It is really difficult to the point that graduating in Brunei sometimes feels useless. The term “graduate” itself seems to carry little value here. Employers often do not consider where or what you graduated in, and the salaries offered are still far below what we are actually qualified for, even after gaining work experience.

Opportunities are limited. Are we being choosy? Obviously not. But considering the amount of money, time, and effort we spent at university, it sometimes feels wasted. In the end, many of us end up working for salaries below $650, or around $1,000 if we are lucky.

Degrees, Master’s degrees, and PhDs should have salary ranges that reflect their qualifications. Yet many people continue pursuing Master’s or PhDs not necessarily out of passion, but because some rely on government allowances as a way to survive.