Implementation of Decision Support System Using AHP and TOPSIS Methods for Web-Based Scholarship Selection

Abstract

The scholarship selection process in higher education requires an objective, transparent, and efficient decision-making approach. This study aims to develop a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) to assist scholarship selection at Institut Shanti Bhuana by integrating the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The AHP method is used to determine the weights of five main selection criteria: psychological tests, interviews, academic potential tests, parents' income, and number of dependents. The TOPSIS method is then applied to rank the alternatives based on their closeness to the ideal solution. The system was built as a responsive website and tested using the black-box method to ensure its functionality. The results show that the system produces scholarship recommendations that align with previous calculations, indicating that the system works accurately and consistently. This DSS provides a practical contribution to simplifying and increasing the transparency of the scholarship selection process based on measurable and accountable criteria.