Applying to university in Brunei: all you need to know
Brunei is a small, peaceful country – and its universities maintain high enough standards to transfer students to the UK, Australia and Ireland
Brunei Darussalam would suit students who are looking for a safe, calm and affordable country for university. It is known as the “abode of peace” because of its relaxed pace of life, harmonious society and serene natural environment.
Brunei is a small, equatorial country with a population of fewer than 500,000 people, enjoying warm weather (28 to 32˚C) all year round. It is an Islamic nation so Muslim students will have easy access to mosques on campus, and most restaurants across the country offer halal food.
Tuition fees start at $3,000BND (approximately £1,750) per year for international students, and living costs are relatively modest – about 25 per cent higher than neighbouring Malaysia.
Brunei’s universities are well regarded – and have to maintain high standards to transfer students to their partner schools in Australia, the UK and Ireland.
Applying to university in Brunei
A levels are the most widely recognised qualifications in Brunei but generally universities also accept IB, BTEC and HNDs. Language proficiency tests, such as IELTS or TOEFL, may be required for non-native English speakers. However, exemptions are often available for students with a C or above in IGCSE or O-level English.
International students can apply for courses on each university’s own portal (see below). Applications are quite straightforward, usually only requiring predicted or final grades. Bruneian universities do not typically ask for a personal statement, although a number of medical courses do have MMI-style interviews.
Bruneian universities use the tariff conversion below to calculate A-level points:
Applications for Bruneian universities usually open in mid-January and close at the end of February for July/August intakes. The application period for the January intake typically opens in early June and closes at the end of July.
Brunei universities in detail
There are three state-run universities that offer undergraduate degrees in Brunei. All these institutions also offer postgraduate degrees at master’s and doctoral level.
Universiti Brunei Darussalam
UBD, which was founded in 1985, offers undergraduate degrees in the fields of business, science, health science (including dentistry and medicine), arts and engineering. Minimum entry requirements start at two or three A levels (minimum of 160 to 200 tariff points) or 24 IBDP points, and increase for the engineering and health science programmes.
English is the main medium of instruction at UBD.
Dentistry and medicine students complete the first three years of their degree in Brunei and then go on to partner universities in the UK, Ireland or Australia for the final three years of their degree.
UBD also offers a pathway programme called UniBridge for those students who do not meet the direct entry requirements. Students with two A levels at grade D or above or 22 IB points are eligible to apply for this.
Annual tuition fees range from $3,000 BND (about £1,750) for non-laboratory-based degrees and up to $40,000BND (approximately £24,000) for dentistry.
UBD application portal (Oasys)
Universiti Teknologi Brunei
UTB, which was founded in 1986, offers undergraduate degrees in science, business and engineering. Minimum entry requirements start at two to three A levels (minimum of 180 tariff points) or 24 IBDP points, and increase for engineering programmes. English is the main medium of instruction at UTB.
Annual international tuition fees range from $8,000BND (roughly £4,700) a year for business degrees to $13,500BND (approximately £8,000) a year for engineering degrees.
Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali
UNISSA, which was founded in 2007, offers a variety of Islamic studies programmes based on Al-Quran and al-Sunnah. Entry requirements vary depending on the course but students can receive offers with a minimum of two A levels (minimum of 160 tariff points) or 24 points at IB. The languages of instruction are English, Arabic and Malay, depending on the course.
Annual tuition fees for bachelor’s degrees in Islamic finance, business and economics are $12,000 (approximately £7,000) per year.
Scholarships for international students
Government scholarships are available for international students applying to Bruneian universities. The scholarships can cover up to full tuition and may include a monthly allowance and accommodation for outstanding students.
Details of the scholarships can be found on this website. Usually, the deadline for the foreign scholarships is the start of February for admission in July/August.
Visas for international students
Once accepted into a Brunei educational institution, students can apply for a student pass and visa through their institution. Assuming it is approved, students will be given their visa on arrival.
The visa application process usually takes between three and eight weeks. Costs vary depending on the student’s nationality. Students will need to provide their passport details, birth certificate and evidence of medical health insurance.
Please note: all fees, costs, entry requirements and links noted above were correct at the time of research but are subject to change.