EduAsiaNews, Washington DC — Pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) in the United States is not always synonymous with high costs. What is required instead are strong motivation, dedication to research, and a willingness to work hard. This was conveyed by Professor Haryadi Gunawi, an Indonesian diaspora academic at the University of Chicago, during a webinar hosted by the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC, on Thursday (January 8, 2026).
In his presentation titled Garuda ACE: From Open Research Training to a Guide for Securing Master’s and PhD Scholarships at Overseas Universities, Haryadi addressed and corrected several myths commonly associated with doctoral programs in the United States.
The first myth, he said, is the assumption that PhD graduates must pursue careers as lecturers or professors. Data from the United States show that only about 30 percent of PhD holders in STEM areas work in academia. Around 60 percent are absorbed into industry—particularly the technology sector—while the rest choose entrepreneurship. “At Google, 16 percent of the engineers hold doctoral degrees,” Haryadi noted.
The second myth concerns cost. According to Haryadi, doctoral programs in the United States generally do not burden students with tuition fees. Most PhD students are recruited by their supervisors as research assistants or teaching assistants. Through these positions, students receive tuition waivers as well as monthly salaries.
For this reason, the third myth—that pursuing a PhD means “coming home broke”—is also inaccurate. Especially for students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, in addition to full tuition coverage, they receive regular income. “Many are actually able to save money. In a PhD program, money is not the main issue—preparation is,” Haryadi said.
The fourth myth relates to educational pathways. Not all doctoral programs in the United States require students to complete a master’s degree first. At several universities, bachelor’s degree holders can enter PhD programs directly, provided they have a strong research track record from the fifth to the eighth semester, actively publish in reputable academic journals, and are able to conduct research for at least 20 hours per week.
Prof. Haryadi then talked about the Garuda ACE and computer science communities. Between 2014 and 2025, the communities have helped around 200 Indonesian students. However, only33 percent of the students were able to stay in their research paths for two years. But 95% of those who stayed ultimately secured fully funded doctoral scholarships at leading U.S. universities as a result of the hard work that they have done. One of the alumni is Mohammad H. Santiaji, a University of Chicago graduate who also moderated the webinar.
The fifth myth, Haryadi added, is the perception that doctoral studies are too long and boring. “If someone truly enjoys research and becomes a young researcher who is paid, the process is actually engaging and something to look forward to,” he said.
Students who were helped by the communities come from various Indonesian universities, including the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Gadjah Mada University, as well as several private institutions. They are now pursuing fully funded doctoral studies at prominent universities such as the University of Chicago, Purdue University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University.
At the webinar, which was attended by around 500 participants from various countries, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie also introduced the GARUDA Program for high schoolers. The program selects outstanding high school students to receive scholarships for undergraduate studies at the world’s top 100 universities, particularly in STEM fields. To date, 368 students have been sent abroad, most of them to the United States.
According to Stella, from the outset, GARUDA high-school participants are projected to continue directly to doctoral programs after completing their bachelor’s degrees. Starting in their fifth semester, they are encouraged to engage in faculty-led research and academic journal writing as preparation for applying to PhD programs through scholarships from the Education Endowment Fund Agency (LPDP) or university funding. The program, Stella said, is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to develop a strong pool of STEM experts to support Indonesia’s goal of becoming a newly industrialized nation by 2045.
Stella also opened opportunities for research collaboration between Indonesian professional diaspora in the United States and professors in Indonesia. With national research funding of around Rp 3.2 trillion, she invited young Indonesian scientists to participate as research assistants through master’s and doctoral programs. “Funding is provided by LPDP, with recommendations from the ministry,” she said.
Following up on this initiative, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo stated that he would mobilize Indonesian professional diaspora and academics to submit joint research proposals. These research projects are expected to serve as platforms for doctoral education for Indonesian students currently studying in the United States.
Data show that the number of Indonesian PhD graduates from U.S. universities remains relatively small. In 2018, universities in the United States awarded around 55,000 doctoral degrees. Of these, 6,182 were earned by graduates from China, while Indonesia recorded only 82 PhD graduates in the STEM areas. This figure represents both a challenge and an opportunity for strengthening Indonesia’s human resources in research and innovation.
