Eligibility questions
All nationalities can apply. Official announcements mention ASEAN, Commonwealth, and OIC countries but consistently use "not limited to" — this means citizens of any country are eligible. The confusion comes from how third-party scholarship sites describe the programme, not from the actual eligibility criteria.
No. The exclusion applies to anyone who is currently enrolled, or has previously studied, at any tertiary institution in Brunei — regardless of the duration, the programme type, or whether the programme was completed. Even a one-semester exchange counts. The rule covers all Brunei tertiary institutions, not just the five BDGS partner universities.
Yes. IELTS 6.0 is one of several accepted proofs of English proficiency. GCE O-Level English Credit 6, IGCSE English (Second Language) Grade C, and TOEFL 550 are equally valid alternatives. Applicants from English-medium education systems may also be assessed at the interview stage. IELTS is not mandatory.
Marital status is not an eligibility criterion — married applicants can apply. However, the scholarship provides no family accommodation and no allowances for spouses or children. The official documents state scholars are "not encouraged" to bring their spouse or children. This is a practical consideration, not a disqualifier.
No. The BDGS covers Diploma, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate Master's programmes only. For PhD funding at UBD, the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship (a separate programme administered directly by UBD, offering BND 2,200/month for up to 36 months) is the relevant option. These two programmes are entirely separate — different administrator, different process, different stipend level.
Application process questions
It depends on the institution. UBD applicants must submit a separate academic application at apply.ubd.edu.bn. UTB applicants must do the same at apply.utb.edu.bn. UNISSA, KUPU SB, and Politeknik Brunei do not currently require a separate portal application — the MFA form is sufficient for those institutions.
The endorsement is your country's government formally supporting your application. It comes from your Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Education. If you are currently based outside your home country, your country's Embassy or Consulate/High Commission in that country can endorse the form. This is separate from the security clearance (police certificate), which is a different document from a different authority.
No. Official documents state explicitly that no extension is granted after the closing date. The portal closes and no late applications are accepted regardless of circumstances. Plan well in advance — especially for the government endorsement and police certificate, which can take several weeks.
Yes. A national ID is acceptable at the application stage. A certified copy of your national ID or birth certificate satisfies the identity document requirement. You will need a passport later — for visa purposes after selection — but it is not required at the initial application stage.
The official MFA application form asks you to nominate your preferred institution and programme. The form does not clearly publicise a multi-institution option. Once selected, the institution and programme you applied for cannot be changed. Review the institution brochures carefully before choosing — this decision is binding from the moment of selection.
Selection and results questions
Historically, results arrive in the first or second week of June. Shortlisting and interviews happen from roughly March to May. Successful applicants receive a formal scholarship offer; unsuccessful applicants are notified by email in recent cycles. In older cycles (2020), applicants not contacted by the second week of June were considered unsuccessful — check the current year's announcement for any updated notification timeline.
No. An interview invitation means you have been shortlisted by the institution — a positive signal, but not a guarantee. Candidates are selected from the interview pool. The formal scholarship offer is a separate notification that comes after the selection process is complete. Do not make binding commitments based on an interview invitation alone.
Interviews are typically conducted by video call (Skype or equivalent) for international applicants. You do not normally need to travel to Brunei for the interview stage. The interview format and whether a written assessment is included depends on the institution and programme. Some programmes may require a written assessment of English, Malay, or Arabic proficiency.
During the scholarship questions
No, not without prior written approval from the Ministry. Holding any other scholarship, fellowship, grant, or loan concurrently — without that approval — results in immediate scholarship termination. If you receive multiple scholarship offers, you must formally decline the others before accepting the BDGS.
No. Scholars cannot take paid employment during the scholarship period. This includes work at any country's representative mission in Brunei. The prohibition is explicit in the scholarship terms and conditions.
No. The programme and institution are fixed from the point of selection. This is explicitly stated in the scholarship terms. If you apply to UBD engineering, you are awarded UBD engineering — there is no mechanism to switch to UNISSA or to a different programme within UBD after the scholarship is confirmed.
For basic daily expenses, yes. Accommodation is provided free on campus, which removes the largest cost. Brunei's fuel, utilities, and basic food are heavily subsidised. Canteen meals on campus cost BND 1–3. The BND 650 (personal allowance + meals allowance) covers food, local transport, phone, and personal items reasonably. It does not support international travel, higher-end spending, or family costs. There is very little buffer for unexpected expenses.