Brunei
1 Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodAugust StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
During His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei’s visit to the U.S. in December of 2002, President George W. Bush and the Sultan agreed on a commitment for more academic exchanges. Soon after that, in 2003, the Fulbright Scholarship was successfully reactivated in Brunei. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program enables 1-2 U.S. students to conduct a research project at a Bruneian host institution.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grantees should begin their 10-month grants in August 2026 or shortly thereafter, to best coincide with the Bruneian educational calendar.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in the summer of 2026 as a condition of their grants.
Candidate Profile
While the program is open to all Fields of Study, Brunei presents an exceptional opportunity for students of rainforest ecology and associated disciplines. More than 70% of Brunei's land areas is covered by primary rainforests, of which 32,000 hectares are protected as forest reserves and 50,000 hectares as national parkland. Unlike other areas of Borneo, Brunei's rainforests are untouched by logging. They remain one of the world's richest and most diverse ecosystems and are accessible for researchers.
Projects related to Environmental Science and Ecology are highly encouraged.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Student researchers in Brunei are expected to operate independently with assistance from their host institutions to arrange for housing. After arriving in country, researchers should expect to spend the majority of their time at the research site, working on their project, or engaging with the local community.
Although Brunei is a wealthy country, candidates should not expect sophisticated equipment or apartments with American standards of comfort. Housing availability can be limited. Use of libraries can be hampered by short hours, closed stacks, and limited circulation, although the Embassy may be able to help to facilitate after-hours research, when needed.
Eligibility
1 Month
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
English is widely spoken in Brunei and is used throughout the educational system as the language of instruction. Malay language proficiency may be necessary, depending on the proposed project.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Applicants will need to identify an appropriate host institution for the proposed project.
They must include affiliation letters with their Fulbright applications, stating approval of and support for the proposed research.
If necessary, U.S. Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan will assist in facilitating affiliations for candidates who have been officially awarded grants.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Excess baggage fees
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
A one time settling in allowance of $4,350 dollars is provided to cover round-trip airfare, excess baggage fees, transit, and settling in.
An additional one time research allowance of $1,500 is also provided.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
For information on the relative costs of living, please reach out to the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office.
Dependents
Special Considerations
Grantees are reminded to observe all security, safety, and health practices appropriate for Southeast Asia, including malaria prevention. Although Brunei is a wealthy country, candidates should not expect sophisticated equipment or apartments with American standards of comfort. Housing availability can be limited. Use of libraries can be hampered by short hours, closed stacks, and limited circulation, although the Embassy may be able to help to facilitate after-hours research, when needed.
Brunei enjoys a tropical equatorial climate with high rainfall and warm temperatures all year round. Generally, it is wettest from September to January, and May to June. Humidity is high year round, while average temperatures range from 25 degrees to 32 degrees Celsius.
In May 2014, Brunei introduced the first phase of its Sharia Law Penal Code, which will run in parallel with the existing Civil Law code based upon British Common Law.