Study Abroad Scholarships for Bruneian Students: Programs Worth Applying To
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Scholarships & Funding, Study in Southeast Asia
Six scholarship routes fund Bruneian students abroad: the government's own Scholarship Scheme, Chevening in the UK, Australia Awards, Fulbright in the US, MEXT in Japan, and GKS in South Korea. Most cover full tuition plus a living allowance, but each has its own subject priorities and deadline.
🎓 Government Scholarship Scheme: funds first degree, master's, and PhD study abroad through the Ministry of Education.
📩 Chevening: fully funded UK master's degree, one year, open to applicants with leadership potential.
💵 Australia Awards: master's and PhD study in Australia, priority given to climate change, economics, food security, maritime, and security fields.
🎓 Fulbright: US postgraduate study, funded by the US government.
📩 MEXT and GKS: fully funded routes into Japanese and South Korean universities through embassy screening.
⏱️ Apply through your target country's embassy or the Higher Education Information Hub, and start 10 to 12 months before intake.
Government Scholarship Scheme (Brunei Ministry of Education)
The Department of Scholarship Management runs Brunei's own overseas award, covering first degree, master's, and PhD study at foreign universities. As of 2016 reporting, eligible universities needed to place inside the QS or THE world top 250 for undergraduate awards, top 200 for master's, and top 100 for PhD study, and the scheme capped overseas places at 50 a year. Confirm the current ranking bar, subject priorities, and quota on the Higher Education Information Hub before you apply, since Ministry priorities shift with workforce needs.
Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom)
Chevening funds a one-year master's degree at any UK university for applicants who show leadership potential and a plan to return home and contribute to Brunei's development. The award covers tuition, a monthly stipend, travel, and a visa application fee. Applications open in August each year through the Chevening website and close in early October (confirm the exact date each cycle), so start your personal statement and reference letters well before the window opens.
Australia Awards
Australia Awards fund master's and PhD study at Australian universities for Bruneian applicants (the current intake does not include undergraduate places, so confirm the levels offered on DFAT's Brunei intake page each cycle) who can show how their studies serve Brunei's development priorities. Priority fields include climate change, economics, food security, defense, maritime affairs, and security. The award covers tuition, travel, a living allowance, and health cover for the full program length. Check DFAT's Brunei intake information for the current application window.
Fulbright Foreign Student Program (United States)
Fulbright is the flagship US government exchange program and funds postgraduate study and research at American universities. It covers tuition, a living stipend, travel, and health insurance for the length of the program. Applications go through the US Embassy in Brunei or directly via the Fulbright Foreign Student Program site , and the process includes an interview stage on top of the written application.
MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology funds undergraduate, research, and graduate study at Japanese universities through its embassy-recommended route. The award covers tuition, a monthly stipend, and airfare, and most tracks start with a one-year Japanese language and preparatory period before degree study begins. Applications run through the Study in Japan portal, and the Japanese Embassy in Brunei screens candidates before forwarding them to Tokyo.
Global Korea Scholarship (South Korea)
GKS funds undergraduate and graduate study at South Korean universities, with tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, and a year of Korean language training built into most awards. Candidates apply through the Korean Embassy in Brunei or a partnered Korean university, depending on the track. Check the current cycle's dates and quota through Study in Korea since both change yearly.
University-Specific Scholarships
Beyond government-to-government awards, individual universities in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere run their own international scholarships covering anywhere from a partial tuition discount to a full ride. Check the international scholarships page of each university on your shortlist directly, since these awards rarely appear in general scholarship directories and often carry earlier deadlines than the main application.