you will need to obtain an exit permit. Visas for Australian Students are processed through the Perth Consulate and Visa authorisation may not arrive more than 3 weeks before the semester starts. Therefore (for Australian students) unless you have made specialised arrangements with the Secretariat prior to or at the time of submitting your application, you will have to be in the country with your passport in Perth immediately before the start of semester. It is possible to get your visa issued elsewhere, such as Singapore, but this is more difficult and will be your own responsibility.

International participants should email the Secretariat acicis@murdoch.edu.au for information on their status.

# 5. Can I go travelling after my ACICIS semester?

The KITAS temporary stay permit that you’ll be issued with once your initial VITAS visa has been converted in-country is technically valid for 12 months. However, the permit’s validity is contingent upon you being enrolled at one of ACICIS' partner universities in Indonesia.. There is a bit of a grey area regarding when, following the end of semester, you‘re technically no longer ‘enrolled’, so, as a rule of thumb, ACICIS advises students that they are welcome to travel around Indonesia for one month from the date of their final exam. If your post-semester travel plans extend beyond a month, you’ll need to exit and re-enter Indonesia on a tourist visa to continue with your travels.  If you’re undertaking two semesters of study with ACICIS, you are, of course, free to travel around Indonesia during the vacation period between semesters and for a month following your final semester.

# 6. Can I go back to my home country or overseas at any time?

At orientation your passports will be taken off you in order to finalise the visa process. Four weeks is the projected time for return of your passport but the visa processing is an immigration matter and the precise duration of processing is beyond the control of ACICIS. Due to this uncertainty ACICIS advises students NOT to undertake any overseas travel for the first two months of their stay in Indonesia.

You can return home after your passport has been returned, provided that it is not during exams and that you are meeting your academic requirements. Students need to keep up their workload, fulfill their minimum 80% attendance requirements of the host university and attend all exams. Should students fall behind in their workload or miss an exam as a result of their travel plans, under no circumstances will ACICIS intervene in assisting students negotiate with lecturers, providing 'explanatory letters' and so forth.

# 7. Do I need a return ticket for immigration purposes?

Yes. Indonesian immigration requires you to have proof of a return flight or onward journey. If you are unsure what your return date will be it is a good idea to get a flexible return ticket to give you the option of extending/shortening your return date if need be.

# 8. How much money will I need?

It is difficult to estimate how much money is needed to cover living costs, as student preferences vary considerably. While living costs in Indonesia are cheap compared to Australian standards, it is wise not to underestimate cash needs. Costs change according to fluctuations in-country and the exchange rate. Past students recommended a minimum amout of approcimately AUD$100 per week.

# 9. Can I ride a motorbike when I am in Indonesia?

If you intend to ride a motorbike in-country, you will obviously need a motorbike licence. There are two ways to do this: 1) You can wait until you arrive in-country and apply for one there, about AUD$40 at last check (students tend to get a licence about two months after they've arrived in Indonesia and all their police and immigration paperwork is finalised); or 2) you can obtain one in your home country before departing. If you opt for the second option you will need both a motorcycle licence from your home country as well as an international driver’s licence. These are available from state motoring organisations for a small fee. You will need to check though--both from a legal and insurance perspective--whether these licenses enable to you ride motorcycles.

It is also a good idea to consider bringing a helmet from home that meets Australian safety standards. Many Indonesian helmets are of a much poorer quality and do not provide the protection a helmet of Australian standards would bring.

Lastly, it is imperative that you make sure your insurance covers you for riding a motorbike. ACICIS is not able to help resolve insurance problems if you are not properly licensed or not wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle.

# 10. What sort of insurance cover should I get?

Health and Travel Insurance cover including provision for emergency evacuation is obligatory for all ACICIS programs. When choosing your insurance, it is recommended that you opt for one that has no excess ('nil excess) so that you won't be caught short if you need to make a medical or theft claim. If you plan to ride a motorbike then you should also make sure that your insurance covers you for this.

# 11. What hospitals/medical facilties are available in Yogya?

There are international standard hospital/medical centers available in Yogyakarta. Rumah Sakit Panti Rapih is right near UGM and where most ACICIS students end up for various ailments. Rumah Sakit Bethesda is also near UGM. Both offer a good premium service. UGM students may alternatively use their student card to access the Gadjah Mada Medical Centre (GMC) that is located on the Sekip side of campus.

For consultations in the evening hours, Dr. Paulus comes recommended (he also speaks fluent English). His contact details are: K-24 Apotek, Jl Kusumanegara 86, Umbulharjo (5pm-8pm); Tel:(0274)375001/ 08122693680.

The ACICIS office in Yogya also has a list of hospitals accredited by international insurers so if you happen to be travelling outside of Yogya.

# 12. Can my partner or a family member come with me?

Due to visa and other administrative regulations, ACICIS can only provide assistance for some accompanying family members, on the same type of visa (Vitas) as the ACICIS participant if an application is received at the same time as applications for study (1 May/October). There are only provisions within Indonesian visa regulations for accompanying wives and children on this type of visa, although it is usually possible to obtain a visa for accompanying husbands. It should be noted that visa application regulations, set by the Indonesian government, require a certified copy of a birth certificate for accompanying children, and/or a Certificate of Marriage for an accompanying spouse. Children in particular have a unique experience while they are in Indonesia. For more information about taking family with you to Indonesia, see here

# 13. Can I undertake postgraduate study with ACICIS?

Most students undertaking study with ACICIS do so as part of their undergraduate studies. However, ACICIS does and has accepted numerous postgraduate students onto its in-country programs over the years. These have included students pursuing graduate diploma qualifications, master's degrees, and PhDs. Postgraduate students have undertaken in-country programs as accredited components of their postgraduate qualifications (with prior approval from their home university) or as unaccredited preparation for postgraduate fieldwork and research. Please note, that these students have done so as participants in undergraduate level programs offered by Indonesian universities. ACICIS does not currently offer semester long programs at a postgraduate level (eg. master's-level coursework programs). It should also be emphasised that postgraduate students undertaking study with ACICIS may not use their time in Indonesia while on an ACICIS program (or while on the KITAS permit organised by ACICIS) to conduct fieldwork or postgraduate research in Indonesia. Conducting research of this nature in Indonesian requires a separate level of approval from the Indonesian government, specifically from RISTEK, the ministry responsible for issuing research permits. For information and first-hand accounts of what is involved in obtaining a research permit for Indonesia please here, here and here.

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