Universiti Brunei Darussalam
يونيبرسيتي بروني دارالسلام
Brunei's small, English-medium national university, where undergraduates spend a Discovery Year beyond campus.
- Students
- 3,464
- International
- 11%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11.8:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- BND 4,125
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1985
About UBD
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) opened on 28 October 1985 as Brunei's first university, with an inaugural class of 176 students, and moved to its present campus at Tungku Link in 1995. It is a small national university: THE's 2026 data counts about 3,500 students. Teaching is organised across faculties and institutes including the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Integrated Technologies, the School of Digital Science, the UBD School of Business and Economics, the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education and the PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences.
English is the main medium of instruction, which makes UBD accessible to international students, who came first mainly from ASEAN and now also from China, Japan, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The undergraduate curriculum, developed from the GenNEXT framework launched in 2009, includes a Discovery Year in which students study abroad at a partner university, take an internship, run community outreach or start a venture.
Admission is competitive and limited by the number of places, based mainly on A-level results scored with a UCAS-style tariff. UBD suits students who want a small, English-speaking university in Southeast Asia, a structured year of experience outside the classroom, and, for Bruneians and selected international students, the chance of a full Brunei Government scholarship.
Ke Arah Kesempurnaan Insan
“Towards Human Perfection” — university motto
Why students choose UBD
The Discovery Year lets every undergraduate study abroad, intern, run community projects or build a start-up before graduating.
Teaching is in English, and an IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550 meets the general English requirement for most programmes.
The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship for international students covers tuition plus accommodation, books, food, personal spending and medical treatment.
The PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences offers majors in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Biomedical Science, Nursing and Midwifery.
Admissions
September 2027 intake (applications expected in early 2027)
Selectivity
UBD does not publish an acceptance rate. It states that admission to all programmes is competitive and limited by available places, and meeting the entry requirements does not guarantee a place.
Typical entry requirements
| Brunei-Cambridge GCE A levels or equivalent | Programme-specific A-level subjects and tariff points; qualifications must be obtained in no more than 3 sittings (2 sittings for PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences programmes) |
|---|---|
| Other qualifications | Equivalent qualifications recognised by the University Senate, and HND holders may be considered subject to programme requirements; mature applicants may also be considered |
| English language | IELTS 6 All programmes: O-level English Language C6, IGCSE English (Second Language) grade B, IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550 (paper-based scale) or Band B2 in the UBD English Proficiency Test. Medicine and Dentistry: O-level English B4, IGCSE English grade A, IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 600. |
Deadlines
- Undergraduate degree applications (September 2026 intake) Non-binding Passed22 January to 28 February 2026
Previous cycle; the deadline was extended to 28 February 2026 to follow the HECAS deadline.
UBD's application portal lists the undergraduate window for the September 2026 intake (22 January to 28 February 2026), which has closed. Dates for the September 2027 intake were not yet posted when checked; the previous pattern suggests an application window in early 2027.
How to apply
Apply online through UBD's Online Admission Application System (OASys) at apply.ubd.edu.bn, uploading a certified passport copy, certified academic certificates and transcripts, and English proficiency results. International applicants must also upload a security clearance letter from their country of origin. Local pre-service applicants apply through both HECAS and OASys. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted.
What admissions looks for
- A-level results that meet the programme's specific subject and tariff-point requirements.
- English proficiency at or above the general requirement (higher for Medicine and Dentistry).
- Qualifications obtained in a limited number of sittings (three, or two for health sciences).
- A complete application submitted by the closing date; incomplete or late applications may be rejected.
Tips for applying to UBD
- 1 Check the specific entry requirements for your programme on UBD's entry requirements page; the general requirements alone do not guarantee admission.
- 2 Take IELTS early: Medicine and Dentistry need 7.0, while 6.0 covers other programmes.
- 3 International applicants should arrange the security clearance letter from their home country in good time, as it is a required upload.
- 4 If you are applying for a Brunei Government scholarship for international students, note that it has its own application process separate from the OASys form.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in BND
Most Bruneian students study on the Ministry of Education scholarship or in-service schemes, and fees apply only to those not eligible. International students can apply for the Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship for Foreign Students (BDGS-IS), which covers tuition plus bursaries for accommodation, books, food and personal spending, and medical treatment at government hospitals, with travel arranged by Brunei's foreign missions.
- B$100 + B$100 + B$250
- Acceptance, registration and refundable programme deposit
- Tuition, accommodation, books, food, personal allowance and medical care
- Brunei Government Scholarship for international students
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (September intake)
Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) in Medicine
Offered by the PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, with the highest English requirement (IELTS 7.0); the international programme fee is B$54,000 for the 3-year degree (about B$18,000 a year).
Bachelor of Engineering
A four-year degree from the Faculty of Integrated Technologies.
Bachelor of Computer Science
Offered by the School of Digital Science.
Bachelor of Science in Finance (Data Analytics)
One of five business and economics degrees at the UBD School of Business and Economics, alongside Entrepreneurship (Venture Development).
Bachelor of Science (Faculty of Science)
Includes the option of field courses at UBD's Kuala Belalong Field Study Centre.
Research
- Research centres include the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research and the Centre for Advanced Material and Energy Sciences.
- The Institute of Asian Studies and the Institute of Applied Data Analytics are among UBD's research faculties.
- UBD runs the Kuala Belalong Field Study Centre, used for field courses.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies
- School of Digital Science
- UBD School of Business and Economics
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences
- Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education
- Academy of Brunei Studies
- Institute of Policy Studies
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies
UBD reports that employability rose by 5% between the first and second cohorts of GenNEXT graduates; no current graduate employment rate is published on its admissions pages.
Student life
UBD is a quiet, green campus where students can live in residential colleges a 5-7 minute walk from class. The original residential college has ten blocks of 70 rooms (four for male and six for female students) with shared kitchens, prayer rooms and common rooms, while The Core offers 440 individual study-bedrooms in five-bedroom apartments. Residents run their own social events, and the International Student Service Unit helps new international students settle in. English is widely spoken, so international students can find their way around without learning Malay first.
- The Discovery Year takes students abroad, into internships or into community and start-up projects.
- The University Mosque is a campus landmark.
- Residential colleges organise their own social events.
- Clubs, societies and sports facilities support campus life.
Housing. On-campus residential colleges: the original college (ten blocks with single furnished rooms) and The Core (440 individual study-bedrooms in five-bedroom apartments), both within a 5-7 minute walk of campus.
Location
UBD's campus is on Jalan Tungku Link on the edge of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam on the island of Borneo. Brunei is a small sultanate where English is widely spoken, and UBD describes campus life as laid-back. International students are supported on arrival by the International Student Service Unit of the Student Affairs Section.
Nearest airport: Brunei International Airport (BWN)
Notable alumni
- AA Ahmaddin Abdul RahmanBrunei's Minister of Home Affairs; BA (Hons) in Management Studies from UBD
- AM Abdul MutalibFormer Minister of Transport and Infocommunications; BA in Management Studies from UBD
- ZF Zul FSinger-songwriter and actor, first Bruneian artist on MTV Asia; BA (Education) in TESL from UBD
- QC Queenie ChongMember of the Legislative Council of Brunei; Master of Education from UBD
- LY Lee Ying ShiWushu athlete and SEA Games medallist; studied at UBD
Frequently asked questions
Is Universiti Brunei Darussalam taught in English?
Yes. English is the main medium of instruction at UBD. Most programmes require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550, and Medicine and Dentistry require IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 600.
How much are UBD fees for international students?
For the 2026/27 intake UBD lists whole-programme fees. For international students a four-year GenBESTARI bachelor's costs B$16,500 (non-lab) or B$18,500 (lab-based) in total, about B$4,125 to B$4,625 a year. Professional programmes cost more: B$42,000 for four-year Engineering or Pharmacy and B$54,000 for the three-year Medicine degree.
Can international students get a scholarship to study at UBD?
Yes. The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship for Foreign Students covers tuition, accommodation, books, food, a personal allowance and medical treatment, with travel arranged by Brunei's missions abroad.
What is the UBD Discovery Year?
A year within the degree when students study abroad at a partner university, take an internship, run community outreach programmes or create a start-up.
When do UBD undergraduate applications open?
For the September 2026 intake, applications ran from 22 January to 28 February 2026 through the OASys portal. Dates for September 2027 had not yet been posted when checked.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to UBD in the QS World University Rankings 2027.