UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta officially held the first round of its New Student Admissions for the Medical Study Program via the Independent Pathway Batch I on Wednesday (1/7/2026). This inaugural selection marks a significant milestone in the journey of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Faculty of Medicine, signaling the commencement of the process to recruit the first cohort of students who will pursue medical education at the university.

Public enthusiasm for the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Medical Study Program was evident in the high number of applicants. A total of 285 prospective students registered for the first batch, surpassing the committee's initial projection of around 200 applicants. Of this number, 269 participants were verified and deemed eligible to sit the selection.

The Computer Based Test (CBT) was held on 1–2 July 2026 across two venues: the Computer Laboratory on the 4th Floor of the Faculty of Medicine Building and Training Room 1 on the 1st Floor of the Old Rectorate Building. On the first day, approximately 200 participants sat the examination across two sessions, while 69 participants were scheduled to sit on the following day (Thursday, 2/7/2026).

UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, who visited the examination venue to observe proceedings, affirmed that the admissions process for the Medical Study Program is conducted through a standardized selection system in accordance with applicable requirements.

“Today we enter the selection process for prospective students of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Medical Study Program through a selection that is standardized and required by the competent authority. We will ensure that the entire process runs as well as possible in accordance with applicable regulations, so as to admit students who truly meet the qualifications,” he said.

The Rector noted that the selection does not only measure academic competence but also takes into account the psychological readiness of prospective students. Following the academic ability test via CBT, those who pass will undergo a psychological test, a health examination, and an interview with parents or guardians as part of the comprehensive selection process.

“Behind this rigorous and standardized selection, we want to ensure that students who join are genuinely capable of completing their education as medical graduates and qualified doctors. We want to demonstrate that the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Medical Study Program is ready to oversee the entire process in accordance with regulations, making a genuine contribution to producing outstanding professional healthcare workers who also possess Islamic sensibility and humanity,” he affirmed.

The Head of Admissions at UIN Sunan Kalijaga and Chair of the Medical Program New Student Admissions Committee, Handini, M.I.Kom., explained that the high level of public interest in the Medical Study Program reflects the considerable trust placed in the quality of UIN Sunan Kalijaga.

“The number of applicants exceeded our expectations. Our initial target was around 200, but by the closing date 285 applicants had registered, with 269 verified participants. This was driven by UIN Sunan Kalijaga's reputation, the quality of our lecturers, the readiness of our facilities and infrastructure, and public confidence in the new study program we are offering,” she explained.

She added that all selection preparations were completed in approximately two months following the issuance of the Medical Study Program's operational permit in May 2026. Within this relatively short timeframe, the committee prepared the CBT system, examination devices, applications, regulations, and security mechanisms to guarantee the integrity of the selection process.

“This was our first time organizing an entrance selection for the Medical Study Program. The challenge lay in preparing entirely new applications, devices, and selection instruments, and ensuring that the entire process ran securely. Alhamdulillah, the first day proceeded in a conducive manner with strict supervision to anticipate any forms of cheating or proxy examination,” she said.

Handini noted that the quality of the selection instruments was also a primary concern. All examination questions were composed originally by a competent team of writers and subjected to a verification process, ensuring they serve as valid indicators in identifying the best prospective medical students.

Beyond introducing a new study program, the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Faculty of Medicine offers distinctive characteristics that set it apart from other medical programs. The curriculum is designed with an emphasis on promotive and preventive approaches, particularly in addressing musculoskeletal diseases and elderly health through a community-based ageing program. This approach reinforces a medical education orientation that goes beyond treatment to encompass the sustained promotion of community health.

Furthermore, the educational process is developed through inter-professional health collaboration, strengthening the integration of medical science, Islamic values, professionalism, and humanity. Through this approach, graduates are expected to become doctors who are clinically competent, adaptive to developments in knowledge, and possessed of genuine empathy and commitment in serving the community.

For the 2026 academic year, new student admissions to the Medical Study Program via the Independent Pathway will be held in three waves. The Batch I entrance examination is currently underway on 1–2 July 2026. Registration for Bacth II is scheduled for 9–31 July 2026, while Batch III will open from 7 to 18 August 2026.

The successful conduct of this inaugural selection further strengthens UIN Sunan Kalijaga's position as a university with the capacity to professionally manage technology-based student admissions systems. Its extensive experience in administering various national selections, combined with the readiness of the Faculty of Medicine, forms a vital foundation for building medical education of the highest caliber.

The presence of the Faculty of Medicine represents a strategic contribution by UIN Sunan Kalijaga to producing doctors who are professional, principled, and capable of addressing the public health challenges of Indonesia, through a fusion of scholarship, Islamic values, and dedication to humanity. (humassk)