Monday, 17 August 2026 – Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) welcomed 1,097 new students – comprising 787 Bachelor’s, 169 Master’s, 53 PhD, and 88 UniBridge students – for the 2026/2027 academic session, at the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Address held on 17th August 2026 at the UBD Chancellor Hall.
The ceremony commenced with the arrival of UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle, followed by the singing of the Brunei Darussalam National Anthem and recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and verses from the Al-Quran.
In his Special Address, Dr Hazri welcomed the new students to UBD and encouraged them to embrace university life as a period of learning, growth and personal development. He also encouraged students to strive for excellence, uphold the values of UBD and make full use of the opportunities available throughout their university journey. He called on students to let knowledge enlighten them, character define them, and service give purpose to their learning, then closing with UBD’s rallying call, ‘Mendepan Bersama’ (Futuring Together).
Marking the beginning of their journey as members of the UBD community, UniSTART 2026 is UBD’s five-day developmental onboarding programme for new students. Formerly known as Freshers Week, UniSTART introduces a refreshed approach to the first week of university, centred on self-discovery, belonging and purpose.
Throughout the programme, students will explore their personal values and strengths, build meaningful connections, develop resilience, discover their purpose and consider their role as future UBD graduates. The programme progresses from “Who Am I?” and “What Can I Do?” to “Who Will I Become?”, before continuing with the PAMOR Leadership Track and concluding with PAMOR Spiritual and Community.
A key feature of UniSTART 2026 is the introduction of four UBD Houses: Bentara, Panglima, Satria, and Adiwira on the first day, providing students with a stronger sense of community and belonging as they begin their university journey.
The programme also complements UBD’s GenBESTARI undergraduate curriculum, which integrates academic and co-curricular learning through a holistic, student-centred approach. GenBESTARI aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and values needed to navigate a changing world while remaining grounded in Bruneian identity and values.
Following the Special Address, the New Students’ Oath Taking was held, symbolising the students’ commitment to uphold UBD’s values and responsibilities as members of the UBD community. The ceremony concluded with a Doa Selamat.
UniSTART 2026 marks a new beginning for UBD’s newest students as they embark on a university experience shaped not only by academic pursuits, but also by personal growth, meaningful relationships, contribution and a strong sense of belonging.
The new batch of students are the first to experience UBD’s unified digital platform, Nexus for Architecture, Data and Intelligence (NADI). Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, the recently launched NADI integrates academic, administrative and operational systems into one cohesive digital ecosystem.