Students in their final year of senior high school who plan to sit Indonesia's computer-based national university entrance test, known as UTBK SNBT, next year are being advised to think carefully about which majors to choose and where those choices might lead professionally, according to Kompas.com.
In a report published Thursday (22/10/2026), Kompas.com notes that picking a program with relatively few applicants at a preferred campus can be a useful strategy, and that a low applicant count does not necessarily signal weak job prospects. The outlet, citing the Bentara Campus page, lists several such majors that it says offer promising career paths.
Why it matters
The national entrance test is a high-stakes moment for Indonesian school leavers, and the majors students select shape both their studies and their later employment. Kompas.com's point is that competition levels and career outlook do not always move together. Programs that attract fewer applicants can still lead to stable and in-demand work, which may give candidates room to enter a strong field at a preferred institution.
The report also urges prospective students to seek advice before settling on a low-demand major, rather than choosing on the basis of applicant numbers alone.
Astronomy: rare in Indonesia, broad in application
Kompas.com describes astronomy as a fit for students drawn to planets, stars and the mysteries of the universe. The field covers celestial bodies and phenomena occurring beyond Earth's atmosphere, along with the structure and evolution of the universe and the characteristics of asteroids, comets and other objects in space.
According to the report, the program is offered at only one Indonesian university, the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), making it especially uncommon nationally. Graduates, Kompas.com says, can move into roles as astronomers, scientific specialists, science editors or journalists, and university lecturers in astronomy.
Forestry: field-based study with a national stake
Forestry is presented as a hands-on major in which students spend time in forests learning about conservation and the resources found there. Coursework covers how forest ecosystems are maintained, managed and protected.
Kompas.com notes that the field carries weight for the survival of humans and other living things, and that it is likely to remain in demand given Indonesia's forest area, which the report ranks as the third largest in the world after Brazil.
Career paths listed for forestry graduates include conservation specialist, botanist, field officer, program or project officer, environmental activist, environmental journalist, lecturer or researcher, environmental consultant, and civil servant.
Special education: teaching students with disabilities
Kompas.com also points to special education, known in Indonesia as pendidikan luar biasa (PLB), for those interested in teaching children with special needs. The report describes the field as covering students with mental, social or emotional disabilities, including deaf, blind and intellectually disabled learners.
The source article does not list specific career prospects for this major. Its published text also cuts off partway through the section, so the full list of seven majors was not available in the material provided.
What to watch
Kompas.com's guidance is aimed at students preparing to register for next year's UTBK SNBT. Prospective applicants may want to follow further reporting from the outlet for the remaining majors on its list, and to weigh advice from counselors and campus sources before finalizing their choices.
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