Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS)
Edit ScholarshipFully funded scholarship from the Government of Brunei Darussalam for international students to pursue diploma, undergraduate or master's study at Brunei's public institutions, including Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
Overview
The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS) is a fully funded award from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam that places international students at Brunei's public higher education institutions for diploma, undergraduate, or master's-level study. It covers tuition, accommodation, meals, personal allowance, book allowance, travel, baggage, and insurance — one of the most comprehensively structured government scholarships in Southeast Asia.
Brunei's five participating institutions include Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), and Politeknik Brunei (PB). The scholarship is a diplomatic tool as much as an academic one: Brunei uses it to build academic and cultural ties with countries worldwide, with undergraduate awards going to students from a broad international pool and postgraduate awards targeting students up to age 35. For the 2026/2027 cycle, applications opened on December 15, 2025 and closed on February 15, 2026, following the previous year's timeline.
If you're considering university study in Southeast Asia, Brunei offers a genuinely distinct environment: a small, wealthy country with a strong Islamic heritage, low crime, English as one of the official languages, and a well-resourced higher education sector. UBD in particular has built strong programmes in the sciences, engineering, business, and Islamic studies. The comprehensive financial package — BND$500 personal allowance per month plus meals, accommodation, and travel — makes the cost of living in Brunei manageable alongside the scholarship.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Funding Body | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam |
| Host Country | Brunei |
| Degree Levels | Diploma, Bachelor's, Master's |
| Value | Full tuition exemption, BND$500/month personal allowance, BND$150/month meals allowance, BND$600/year book allowance, round-trip economy airfare, residential accommodation, baggage allowance (BND$250 ASEAN / BND$500 elsewhere), and comprehensive insurance |
| Deadline | For 2026/2027: opened December 15, 2025 — closed February 15, 2026. Watch mfa.gov.bn for the next cycle. |
| Eligible Nationalities | All nationalities except Bruneian citizens, Brunei Permanent Residents, and students already studying in Brunei tertiary institutions |
| Official Website | mfa.gov.bn — BDGS |
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality and Residency Requirements
The scholarship is open to international students of all nationalities except Bruneian citizens, Brunei Permanent Residents, and individuals who are currently studying at or have previously studied at a Brunei tertiary institution. If you have previously taken a course at UBD, UTB, UNISSA, KUPU SB, or Politeknik Brunei, you are not eligible.
Age Requirements
For diploma and undergraduate programmes, you must not exceed 25 years of age as of July 1 of the year your programme begins. For postgraduate (master's) programmes, the maximum age is 35 as of that same July 1 date. Age is calculated strictly against the July 1 benchmark, not your date of application.
English Proficiency Requirements
You must demonstrate English competency through one of the following: GCE O-Level Credit 6, IGCSE English Grade C, IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL minimum 550. For UBD and UTB applicants, the university may specify higher English thresholds for certain programmes; confirm with the institution after applying.
Separate University Applications
Applicants to UBD and UTB must also complete separate admission applications through each institution's own portal, in addition to the BDGS application through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This dual application requirement is specific to those two institutions; check whether your chosen institution requires this.
What the Scholarship Covers
- Full tuition fee exemption for the normal duration of the programme
- Monthly personal allowance: BND$500
- Monthly meals allowance: BND$150
- Annual book allowance: BND$600
- Round-trip economy class airfare to and from Brunei
- Residential college accommodation on or near campus
- Baggage allowance: BND$250 for ASEAN-country students; BND$500 for students from other regions
- Comprehensive insurance coverage for the programme duration
How to Apply
- Check the MFA website for the current cycle: Visit mfa.gov.bn/pages/online-bdgs.aspx. Application periods open around December each year and close in mid-February. Confirm the exact dates for the upcoming cycle before preparing your documents.
- Prepare your documents: Gather certified copies of your academic qualifications and transcripts, certified English translations of any non-English documents, English proficiency test results, birth certificate and passport copies, and two reference letters using the C1 (academic) and C2 (character) templates provided on the BDGS page.
- Complete the online application: Submit through the Google Form provided on the BDGS webpage within the application window. Fill in all sections accurately and upload all required documents in the specified formats.
- Apply to your chosen institution separately (if required): If your target institution is UBD or UTB, complete their separate institutional admission applications through their respective admissions portals in parallel with the BDGS form.
- Await shortlisting: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviews applications and shortlists candidates. You may be contacted for additional information during this process.
- Receive your award notification: Successful applicants receive an award letter from the Ministry. This confirms both the scholarship and your placement at the Brunei institution.
- Complete visa and travel arrangements: The Ministry guides awardees through the student visa process. Your round-trip airfare is arranged or reimbursed per the BDGS travel policy.
Required Documents
- National identification card or valid passport (bio-data page)
- Certified copies of all academic qualifications (secondary school certificates, diplomas, bachelor's degree if applying for master's)
- Official academic transcripts from all institutions attended
- Certified English translations of all non-English language documents
- Birth certificate (certified copy)
- English language proficiency certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, GCE O-Level English, or IGCSE English)
- Two reference letters using BDGS templates C1 (academic) and C2 (character) — download from the MFA website
- Passport-size photographs
Key Dates & Deadlines
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens (2026/2027 cycle) | December 15, 2025 |
| Application deadline (2026/2027 cycle) | February 15, 2026 |
| Programme start | July/August of the award year |
For future cycles, monitor mfa.gov.bn from November onwards. The opening and closing dates have historically fallen in mid-December and mid-February respectively. Contact queriesBDGS2025@mfa.gov.bn for the current cycle's email and status updates.
Tips for a Strong Application
What helps
- Use the official C1 and C2 reference letter templates — referees who use non-template letters create processing delays
- Submit well before the February closing date; the Google Form occasionally has technical issues close to the deadline
- If applying to UBD or UTB, start both the institutional application and the BDGS form simultaneously — they have independent deadlines that can overlap
- An IELTS of 6.5 or above gives you a stronger profile for competitive programmes like law, engineering, or business at UBD or UTB
- Research Brunei's institutions and identify which programme genuinely suits your academic and career goals — the Ministry's reviewers can tell when an application is thoughtful versus opportunistic
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying if you have previously studied at a Brunei tertiary institution — this disqualifies you immediately
- Misreading the age cutoff as the date of application rather than July 1 of the programme-start year
- Submitting non-certified translations of academic documents in languages other than English
- Ignoring the dual application requirement for UBD and UTB — applying only to the Ministry without also applying directly to the university leaves your application incomplete
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS)?
A fully funded scholarship from Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for international students to pursue diploma, bachelor's, or master's study at Brunei's public higher education institutions, including UBD, UTB, UNISSA, KUPU SB, and Politeknik Brunei.
What does the BDGS cover?
Full tuition, BND$500/month personal allowance, BND$150/month meals allowance, BND$600/year book allowance, round-trip economy airfare, residential accommodation, baggage allowance (BND$250 for ASEAN students; BND$500 for others), and comprehensive insurance.
Who is eligible for the BDGS?
All international students who are not Bruneian citizens, Brunei Permanent Residents, or currently studying (or who have previously studied) at a Brunei tertiary institution. Age limits apply: 25 for undergraduates and 35 for master's students, both calculated as of July 1 of the programme-start year.
What is the deadline for the BDGS?
For the 2026/2027 academic year, the deadline was February 15, 2026 (applications opened December 15, 2025). For future cycles, monitor mfa.gov.bn from November onwards.
What English score do I need for the BDGS?
GCE O-Level Credit 6, IGCSE English Grade C, IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL 550 minimum. Certain programmes at UBD or UTB may require higher scores.
Do I need to apply to the university separately for the BDGS?
If your target institution is UBD or UTB, yes — you must complete their own institutional admissions application in addition to the BDGS form through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For other BDGS institutions, check whether a separate application is needed.
Which universities are included in the BDGS?
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), and Politeknik Brunei (PB).
Is the BDGS available for PhD study?
The BDGS covers diploma, bachelor's, and master's programmes. PhD study is not listed as a BDGS level. UBD's Graduate Research Scholarship (UGRS) is a separate route for doctoral applicants.
How do I get the BDGS reference letter templates?
Download the C1 (academic referee) and C2 (character referee) templates from the BDGS page at mfa.gov.bn/pages/online-bdgs.aspx. Referees must use these specific templates.
Where can I get more information about the BDGS?
Contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the query email provided on the BDGS page (queriesBDGS2025@mfa.gov.bn for the 2025 cycle; the address changes each cycle). Visit mfa.gov.bn/pages/online-bdgs.aspx for updates.