Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
The gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes is 36.42% (UIS 2024 estimates). The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita is 32.49 (UIS 2016 estimates). No data is found regarding the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita.
Tuition-free status
According to the 2011 Education Act, public tertiary education is not tuition-free.
Governance
The Ministry of Education is identified as the main body responsible for higher education administration, including oversight through its Department of Higher Education and internal financial management via its Department of Administration and Services. At the national level, the Ministry of Finance and Economy manages the overall government budget from which allocations to the Ministry of Education are made.
The Ministry of Education manages government scholarship schemes through its Department of Scholarship Management. The Ministry of Education’s Department of Private Education governs private higher education.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Higher education financing is managed centrally.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
The 2011 Education Act does not establish any framework for government funding of private universities in lieu of public provision. It focuses on regulatory/financial compliance for private institutions (e.g., mandatory audited accounts submitted to the Registrar General), rather than subsidy design or equity-targeted institutional funding.
Allocation and equity
There is no performance-based funding formula or an equity-weighted institutional grant formula for public higher education institutions. Public universities operate largely on central government budget support. The equity instruments are student-focused.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
No dedicated quotas or relaxed entry standards exist for vulnerable groups.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The Ministry of Education, via its Department of Scholarship Management, administers multiple government scholarship and student-financing routes for higher education, alongside other pathways such as Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and twinning programmes. The eligibility criteria are framed primarily as standard merit/administrative requirements rather than equity-targeted provisions: applicants must be citizens, meet minimum subject credits and English proficiency thresholds, and fall within specified age limits for first-degree and postgraduate applications.
For loans, the Department of Scholarship Management also runs the Education Loan Assistance Scheme (Skim Bantuan Pinjaman Pendidikan (SBPP)). The applicants are required to apply through the Higher Education Centralised Admission System (HECAS) and submit documents to the Department of Scholarship Management.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
There is no centralised support available for student transportation. Universities like Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) provide internal shuttle services for campus accessibility, but these are institution-operated without MoE funding or subsidies for public transport.
Accommodation
The Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS) covers on-campus accommodation for eligible local and international students.
Textbooks
Support for student textbooks is provided through government scholarship benefits rather than through a standalone, system-wide textbook subsidy. Under these government scholarships, students receive a bursary that explicitly covers books and study-related materials.
