Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University

Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (Malay: Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali; abbreviated UNISSA; Arabic: جامعة السّلطان الشّريف عليّ الإسلاميّة) is Brunei's second university. It was established in 2007 as the first national Islamic university in Brunei.

History
The idea to open a second university in Brunei was first addressed by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in his Titah delivered at University of Brunei Darussalam's 16th convocation in 2004 and again in 2005 at UBD's 17th convocation whereby His Majesty had stated that the second university shall be an Islamic university. The overall aim of the new university is to become a centre for the spread of Islam in the region.

The university took its name from the Sharifate of Mecca, Barkat Ali ibnu Sharif Ajlan ibnu Sharif Rumaithah, known as Sultan Sharif Ali, who was a descendant of Islamic prophet Muhammad and appointed as the third Sultan of Brunei after marrying the daughter of the previous sultan. He was the first sultan to build a mosque in Brunei; it was destroyed during Allied bombing in 1945/46.

On 11 Zulhijjah 1427AH (1 January 2007), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali was established. UNISSA received its first batch of students in August 2007. 125 undergraduates and 27 postgraduate students were admitted. On its launch UNISSA absorbed academic and non-academic staff as well as its students from the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Institute of Islamic Studies (IPI SHOAS) which had hitherto been a part of UBD. At the time, UNISSA did not have their own premises and had to use IPI SHOAS as their base.

In February 2009 the university moved to a temporary campus in Gadong at the former Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah College of Nursing to allow more room for expansion and facilities.

Bridging Programme

 * Agriculture (AgriBridge)

National Diploma

 * National Diploma in Da'ie and Leadership

Higher National Diploma

 * Higher National Diploma in Shariah Criminal Justice System

Postgraduate Diploma

 * Postgraduate Diploma in Da'ie and Leadership
 * Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic Law and Legal Practice

Bachelor degrees

 * Bachelor of Usuluddin (Tafsir & Hadith) (Arabic)
 * Bachelor of Usuluddin (Aqidah & Da‘wah) (Arabic)
 * Bachelor of Usuluddin (Tahfiz & Qira’at) (Arabic)
 * Bachelor of Shariah (Fiqh & Judiciary) (Arabic)
 * Bachelor of Shariah (Fiqh & Usul) (Arabic)
 * Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Shariah (BSL): double degree (English)
 * Bachelor of Arabic Language and Translation (Arabic)
 * Bachelor of Islamic History and Civilization (Arabic)
 * Bachelor of Development Management (English)
 * Bachelor of Science in Islamic Finance (English)
 * Bachelor of Business Management (English)
 * Bachelor of Islamic Economics (English)
 * Bachelor of Halal Science (English)
 * Bachelor of Islamic Media and Communication Technology (English)
 * Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Agribusiness) (English)
 * Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Agrotechnology) (English)

Masters

 * Master of Arabic Language (Coursework & Dissertation)
 * Master of Arabic Language (Research)
 * Master of Arabic Language and Translation (Coursework & Dissertation)
 * Master of Arabic Language and Translation (Coursework)
 * Master of Arabic Language and Translation (Research)
 * Master of Business Administration (Research)
 * Master of Islamic Banking and Finance (Research)
 * Master of Islamic Economics (Research)
 * Master of Development Management (Research)
 * Master of Islamic History and Civilisation (Research)
 * Master of Usuluddin (Coursework and Dissertation)
 * Master of Usuluddin (Coursework)
 * Master of Usuluddin (Research)
 * Master of Laws – Intellectual Property Law (Coursework & Dissertation)
 * Master of Laws – intellectual Property Law (Coursework)
 * Master of Laws – International Law (Coursework & Dissertation)
 * Master of Laws – International Law (Coursework)
 * Master of Laws (Research)
 * Master of Shariah (Coursework and Dissertation)
 * Master of Shariah (Research)
 * Master of Halal Science (Coursework)
 * Master of Halal Science (Halal Laws) (Coursework & Dissertation)
 * Master of Halal Science (Halal Laws) (Research)
 * Master of Halal Science (Halal Management) (Coursework and Dissertation)
 * Master of Halal Science (Halal Management) (Research)
 * Master of Agriculture (Agribusiness)(Research)
 * Master of Agriculture Science (Research)
 * Master of Islamic Media and Communication Technology (Research)
 * Master of Mazhab Shafi’i (Research)

Doctorates (Research)

 * PhD in Arabic Language
 * PhD in Arabic Language and Translation
 * PhD in Business Administration and Management
 * PhD in Islamic Banking and Finance
 * PhD in Islamic Economics
 * PhD in Development Management
 * PhD in Islamic History and Civilization
 * PhD in Usuluddin
 * PhD in Law
 * PhD in Shariah
 * PhD in Halal Science (Halal Laws)
 * PhD in Halal Science (Halal Management)
 * PhD in Islamic Media and Communication Technology
 * PhD in Agriculture (Agribusiness)
 * PhD in Agriculture Science
 * PhD in Mazhab Shafi’i

Faculties and centres
There are eight academic faculties and eight centres in the university.

Faculties

 * Faculty of Arabic Language
 * Faculty of Usuluddin
 * Faculty of Shariah
 * Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Faculty of Law
 * Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance
 * Faculty of Islamic Development Management
 * Faculty of Islamic Technology
 * Faculty of Agriculture

Centres

 * Centre for The Promotion of Knowledge and Languages Learning
 * Centre for Postgraduate Studies
 * Mazhab Shafi'i Research Centre
 * Centre for Research and Publication
 * Centre for Public and International Relations
 * Centre for Technology and Multimedia
 * Halalan Tayyiban Research Centre
 * Leadership and Lifelong Learning Centre

Rectors

 * Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman (2007–2009)
 * Dr. Haji Md Yusop bin Haji Damit (2009–2010)
 * Dr. Haji Serbini bin Haji Matahir (2010–2013)
 * Dr. Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal (2014–present)

Deputy Rectors

 * Dr. Haji Md Yusop bin Haji Damit (2007–2009)
 * Pengiran Anak Dr. Haji Amiruddin Alam Shah Bin Pengiran Anak Haji Ismail (2010–2014)
 * Dr. Haji Mohammed Hussain bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad (2014–2021)

Assistant Rectors

 * Dr. Hajah Masnon binti Haji Ibrahim (2007–2009)
 * Pengiran Anak Dr. Haji Amiruddin Alam Shah bin Pengiran Anak Haji Ismail (2009–2010)
 * Dr. Arman bin Haji Asmad, Research, Assistant Rector - International and Service (2014–present)
 * Dr. Siti Sara binti Haji Ahmad, Assistant Rector - Academic (2022–present)
 * Dr. Hajah Lilly Suzana binti Haji Shamsu, Assistant Rector - Student Affairs and Alumni (2022–present)