Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has broken into the global Top 100 for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2026, placing in the 51–100 band. This milestone positions UBD among the world’s leading institutions in Islamic Studies and reflects the University’s growing global academic footprint.
UBD advances Islamic Studies as a dynamic and evolving field, engaging contemporary issues across society, policy, and global discourse.
Islamic Studies at UBD is anchored by the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS), a key institutional pillar driving multidisciplinary scholarship across civilisational history, governance, contemporary society, and the psychology of Islam.
The centre offers postgraduate research programmes and delivers the university-wide compulsory module Islamic Civilisation and the Modern World, aligned with Brunei Darussalam’s national philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB).
This work is reinforced through cross-faculty collaboration, ensuring Islamic scholarship at UBD is applied to real-world challenges spanning policy, health, economy, and society.
Based on QS analysis, Scopus indexed publications from UBD in Theology related fields were identified for the period 2019 to 2023. These works predominantly focus on Islam while also engaging broader religious scholarship across other faith traditions.
The research spans areas such as society, governance, contemporary systems and global religious thought, extending into fields including the social sciences and health. This reflects UBD’s multidisciplinary approach and its ability to apply Islamic scholarship to real world challenges.
For this subject area, QS analysed 550 institutions worldwide, of which only 150 were ranked and published, making UBD’s placement in the Top 100 a notable global achievement.
In the Theology subject area, UBD is ranked 42nd globally for Academic Reputation, placing it among the top 50 worldwide in the field. This underscores the University’s strong standing within the international academic community.
Among Southeast Asian universities, only 12 institutions were ranked in this subject area, with UBD placed 6th in the region and among the top performers for both academic and employer reputation.
UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle said the recognition reflects the enduring relevance of Islamic knowledge in today’s world. “The teachings of the Al Quran and Sunnah continue to guide societies across time and context. As global challenges evolve, there is a growing need for deeper scholarly engagement with their application across disciplines. UBD remains committed to advancing Islamic Studies in ways that are both grounded and forward looking.”
This recognition reinforces UBD’s position as a globally engaged university, advancing knowledge that is both rooted in its context and relevant to the future.