Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) climbed 18 places to 367th position globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, marking its second consecutive year of improvement. The advancement places UBD among the top 25 percent of universities worldwide out of 8,467 institutions evaluated.
UBD Rises 18 Places in QS World University Rankings to 367th Position
Key Details
UBD’s ranking improvement was primarily driven by its Academic Reputation indicator, where the university rose 32 places to rank 406th globally. This metric accounts for 30 percent of the overall QS ranking score and is assessed through the annual QS Academic Reputation Survey, which gathers perceptions from global academics regarding institutional academic excellence.
The university maintained stable performance across other key indicators including Employer Reputation, Citations per Faculty, and International Research Network metrics year-on-year. The ranking places UBD among 1,501 ranked institutions from the total 8,467 evaluated globally.
UBD achieved its highest ever publication output in 2024 and has filed over 40 patents in the past three years, with eight already granted both locally and internationally. Key research domains include biodiversity, herbal medicine, halal products, Islamic governance, energy transition, climate change, cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.
Quotes & Reactions
“As we mark UBD’s 40th anniversary, we celebrate not only our history but also our momentum. The international recognition is encouraging, but what truly defines us is our relevance, our values, and the impact of our work,” said UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle. “With continued investment in research, sustainability, and innovation, UBD remains steadfast in its mission to serve the nation and the region—building on a foundation of excellence that looks forward, always.”
Background & Context
Since July 2024, UBD has significantly expanded its industry collaboration efforts, formalizing 15 Memorandums of Understanding with local and international partners across finance, banking, maritime logistics, environmental technology, health sciences, and agriculture sectors.
The School of Digital Sciences received the prestigious Coursera 2024 AI Innovation Award for the Asia-Pacific Region, recognizing UBD’s Applied Artificial Intelligence programme as a leader in AI-driven education. Notable faculty achievements include Senior Assistant Professor Dr Daphne Lai receiving the UL Research Institutes-ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women 2024 for her work applying data science and AI in environmental research, and Dr Rosyzie Anna Haji Md Apong receiving the ASEAN Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance Cyber Resilience Award.
UBD has established a comprehensive approach to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through its Sustainability Master Plan, structured around five key pillars: Sustainability Research, Education, Infrastructure, Operations and Governance, and Community Engagement. The university created a University Sustainability Strategy Committee and introduced a dedicated Sustainability Fund to support high-impact research initiatives.
The university actively participates in transformative projects addressing global challenges including biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, sustainable tourism, and renewable energy. Recent sustainability-focused events include the Brunei Borneo Sustainability Summit and the Young Researchers Workshop, focusing on energy transition and environmental resilience in Borneo.
What’s Next
UBD plans to continue intensifying engagement with industries and employers while enhancing graduate employability as a long-term institutional priority. The university aims to strengthen its position as a leading catalyst for university-industry collaboration in Southeast Asia through continued investment in research, sustainability initiatives, and innovation programs.
