The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS) is a fully funded award from Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for international students who want a diploma, bachelor’s or master’s degree at one of five Brunei institutions. It waives all tuition and university fees, pays BND 500 a month for personal expenses and BND 150 for meals, gives BND 600 a year for books, and covers housing, insurance and return economy flights. It is meant for people studying in Brunei for the first time, and there is no PhD option.
The 2026/2027 round opened on 15 December 2025 and closed on 15 February 2026. The deadline for the 2027/2028 Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship is 15 February 2027 at 23:59 Brunei time (15:59 GMT). Most listing pages repeat an old age rule and an expired contact email, so below is what the MFA’s own BDGS page says, checked on 25 October 2026.
Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Offered by | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam |
| Levels | Diploma, undergraduate degree, postgraduate master’s |
| Not offered | PhD |
| Host institutions | UBD, UNISSA, UTB, KUPU SB and Politeknik Brunei |
| Who can apply | Foreign nationals studying in Brunei for the first time |
| Age limits | 25 or under (diploma and bachelor’s); 35 or under (master’s) |
| English | IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550, O Level credit 6 or IGCSE C (second language) |
| How to apply | Online BDGS form linked from the MFA website, plus a separate university application for UBD and UTB |
| Deadline | 15 February 2027, 23:59 Brunei time (GMT+8) |
Universities and programme lengths
The scholarship is tied to Brunei’s public institutions. You choose a programme from the list each institution publishes for the round, and you cannot change your programme or institution once you are awarded.
| Institution | Type |
|---|---|
| Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) | National university with a broad range of faculties |
| Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) | Islamic university |
| Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) | Technology university |
| Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) | University college for religious teacher education |
| Politeknik Brunei (PB) | Polytechnic offering diplomas |
Course lengths follow each programme: about three years for a diploma, eight semesters (four years) for most bachelor’s degrees, and 12 or 24 months for a master’s. Check the current programme list on the BDGS page, since not every course is open to scholarship holders each year.
What the Brunei government scholarship covers
| Benefit | Amount or detail |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Full exemption, including acceptance, examination, registration and orientation fees |
| Personal allowance | BND 500 a month |
| Meals allowance | BND 150 a month |
| Book allowance | BND 600 a year |
| Accommodation | Residential college of your university or polytechnic |
| Flights | Economy ticket to Brunei before the course and home after it |
| Shipping allowance on completion | Up to BND 250 to an ASEAN country, up to BND 500 elsewhere |
| Insurance | Cover for the whole scholarship period |
Added up, the cash allowances come to BND 8,400 a year (BND 650 a month for 12 months, plus BND 600 for books). Since accommodation is provided, most scholars live on that without paying rent.
Costs you still carry
- Extra insurance: the MFA advises scholars to buy additional travel and personal cover at their own cost
- Family costs: there is no marriage or child allowance and no housing for a spouse or children, and scholars are discouraged from bringing family
- Pre-departure costs such as passport fees, certified copies, translations and English tests
- Any medical screening you need before travelling, if the MFA asks for one
Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship eligibility
- Nationality: foreign nationals. Older MFA guidance says the scholarship is open to citizens of, but not limited to, ASEAN, Commonwealth and OIC countries, so other nationalities can apply.
- First-time students only: Bruneians, Brunei permanent residents, and international students who are studying or have studied at a Brunei tertiary institution cannot apply.
- Age (diploma and bachelor’s): not over 25.
- Age (master’s): not over 35.
- English: any one of GCE O Level English credit 6, IGCSE English (second language) grade C, IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550.
- Academic entry: you must meet the entry rules of the programme you choose.
When your age is counted
The current MFA BDGS page and Kenya’s Ministry of Education notice for 2026/2027 both measure age on 1 July of the year the programme starts. For the 2027/2028 round that means you must be 25 or under (or 35 for master’s) on 1 July 2027. Some older notices used 31 July of the previous year, so follow whatever date the new form shows.
Minimum entry qualifications at UBD
UBD publishes entry rules for scholarship applicants. They give you a fair idea of the level expected across the institutions.
| Programme type | Typical minimum |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts or Science | Two A Level passes (160 points) or three (200 points), IB 28, or an HND with five merits |
| Bachelor of Business | As above, plus O Level Mathematics credit 6 |
| Biomedical Science | 240 points from three science A Levels, or IB 32, plus an interview |
| Medicine (BHSc) | ABB in three science A Levels or IB 36, IELTS 7.0, plus an MMI interview |
| Master’s | Relevant bachelor’s with Second Class Honours or above; work experience can count for applicants below that |
| Research master’s | As above, plus a research proposal |
If your school system does not use A Levels, contact the institution before the deadline to ask how your results compare. Older MFA guidance says the same about language certificates: ask the institution if yours is not on the list.
Rules that apply once you hold the award
- No other scholarship, fellowship, grant or loan without the MFA’s prior approval
- No paid work, and no job with a foreign mission in Brunei
- You must respect Brunei’s laws, customs and official religion and stay out of political activity
- You must leave Brunei immediately after you finish
Deadline and timeline for 2027/2028
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Last round’s opening | 15 December 2025 |
| Last round’s closing | 15 February 2026 |
| Deadline (2027/2028 intake) | 15 February 2027, 23:59 Brunei time |
| Interviews and written tests | Set by the institutions after the deadline |
| Courses start | July/August 2027 |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens)
The 2026/2027 call opened in mid-December, so watch the MFA’s online BDGS page from early December 2026. In the 2020/2021 round the FAQ said winners would hear in the first week of June and applicants not contacted by the second week of June had not been selected. Treat that as a guide to the season, since the MFA has not published a results date for the new round.
How to apply for the Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship
- Pick your programme: download the programme lists for UBD, UNISSA, UTB, KUPU SB and PB from the BDGS page and check the entry rules. You cannot switch later.
- Prepare certified copies: have your certificates, transcripts, birth certificate and passport certified as true copies, and get certified English translations of anything in another language.
- Get your references: the MFA uses two reference forms, C1 and C2, completed by your referees. Older rounds asked for them to be typed, apart from signatures and stamps.
- Fill in the online BDGS form: open it from the MFA’s online BDGS page and upload your documents.
- Apply to UBD or UTB as well, if you chose them: UBD (apply.ubd.edu.bn) and UTB (apply.utb.edu.bn) need their own online applications.
- Wait for contact: shortlisted applicants may be called for an interview and a written test in English, Malay or Arabic, at a place the institution sets.
- Sign the terms: successful applicants receive the full terms and conditions and must sign a declaration accepting them.
For questions, the 2026/2027 notices gave queriesBDGS2026@mfa.gov.bn. The address changes with each round, so use the one shown on the new form.
Document checklist
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport and identity card | Certified true copies; older guidance allowed a national ID if you have no passport yet |
| Birth certificate | Certified true copy |
| Academic certificates and transcripts | Certified true copies of every relevant level |
| Translations | Certified English translations of non-English documents |
| English proof | IELTS, TOEFL, O Level or IGCSE result |
| Reference forms C1 and C2 | Completed by two referees |
| Statement of purpose | Part of the form in past rounds |
| Research proposal | Research master’s applicants |
| Proof of employment | If you are working and the form asks for it |
Older rounds also asked for endorsement of part of the form by your country’s foreign ministry, education ministry or scholarship office (or your embassy if you live abroad), and a police or security clearance. The 2026/2027 page does not list these, but if the new form contains an endorsement page, start on it early, because government offices can take weeks.
Writing the statement of purpose
The BDGS is a diplomatic scholarship. Brunei funds it to build ties with other countries, so selectors look for applicants who will study well, behave well in a small and conservative country, and carry the link home.
- Start with your goal: the job or contribution you are aiming for and why it matters where you live.
- Show the fit with your chosen programme: name the course and explain what it gives you that you cannot get at home.
- Say why Brunei: link your goal to something specific about the institution or the country, such as a course you cannot find at home or the chance to study within Southeast Asia.
- Close with your return plan: how the degree feeds into work in your home country.
A sample opening: “I teach Arabic at a secondary school in my town, and our students struggle because we have no trained teachers who can use modern methods. A master’s at UNISSA would let me train under staff who teach Arabic to non-native speakers every day.”
Common mistakes
- Uploading plain photocopies instead of certified true copies
- Forgetting the separate UBD or UTB application
- Applying for a PhD, which the scholarship does not fund
- Missing the age cut-off by counting from the wrong date
- Using an old query email from a previous round
- Applying after studying in Brunei before, which rules you out
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you want a quiet, safe place to study in English, Malay or Arabic, you are within the age limits, and you are comfortable living by Brunei’s laws and customs for several years without paid work.
Look elsewhere if you need a PhD, plan to bring a spouse or children, or want to work part-time while studying.
Similar scholarships in Asia
| Scholarship | Country | Levels | Monthly support | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship | Brunei | Diploma to master’s | BND 650 plus books and housing | 15 February 2027 |
| MTCP Scholarship | Malaysia | Master’s | RM3,500 package | 12 June 2027 |
| Türkiye Bursları | Türkiye | Associate to PhD | 6,500 to 13,000 TL | 20 February 2027 |
| Chinese Government Scholarship | China | Bachelor’s to PhD | RMB 2,500 to 3,500 | Set by each embassy or university |
| Global Korea Scholarship (undergraduate) | South Korea | Bachelor’s and associate | KRW 1,200,000 | Embassy Track 30 September 2027 |
For more free options in the same region, see our guide to studying in Malaysia without IELTS.
FAQs on the Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship
When is the Brunei government scholarship deadline for 2027?
The deadline is 15 February 2027 at 23:59 Brunei time, based on the 2026 date. The 2026/2027 round closed on 15 February 2026.
Can I apply for a PhD under the Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship?
No. The scholarship covers diploma, bachelor’s and master’s programmes only, and the MFA’s FAQ states that no PhD programmes are offered.
What is the age limit for the Brunei scholarship?
You must be 25 or under for diploma and bachelor’s study, or 35 or under for a master’s. The current MFA page counts age on 1 July of the year the programme starts.
How much is the Brunei scholarship allowance?
Scholars get BND 500 a month personal allowance, BND 150 a month for meals and BND 600 a year for books. Tuition, housing, insurance and flights are paid on top.
Sources and updates
Benefits, the 2026/2027 dates, the age rule, English requirements, the list of institutions, the documents and the terms come from the online BDGS page on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The 23:59 Brunei time cut-off, the 1 July age date and the 2026 query email are confirmed in Kenya’s Ministry of Education notice for 2026/2027. The PhD exclusion, endorsement, security vetting, typed reference forms and the June results timing come from the MFA’s older scholarship FAQ. UBD entry rules come from the MFA’s minimum entry qualifications document. Checked on 25 October 2026; I will update this page when the 2027/2028 call is posted.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
