Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS)

The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS) is a fully funded Government of Brunei Darussalam scholarship for foreign students to study for a Diploma, an Undergraduate degree or a Postgraduate Master’s degree at one of five higher education institutions in Brunei. It is administered directly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Brunei Darussalam. Its official name is the Government of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship for Foreign Students Tenable in Brunei Darussalam.

Overview

The BDGS gives foreign students the opportunity to study at one of five government-linked institutions in Brunei: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and Politeknik Brunei (PB). The academic year commences in July/August. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, monthly allowances, airfare, a book allowance and insurance for the full duration of the programme. No PhD funding is offered under this award.

Scholarship Benefits

For the 2026/2027 session, the award provides:

• Exemption from tuition fees, including acceptance, examination, registration and orientation fees, for the duration of the programme.
• A monthly personal allowance of BND 500.
• A monthly meals allowance of BND 150 — BND 650 per month in total.
• An annual book allowance of BND 600.
• Accommodation at the residential college of the university or polytechnic.
• An economy-class air ticket from the recipient’s country of origin or domicile to Brunei before the course starts, and an economy-class air ticket back on completion of the course.
• A baggage allowance for shipment of personal effects home on completion: a maximum of BND 250 to a country within the ASEAN region, or BND 500 to a country outside the ASEAN region.
• Comprehensive insurance cover for the whole duration of the scholarship. Recipients are urged to obtain additional insurance at their own expense before travelling and for the whole duration.

What it does NOT cover: there are no allowances for family members — no marriage allowance, no child allowance and no family accommodation. A scholar is not encouraged to bring any family members for the duration of the scholarship, and recipients may not take paid employment during their studies. The scholarship may not be held at the same time as any other scholarship, fellowship, grant or loan without the prior approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following conditions for the 2026/2027 session:

• Be a foreign national. Brunei Darussalam Permanent Residents are NOT eligible.
• Age on the first day of July in the year the course starts: not more than 25 years old for Diploma and Undergraduate programmes, and not more than 35 years old for Postgraduate Master’s programmes.
• Be proficient in English with one of the following: Credit 6 at GCE O-Level Examination, or Grade C in IGCSE English (as a second language), or a TOEFL minimum score of 550, or an IELTS score of 6.0.
• Be an international student studying for the first time in Brunei Darussalam — the scholarship is intended primarily for such students.

The 2026/2027 call is addressed to foreign students generally and does not publish a closed country list. Earlier calls described the intake as open to citizens of, but not limited to, ASEAN, Commonwealth and OIC member countries.

Available Fields

All Diploma, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Master’s programmes offered by the five participating institutions: Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Universiti Teknologi Brunei and Politeknik Brunei. Programme details, entry qualifications and further information are on each institution’s own website. PhD study is not covered by this award.

Required Documents

Upload the following in the online application form, as set out in the 2026/2027 call:

• A recent passport-size photograph.
• Certified true copies of academic qualifications and other supporting documents (certificates, testimonials and transcripts).
• Certified true copies of the birth certificate and passport (or national identification card).
• An English proficiency certificate, where applicable.
• Two reference letters (the MFA reference letter form, copies C1 and C2).
• A research proposal, for programmes by research.

Documents not in English must have certified English translations. No government endorsement and no police certificate were asked for in the recent calls — check the document list in the current call before applying.

Application Process

1. Complete the MFA online BDGS application form, linked from the MFA scholarship page, and upload all required documents before the closing date. Recent calls give one fixed closing date and no extensions.
2. Also complete a separate online application to your chosen institution — the MFA form alone is not enough. In the 2026/2027 call: UBD at apply.ubd.edu.bn, UNISSA at unissa.edu.bn/application/apply, UTB at apply.utb.edu.bn, KUPU SB via kupu-sb.edu.bn, and Politeknik Brunei at pbas.pb.edu.bn.
3. The programme and institution selected at application cannot be changed after selection, so read the programme information on the institution’s own website before completing the form.
4. Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified on or after 1 June 2026. Applicants who receive no news by 1 July 2026 should email the MFA BDGS query address given in the call.
5. On completion of the programme, recipients are required to leave Brunei Darussalam with immediate effect.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Applications open (2026/2027)	15 December 2025
Application deadline (2026/2027)	15 February 2026, 23:59 Brunei time
Applicants notified (2026/2027)	On or after 1 June 2026
Academic year commences	July / August 2026

Applications for the 2026/2027 session closed on 15 February 2026. Dates for the 2027/2028 session have not been published yet — check the official MFA page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the BDGS cover?

For 2026/2027 it covers full tuition and related fees, accommodation at the institution’s residential college, BND 500 personal allowance plus BND 150 meals allowance per month, a BND 600 annual book allowance, return economy airfare, a baggage allowance on completion and comprehensive insurance.

Who can apply?

Foreign nationals who meet the age and English requirements above. Brunei Darussalam Permanent Residents are not eligible, and the award is intended primarily for international students studying for the first time in Brunei.

Can I apply for a PhD under the BDGS?

No. The BDGS covers Diploma, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Master’s programmes only.

Do I apply only through the MFA form?

No. You must also submit a separate online application to your chosen institution — the MFA scholarship form and the institution’s admission application are both required.

The 2026/2027 deadline has passed. What should I do?

Prepare for the next session and watch the official MFA scholarship page — no dates for the 2027/2028 session have been published yet.

Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam — Government of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship (BDGS)