Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Brunei: What Exists and How to Apply

Government scholarships for Bruneian citizens

The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS) is the main source of funding for citizens studying locally or overseas. The local scheme, BDGS-LS, is tenable at UBD, UTB, UNISSA and Politeknik Brunei. Applications go through HECAS , the same portal used for general admission.

To qualify for BDGS-LS at undergraduate level you need to be a Brunei citizen holding a Yellow IC, meet the programme's academic entry requirement, and be under 26 years old. Postgraduate applicants need a bachelor's degree with second class honours or better and must be under 30, both measured as of 1 September of the intake year. A Grade C6 in Bahasa Melayu at 'O' Level and the standard English requirement also apply, according to UBD's scholarship page .

A BDGS award covers tuition in full, accommodation, a monthly allowance, books, food, personal spending money, complementary treatment at government hospitals, and travel arranged through Brunei's foreign missions.

Government scholarships for study overseas

The Ministry of Education's Department of Scholarship Management also runs an overseas scholarship scheme for citizens who want to study abroad. It is administered through HECAS but only accepts applications during the February round. Anyone applying for an overseas scholarship also submits at least one application to a local programme in the same round, so a backup place is secured either way.

Scholarships open to ASEAN students who want to study in Brunei

Brunei also funds international students, including from other ASEAN countries, through BDGS-IS, the scholarship's international scheme. It covers diploma, undergraduate and master's study at UBD, UNISSA, UTB, Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan, and Politeknik Brunei. Coverage includes tuition, admission and exam fees, a residential college room, a monthly allowance of B$650, a return economy flight, and health insurance.

Age limits apply as of 1 July of the year studies begin: under 25 for undergraduate and diploma applicants, under 35 for master's applicants. Bruneians, permanent residents, and anyone who has already studied at a Brunei tertiary institution are not eligible for BDGS-IS. Applications for the 2026/27 academic session close on 15 February 2026 at 23:59 Brunei time, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs BDGS portal , where you register with an email one-time code before starting the form.

University research scholarships

UBD runs its own funding for research students on top of the government schemes. The UBD Graduate Research Scholarship targets PhD candidates aiming for research-intensive careers, and the UBD Bursary supports PhD applicants planning to move into academia. Both are separate from BDGS and applied for directly through UBD .

Private and corporate scholarships

Brunei Shell Petroleum, through the Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) scholarship, funds Brunei citizens studying engineering, geoscience and related technical fields. Entry needs at least three A-Levels graded BBB plus five O-Levels including Bahasa Melayu and English, or an IB score of 35 or higher, or a GPA of 3.0 in a relevant advanced diploma. The scheme covers tuition, living costs, transport and study materials in exchange for a 5-year work commitment to the company after graduation. Selection runs through an online screening stage, a written behavioral assessment, and a panel interview, according to BSP's scholarship page .

When and how to apply

Plan around the February HECAS round for a local government scholarship or an overseas government scholarship, since both close their doors outside that window. BDGS-IS for international applicants runs on its own schedule through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal, separate from HECAS. Corporate scholarships like BSJV typically open applications around the time A-Level results are released, so check each company's careers page directly rather than wait for a fixed date.