eLearning LPDP Scholarship Financial Service

Summary

Kasandra, representing LPDP’s Treasury Subdivision, explains how scholarship funds are disbursed and what recipients should check to prevent delays, rejected transfers, or verification queries.

Scholarship-Fund Disbursement Process

1. The recipient submits a funding request through e-Scholarship and uploads the required supporting documents.
2. An analyst from the Service and Scholarship Division verifies the request against the applicable guidance.
3. Once approved, the request is grouped with other approved requests and turned into a payment order.
4. The Treasury Subdivision checks the account details and requested amount.
5. If the information is correct, the treasurer and partner bank process the payment.

Account Details for Recipients Studying Overseas

Required account information varies by destination:

• Recipients studying in the Americas and Australia must provide an ABA code or routing number.
• European recipients must provide an IBAN.
• The video says Europe, Asia, and New Zealand generally do not require an ABA or routing number.

Recipients should also:

• Ensure the account holder’s name matches the name shown in the bank’s account documentation.
• Check SWIFT, ABA, BSB, routing-number, and IBAN details carefully. Use the bank’s documentation or ask the bank directly rather than relying on friends or online searches, since similar codes can be easy to confuse.
• Remember that LPDP processes the details entered in e-Scholarship. Incomplete or incorrect information can cause a transfer to be rejected or held by the receiving bank.
• Activate the account before entering it in the system if activation is required to receive funds.

Japan Postbank and Digital Banks

• The speaker advises against using Japan Postbank for LPDP payments. It accepts international remittances in US dollars or euros, while LPDP’s standard payments for Japan are in yen. This mismatch can cause rejection and delays; even a later successful attempt may take time.
• Recipients in Europe are cautioned about digital banks, which may accept only limited currencies. Since LPDP allowances may be paid in euros, Swedish kronor, Norwegian kroner, or Danish kroner, recipients should confirm that their bank can accept the relevant currency.
• For any digital-bank account, verify the IBAN and other details against the bank’s own documentation.

Tuition Payments and Transfer Remarks

• LPDP and its partner banks cannot currently pay overseas universities through virtual accounts. Recipients should ask the university for a conventional bank account.
• When requesting tuition payment, enter all information the university needs to identify the payment—such as student ID, recipient name, or other required codes—in the remarks or details field.
• LPDP processes the information the recipient submits. Missing payment references can make it difficult for the university to identify the funds and may result in their return.
• Submit invoices at least 10 working days before the payment deadline. LPDP needs a minimum of 10 working days to process them. Late payments may be returned or incur a university penalty.

International Remittances

• LPDP’s partner bank sends overseas payments through an intermediary correspondent bank, which checks transactions under international transaction policies.
• Funds are generally expected to reach the recipient within up to three working days after transfer. If they do not, the payment may be held by the correspondent bank.
• The correspondent bank may request additional information, such as the transaction purpose or confirmation of recipient details. LPDP will contact the recipient if further information is needed.
• A held payment may either reach the recipient or be returned to LPDP. Either outcome can take more than 10 working days from the transfer date.
• If funds are returned, LPDP may offer to resend them overseas or send them to a domestic account to speed up receipt. A domestic withdrawal may result in a lower amount when the recipient later accesses the funds abroad.
• The speaker notes that a recipient’s name may resemble a name on a sanctions list.

Reimbursements

• LPDP transfers funds using the exchange rate applicable on the transfer date.
• For reimbursements paid into a domestic account, submit the request in rupiah rather than foreign currency.
• Include proof of payment that supports the requested rupiah amount.
• If seeking reimbursement in foreign currency for an expense paid in rupiah, the request may not be accepted. Before applying, check that the requested currency matches the payment evidence. Where relevant, provide foreign-exchange proof showing the foreign amount, exchange rate, and rupiah amount.

Common Causes of Finance-Team Verification Queries

The finance team may seek clarification if:

1. A recipient requests the same funding component twice, including while an earlier request is being processed or after it has already been paid.
2. The request uses an account that does not belong to the recipient.
3. The requested amount does not match the supporting documents or applicable rules.
4. The requested currency differs from the currency used for the original payment.
5. Account information for a direct payment to a university or insurer is incorrect—for example, the account name, account number, IBAN, SWIFT code, routing number, or short code.
6. The remarks field is incorrect or does not follow the bill’s payment instructions.
7. A third-party bill, such as one from a university or insurer, is not translated into Indonesian or English.
8. The request does not follow the scholarship disbursement guidebook.
9. Visa and insurance requests do not match the education duration or exceed the guidebook’s limits.

Other Funding Limitations

• Transportation funding does not cover optional or additional costs such as travel insurance, rescheduling, seat selection, meals, extra baggage, or other add-on services not included in a regular ticket.
• Family allowances are available only to doctoral scholarship recipients. They are provided from the first month of departure or the start of studies. Requests must include a letter of acceptance stating the study start date and family members’ residence-permit documents.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Kasandra — Presenter and guide for the session, speaking on behalf of LPDP’s Treasury Subdivision.
• LPDP processes and guidance — Described by Kasandra, including e-Scholarship procedures, scholarship disbursement rules, and coordination with partner banks, universities, insurers, and correspondent banks.