About Universitas Andalas

Universitas Andalas is the fourth oldest university in Indonesia and now a home for nearly 29,000 students. The university was established in 1956 following the Decree of Minister of Education and Culture No. 80016/Kab; 23 December 1955. Officially, the university was launched on 13 September 1956 by its four founding fathers, together with the Dr. Mohammad Hatta (Indonesia’s first Vice President) and Sarino Mangoenpranoto (the Minister of Education and Culture). Initially, the university had five faculties spread at different cities: Payakumbuh (Faculty of Agriculture), Bukittinggi (Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Natural Science), Padang (Faculty of Law), Batusangkar (Faculty of Teaching and Education). In 1961, a new faculty was established (Faculty of Economics), followed by the establishment of Faculty of Animal Husbandry in 1963. In 1965, Faculty of Teaching and Education was separated from Universitas Andalas and became independent Institute of Teaching and Education of Padang (IKIP) which eventually was converted into Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP) in 1999. In total, Universitas Andalas currently has 15 faculties, included Humanities, Engineering, Social and Politics, Pharmacy, Agricultural Technology, and Public Health and Postgraduate Program.

Our Location

Universitas Andalas is located in Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra, a region renowned for its breathtaking natural landscapes and rich Minangkabau cultural heritage. West Sumatra offers a variety of attractions including beaches, lakes, hills, waterfalls, and culinary tours. Offshore, visitors can explore not only the world-famous Mentawai Islands but also hundreds of smaller islands with pristine white-sand beaches and lush palm forests.

One notable destination is Puncak Lawang in the Agam District, a top paragliding site offering panoramic views of Lake Maninjau from 1,210 meters above sea level. In addition to natural attractions, traditional Minangkabau houses—called rumah gadang—serve as iconic representations of local culture and values, and symbolize the matrilineal heritage of the region.

Universitas Andalas in Number

Universitas Andalas spans a total area of approximately 6,421,669 square meters, distributed across several locations:

• Main campus in Padang: 4,795,685 m²

• Lima Puluh Kota District: 1,339,200 m²

• Jati Campus: 14,186 m²

• Payakumbuh City: 100,545 m²

• Other sites in Padang

The university hosts various academic facilities, including over 27,877 m² of building space and 67,179 m² dedicated to laboratories, with 23 laboratories spread across nearly all faculties. As of 2020, Universitas Andalas had 29,623 active students, including 117 international students from diverse countries. These students enroll not only in regular academic programs but also in short-term mobility programs, such as student exchanges, internships, and summer courses.

The largest group of international students typically comes from Malaysia, followed by students from Vietnam, Tajikistan, Myanmar, Thailand, South Korea, Cambodia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Japan, China, Iran, Suriname, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, Egypt, and Madagascar. In terms of field of study, over 50% of international students pursue medical degrees, while more than 60% are enrolled at the undergraduate level.