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Government Scholarship · Brunei

Govt. of Brunei DarussalamScholarship Provider

Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship 2027/28

Fully funded diploma, undergraduate and master’s study at five Bruneian institutions — full tuition, a monthly allowance, accommodation, airfare and insurance.

Expected Dec 2026 Open Updated 16 Oct 2026 By Govt. of Brunei Darussalam
Award
Fully fundedTuition, monthly allowance, accommodation, airfare
Who can apply
All nationalitiesDiploma, UG, Master’s; age limits apply
Institutions
5 institutionsUBD, UNISSA, UTB, KUPU SB, Politeknik Brunei
Expected window
Mid-Dec 2026 – mid-Feb 20272027/28 call not yet announced
Levels
Diploma / UG / Master’s3–4 yrs / 4 yrs / 12–24 months

About the scholarship

The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS), offered by Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, funds international students to study at five government institutions: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) and Politeknik Brunei. It covers diploma, undergraduate and master’s programmes, with each institution’s eligible course list published with every round.

Preparation guide: the 2027/28 application round has not been announced yet. The Ministry of Education published the 2027/28 course list in October 2026, and applications are expected around December 2026 – February 2027 (the 2026/27 round ran 15 Dec 2025 – 15 Feb 2026). Watch the MFA scholarship page from December 2026. Benefit figures below are from the 2026/27 call and should be confirmed against the new official notice.

Eligibility

  • International applicants of all nationalities — Brunei citizens and permanent residents are excluded.
  • Age limits (as of 1 July of the programme start year): diploma and undergraduate applicants must be 18–25 years old; master’s applicants must not exceed 35.
  • Never studied at a Bruneian tertiary institution before — prior enrolment counts against you.
  • English proficiency for English-taught tracks: typically IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550, or a credit in English at GCE “O” Level / IGCSE. Some courses are taught in Malay or Arabic — institutions may test your language level and may call you for an interview.
  • Married applicants may apply, but scholars are not encouraged to bring family — no family accommodation or allowances are provided.

Benefits

  • Full exemption from tuition fees.
  • Monthly allowance of BND 650 (personal allowance BND 500 + meal allowance BND 150).
  • Book allowance of BND 600 per year.
  • Free on-campus accommodation.
  • Return economy-class air ticket between your home country and Brunei.
  • Medical / health insurance and a baggage allowance (BND 250 within ASEAN / BND 500 outside).

Documents required

  1. Completed online BDGS application form with first and second programme choices (note the programme codes from each university’s brochure).
  2. Passport (valid for the study period) and passport-size photographs.
  3. Academic certificates and transcripts (certified copies).
  4. Birth certificate and police clearance.
  5. Two referee reports — the C1 and C2 reference forms completed by your referees.
  6. Any language certificates (IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent) for English-taught programmes.

How to apply

  1. Watch the MFA scholarship page from December 2026The 2027/28 announcement and course lists will appear there.
  2. Pick your programmesCheck the published lists for UBD, UNISSA, UTB, KUPU SB and Politeknik Brunei; verify the age, language and entry rules in the new notice.
  3. Apply on the MFA’s online BDGS portalFill the form and upload your documents.
  4. Also apply on the university portal if you chose UBD or UTBThe 2026/27 notice required a separate university application for these two (UNISSA, KUPU SB and Politeknik Brunei did not).
  5. Get your referees to complete the C1 and C2 formsDo this early — late references sink applications.
  6. Submit before the closing date and keep checking your emailSuccessful applicants are contacted for the next selection stage; the ministry’s decision is final and it does not take appeals.

FAQs

When will the 2027/28 round open?

Not announced yet. Based on the established pattern, expect mid-December 2026 to mid-February 2027. The ministry published the 2027/28 course list in October 2026.

Is IELTS mandatory?

For English-taught tracks the typical bar is IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550, or a credit in English at GCE “O” Level/IGCSE. Confirm the exact requirement in the new official notice.

Can I apply if I studied in Brunei before?

No — international students who have already started or completed a degree at a Bruneian institution are ineligible.

Which institutions are covered?

UBD, UNISSA, UTB, KUPU SB and Politeknik Brunei — five government-backed institutions in total.

Can married applicants apply?

Yes, marital status does not disqualify you, but no family accommodation or family allowances are provided.

Verified 19 Oct 2026: the 2027/28 round is not yet announced (MFA portal shows the call closed; last round 15 Dec 2025 - 15 Feb 2026 per a Sep 2026 read of the MFA pages; Borneo Bulletin 18 Oct 2026 reports MoE published the 2027/28 course list with applications expected around January 2027). Package (BND 650/month, BND 600/year books, tuition, accommodation, airfare, insurance, baggage), age limits (18-25 UG / max 35 master’s as of 1 July), language thresholds (IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 550), the five institutions and the UBD/UTB dual-application rule are from the 2026/27 call — to be confirmed against the new official notice when it opens.

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