Lifestyle of KIP Kuliah Scholarship Recipients: An AIO Study

Abstract

This study examines the lifestyle of students receiving the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) Scholarship for Higher Education in the Communication Science Study Program at Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu. The problem addressed is how scholarship recipients construct daily lifestyles within a campus environment that contains diverse economic backgrounds, peer interactions, digital media exposure, and social expectations. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with the Activity, Interest, and Opinion (AIO) lifestyle framework. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation involving five active KIP Kuliah recipients. The findings show that the students generally practice simple, productive, and adaptive lifestyles. In the activity dimension, students prioritize lectures, assignments, organizations, part-time work, and the use of smartphones for academic and communication purposes. In the interest dimension, they show strong interest in education, technology, social media, sports, organizations, and self-development. In the opinion dimension, they view education as the main priority and see KIP Kuliah as an opportunity to improve future living standards. Although some tendencies toward leisure activities, culinary consumption, and premium smartphone use appear, the dominant pattern remains responsible and selective. The study concludes that KIP Kuliah recipients negotiate lifestyle through internal factors such as motivation, self-awareness, financial control, and priority setting, as well as external factors such as family economy, peer environment, campus culture, technology, social media, and academic demands.