Cross-cultural learning, accessible lecturers, and an encouraging academic environment are helping the international student prepare to make a wider contribution to society.

YOGYAKARTA Campus News | 9 October 2026

Yogyakarta, Arriving from Nigeria with the ambition of deepening his expertise in Islamic economics and finance, Mustapha Mukhtar is pursuing a master’s degree in Islamic Economics at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. For Mustapha, choosing Indonesia and UIN Sunan Kalijaga was not simply about earning another degree; it was a step towards building the knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to society.

Before coming to Indonesia, Mustapha graduated with First Class honours and received the Ado Bayero Prize as the best graduating student in his department. He was also the best student in the Associate Certificate in Islamic Banking and Finance programme at Bayero University, Nigeria. These academic experiences strengthened his interest in Islamic economics. He also worked in the global technology industry with Meta, supporting Sub-Saharan African markets, and worked as a digital freelancer.

Mustapha says he chose Indonesia because he sees the country as an important centre for the development of Islamic economics and finance. Among the universities he considered, UIN Sunan Kalijaga stood out for its combination of Islamic values and modern economic approaches. Although he had other scholarship opportunities, he chose UIN because he felt it best matched his academic and professional aspirations.

Life in Yogyakarta has brought a series of new experiences. Before arriving, Mustapha imagined the city as a small, quiet town near the beach. Instead, he found a lively student city filled with coffee shops, welcoming people, and an atmosphere conducive to learning. He has also grown fond of nasi goreng and is continuing to learn Bahasa Indonesia and a little Javanese.

Cultural differences have appeared in everyday details. Es teh manis, or sweet iced tea, was a new discovery, while seeing men wear sarongs to the mosque differed from the Hausa cultural norms he knew at home. He also found a familiar taste in Indonesian tofu, which reminded him of awara, a popular street food in Nigeria. Different traffic directions and the six-hour time difference between Indonesia and Nigeria were also part of his initial adjustment.

Academically, Mustapha appreciates the campus’s clean, green surroundings, classrooms equipped with modern learning technology, and lecturers who are approachable and willing to provide guidance. To help international students navigate language barriers, UIN Sunan Kalijaga offers a one-semester Bahasa Indonesia for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) class. Students are also introduced to Javanese culture through activities such as a visit to Omah Kecebong.

Mustapha says his time in Yogyakarta has helped him build connections with Indonesian and international students, join book-review groups, and receive invitations to conferences. He has also received guidance from academics on writing papers for Scopus-indexed journals. For him, this supportive academic environment makes ambitious research goals feel more achievable.

Mustapha’s experience takes place as UIN Sunan Kalijaga continues to maintain its institutional quality. According to the university’s Quality Assurance Institute, UIN Sunan Kalijaga holds an “Unggul” (Excellent) institutional accreditation rating valid through 21 December 2028. The official website of the Master’s Programme in Islamic Economics also provides programme accreditation documents for the 2023–2028 period. These details offer useful institutional context for prospective students, while accreditation status should always be interpreted according to the specific programme and degree level stated in official documents.

After graduation, Mustapha is keeping his options open. He may pursue a PhD at UIN Sunan Kalijaga or another university in Indonesia or abroad, build a career in Indonesia or elsewhere, or return to Nigeria to help address social challenges in his community. He also hopes to participate more actively in international student activities next semester.

His advice to prospective international students is direct: UIN Sunan Kalijaga is a place for those who are serious about research, leadership, and making a wider impact. He sums up his approach to life with a simple expression: “No sweet without sweat.”

(Andriansyah Bastian, S.E., student of Master in Islamic Economics)