University of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship 2027 in Brunei (Fully Funded PhD Scholarship)

Students planning to pursue postgraduate studies in Southeast Asia can explore scholarship and admission opportunities at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) for the 2027 academic year. The university offers several funding schemes, including the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship (UGRS) for qualified PhD applicants.

The UGRS is a competitive research scholarship that provides substantial financial support to successful doctoral candidates. According to the university’s published scholarship terms, the package includes tuition-fee waivers, a monthly subsistence allowance, on-campus accommodation, return economy airfare for eligible international recipients, and research or conference funding. The applicable terms should be confirmed for the intended intake.

The original scholarship announcement also refers to undergraduate and master's admissions. However, applicants should understand that the UGRS funding package is specifically for PhD students. Undergraduate and master's applicants must check the separate scholarships and funding arrangements available for their chosen programmes.

University of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship 2027: Overview

Host Institution: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)
Study Country: Brunei Darussalam
Scholarship Scheme: UBD Graduate Research Scholarship (UGRS)
Study Level: PhD for the UGRS
Eligible Applicants: Qualified candidates meeting the scholarship and university admission requirements
Funding Type: Competitive scholarship with tuition, living allowance, accommodation, and other specified benefits
Monthly Allowance: BND 2,200 under the published UGRS terms applicable to recipients from the August 2024 intake onwards
Application Portal: UBD Online Admission System (OASys)
Application Fee: Check the current application portal for applicable charges
Deadline: The supplied announcement lists 31 October 2026 for graduate applications, but applicants should confirm the deadline for their particular programme and funding scheme directly with UBD.

About Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Universiti Brunei Darussalam was established in 1985 and is the country's first university. It offers programmes across a range of academic disciplines and maintains research activities through its faculties and research institutes.

UBD provides opportunities for local and international students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate education. Its research environment covers areas such as science, technology, health, business, social sciences, education, Islamic studies, and public policy.

Applicants can review the university's academic programmes and available funding schemes through its official website before selecting a course.

Financial Benefits of the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship

The UBD Graduate Research Scholarship is designed to support successful doctoral researchers during their studies. The university's published terms for recipients from the August 2024 intake onwards describe the following benefits:

1. Tuition-Fee Waiver

The scholarship covers tuition fees, including registration and acceptance fees, for the specified scholarship period of 36 months.

2. Monthly Living Allowance

Successful recipients are entitled to a subsistence allowance of BND 2,200 per month for 36 months, subject to the applicable scholarship terms and conditions.

Over the full 36-month period, this amounts to BND 79,200 in subsistence support, provided the allowance is paid for the entire stated duration.

3. On-Campus Accommodation

The scholarship includes on-campus accommodation for 36 months. Applicants should review the applicable terms for accommodation registration fees, security deposits, and any other charges not covered by the award.

4. Return Economy-Class Airfare

For eligible scholarship recipients who do not reside in Brunei Darussalam, the published terms provide an incoming economy-class ticket upon accepting the scholarship and a return ticket to the home country after completing the study programme.

Applicants should confirm the arrangements and conditions with the university before making travel plans.

5. Research or Conference Funding

The scholarship terms provide funding for fieldwork or conference presentations, subject to the applicable conditions and approval requirements. The published terms specify funding of up to BND 3,000 for overseas research or conference presentations.

6. Visa Fee Support

The published scholarship terms also include the applicable initial single-entry visa fee for eligible recipients. Applicants should verify the precise arrangements for their nationality and intake with UBD.

Important: These benefits relate to the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship. They should not be assumed to apply to every bachelor's or master's programme offered by the university.

Scholarship Duration

The duration of study at UBD depends on the degree programme and study mode.

The announcement supplied for this opportunity lists the following general periods:

Master's by Coursework: Typically 12 months full-time or 18 months, depending on the programme.
Master's by Research: Typically 24 months full-time.
Doctor of Philosophy: At least 36 months full-time or up to 60 months part-time, depending on the programme.

These are programme durations rather than a guarantee that the UGRS will fund every study mode for the full period. PhD applicants should check their offer letter and scholarship conditions to establish the approved funding duration.

Available Study Fields and Academic Programmes

UBD offers programmes across several faculties and research institutes. The following fields are identified in the supplied announcement; availability depends on the degree level, programme, intake, and current admissions catalogue.

Faculty of Science

Research areas include:

Biodiversity
Biology
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Geoscience
Mathematics
Applied Physics

The faculty also lists postgraduate study options in petroleum geosciences and research-based science disciplines.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Available research areas listed in the announcement include:

Anthropology
Applied Linguistics
English Literature
Environmental Studies
Geography
History
Malay Language and Linguistics
Malay Literature
Professional Communication and the Media
Art
Sociology

UBD School of Business and Economics

The listed areas include:

Management
Economics
Finance
Business Administration
Logistics
Applied Economics
Islamic Finance

The precise options differ between coursework and research programmes.

Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences

The announcement identifies fields such as:

Public Health
Biomedical Sciences
Clinical Sciences
Nursing
Midwifery
Medicine

Some master's options are identified as part-time programmes. Applicants should check the current programme catalogue for entry requirements, availability, and study mode.

Academy of Brunei Studies

The listed area is Brunei Studies, with master's research and doctoral study options identified in the supplied announcement.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education

Study areas include:

Education
Counselling
Teaching

Programme availability depends on the selected degree and admission cycle.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies

The listed research area is Islamic Civilisation and Contemporary Issues, including master's research and doctoral study.

Institute of Asian Studies

The announcement identifies Asian Studies as an area for master's research and PhD study.

Faculty of Integrated Technologies

Research areas include:

Systems Engineering
Chemical Engineering

Centre for Advanced Materials and Energy Studies

The listed areas include:

Materials Science
Energy Studies

Institute of Policy Studies

The announcement identifies:

Islamic Governance
Public Policy
Public Policy and Management

Applicants should confirm which programmes are open for the February 2027 intake and whether a particular programme is eligible for the scholarship they intend to pursue.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility depends on the programme and the funding scheme. For the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship, the university's published criteria identify the following general expectations.

Academic Qualifications

Applicants should meet the university's requirements for admission to the chosen doctoral programme. The published UGRS criteria identify candidates with either:

A relevant master's degree and at least an upper-second-class degree in a relevant field from an internationally recognised university; or
A first-class degree in a relevant field from an internationally recognised university.

The scholarship page states that the relevant qualifying degree should generally have been awarded within five years of the start of the applicable academic semester, subject to the published conditions.

Age Requirement

The published UGRS criteria state that applicants should generally be no older than 30 years at the time of application. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Research Proposal

Applicants must submit a high-quality, impactful research proposal. The proposal should demonstrate a clear research focus and alignment with the intended field of study.

English-Language Proficiency

Candidates must satisfy UBD's admission requirements, including the relevant English-language proficiency requirements. Accepted qualifications and minimum scores should be checked on the university's official graduate entry requirements page.

Suitability for the Programme

Applicants should demonstrate that their academic background and research interests are appropriate for the programme they intend to pursue.

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission or scholarship selection. The UGRS is competitive, and incomplete applications will not be considered under the published scholarship guidance.

Research Areas of Interest

The university identifies several research priorities for the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship, including:

Energy
Materials Science
Biodiversity
Data Analytics
Asian and Islamic Studies
Bioinspiration
Climate Change
Herbal Medicine
Sensor Technology
Catalysis

Applicants should examine UBD's research activities and identify a suitable programme before preparing their research proposal.

Application Deadline

The announcement supplied for this opportunity gives 31 October 2026 as the deadline for graduate applications and 26 February 2027 for bachelor's applications.

These dates should be treated as announcement-listed deadlines, not as independently confirmed deadlines for every UBD scholarship or programme. The university's official UGRS page contains historical application periods, so applicants should verify the current deadline for the February 2027 intake through OASys or the relevant admissions office.

Because the dates may differ by programme and scholarship scheme, applicants should not assume that the undergraduate deadline applies to postgraduate funding or that all graduate programmes share one closing date.

How to Apply for the University of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship 2027

Applications for the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship are submitted through the university's Online Admission System (OASys).

Follow these steps:

Visit the official application portal. Open the UBD Online Admission System using the link below.
Choose your programme. Identify the relevant doctoral programme and confirm that it is available for the intended intake.
Review admission and scholarship requirements. Check the current entry requirements, scholarship eligibility criteria, and application deadline.
Prepare your supporting documents. These may include academic certificates and transcripts, evidence of English-language proficiency, a research proposal, and any other documents required by the programme.
Complete the online application. Enter your information accurately and upload the requested documents in the required format.
Submit the application before the deadline. Follow the portal's instructions and retain any application confirmation for your records.

Do not submit an application based solely on a third-party summary. Confirm the requirements and funding conditions through the university's official pages.

Official Application Links

Click Here to Apply Through the UBD Online Admission System

Official UBD Graduate Fees and Funding Information

Official UBD Graduate Research Scholarship Details

Official UBD Graduate Entry Requirements

Final Advice for Applicants

The UBD Graduate Research Scholarship may be an attractive option for qualified doctoral candidates seeking financial support to study in Brunei. However, applicants must distinguish the PhD-focused UGRS from other funding schemes available at the university.

Before applying, confirm that the chosen programme is eligible, check the latest scholarship terms, prepare a strong research proposal, and verify the correct deadline for the intended intake. For undergraduate and master's applicants, review the separate funding arrangements rather than assuming the UGRS benefits apply to those degrees.