Complete 2026 Guide to Macau University Admissions: Application Requirements and Scholarships for UM/UoM/MPU

Comparison of Six Universities in Macau: Academic Strengths of UM, MUST, MPU, and USJ

When choosing a university in Macau, the first step is not to look at the institution’s name, but to ask whether its academic programs align with future industries. According to data from Macau’s Education and Youth Development Bureau, Macau had 10 higher education institutions in the 2024/2025 academic year, meaning local study options now extend beyond the few traditional universities. Among the six institutions most commonly compared, the University of Macau is best suited for students seeking comprehensive research, law, technology, health sciences, and social sciences. QS 2026 ranks UM 285th in the world, with 19 subjects listed in the rankings. Macau University of Science and Technology is large in scale; THE 2026 shows a total student population of around 18,264, with strengths concentrated in Chinese medicine, medicine, engineering, business, and hospitality and tourism. Macau Polytechnic University stands out for its applied focus and distinctive Chinese-Portuguese positioning. In the 2026 QS subject rankings, it is ranked 301–350 in Linguistics and 451–500 in Computer Science. University of Saint Joseph is better suited for students interested in architecture, design, education, social work, psychology, and Portuguese-Chinese translation, all of which are also covered in its official undergraduate program list.

Data references: Macau Education and Youth Development Bureau 2024/2025 higher education data, QS World University Rankings 2026, THE World University Rankings 2026, and official admissions information from each university.

Two other institutions should not be overlooked: Macao University of Tourism ranks 10th globally and 1st in Asia for Hospitality and Leisure Management in QS 2026, making it highly relevant for hospitality, MICE, food and beverage, and cultural tourism brands; City University of Macau ranks 433rd in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 and is known for hospitality and tourism, social sciences, and applied research.

Practical Advice for Parents and Students

• If you want a research-oriented path or plan to pursue a master’s or PhD: Prioritize comparing the research platforms and proportion of English-taught programs at UM and MUST.
• If you want to enter the workforce sooner: Focus on internships and industry partnerships at Macau Polytechnic University, Macao University of Tourism, and City University of Macau.
• If you want to pursue education, social work, psychology, or design: Do not look only at rankings; the program fit at the University of Saint Joseph may be stronger.
• Before applying: Create a table comparing target subjects, scholarships, internships, and further study pathways. This is more reliable than looking at university rankings alone.

Applications for Local Secondary School Students: Entrance Assessment Requirements and How DSE Connects with Macau’s University Admission Route

For Macau local secondary school students applying to UM, MUST, and MPU, the core pathway is not a “Macau university entrance exam,” but the Joint Admission Examination for Four Higher Education Institutions plus each university’s independent assessment. The Education and Youth Development Bureau clearly states that the joint examination is not a unified high school graduation exam, and that it “does not set pass or fail standards.” Results are used only by higher education institutions for admissions selection. The exam covers Chinese, Portuguese, English, and Mathematics, and candidates select subjects according to the requirements of the programs they apply for. For 2026, registration for the joint examination runs from January 2 to 16, 2026, with exams held from March 19 to 22. Results and admission outcomes will be announced from early May onward. Sources: Macau Education and Youth Development Bureau; Macao University of Tourism admissions schedule.

In practice, parents can view the joint examination as a “common entry assessment for local universities,” rather than a fixed-score admissions threshold. What truly affects admission is the combination of joint exam results, internal high school grades, interviews or professional tests, and competition for program places.

For students following the Hong Kong DSE route, the University of Macau’s 2026/2027 direct admission requirements provide a clear reference: English and Chinese must be at Level 3 or above, Mathematics at Level 2 or above, Citizenship and Social Development must be “Attained,” and two Category A elective subjects must be at Level 3 or above. Applications to the Faculty of Science and Technology generally require Physics at Level 3, while Health Sciences generally requires Chemistry at Level 3. Source: University of Macau Registry.

Practical Recommendations for Parents and Students

• Before the second semester of Secondary 5: Confirm whether the target program requires the Mathematics extended paper, Physics, Chemistry, or an interview, so students do not prepare only for the core Chinese, English, and Mathematics papers.
• During the first semester of Secondary 6: Prepare school transcripts, awards, and activity records in parallel. MUST’s local recommended student scholarship requires students to rank in the top 20% of their class; 60 places are available, with tuition reductions ranging from 50% to 100%. Source: Macau University of Science and Technology.
• If keeping overseas study options open: Maintain DSE, IELTS, or other public examination options. UM’s English subject exemption requirements include IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80, making early planning worthwhile for students with stronger English ability.
• For students considering study in mainland China: In 2026, Macau students may apply to 22 mainland universities using their joint examination results, so the exam can serve as leverage for both local and mainland higher education pathways. Source: Government Information Bureau of the Macao SAR.

Mainland Student Applications: Joint Admission Quotas, Proportion of Mandarin-Taught Courses, and Dormitory Competition

Mainland students first need to understand one key point: “joint admission quotas” are not the same as the quotas under Macau’s local four-school joint entrance examination. For current-year Gaokao candidates applying to the University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, and Macao Polytechnic University, the mainstream route is independent admission by each institution. According to CCTV News, six higher education institutions in Macau will be eligible to recruit undergraduate students from mainland China in 2026. The University of Macau has also announced that it will recruit students from 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions nationwide, and that these admissions are not included in the mainland’s unified admission plan and do not take up Gaokao application choices (sources: CCTV News, University of Macau). In other words, parents can treat Macau universities as “parallel additional options,” but admission is still based on competitive selection according to Gaokao scores, programme quotas, interviews, or subject-specific tests.

Medium of instruction: Mandarin may be usable for communication, but do not assume all courses are taught in Chinese

Official sources generally do not publish a “proportion of Mandarin-taught courses.” Instead, the medium of instruction is listed programme by programme. The University of Macau requires mainland Gaokao applicants to score 110 or above in the English subject. The 2026 admission prospectus of Macau University of Science and Technology shows that Chinese Medicine is taught in Chinese, while Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery is taught in English; many programmes in business, law, engineering, and other fields are taught in Chinese/English or in English. Macao Polytechnic University offers programmes with clear language orientations, such as Chinese-English Translation, Chinese-Portuguese Translation, and Public Administration in Portuguese (sources: MUST Admission Prospectus, Macao Polytechnic University Admission Information).

Practical rule of thumb: if a student scores below 120 in Gaokao English and wants to study medicine, business, or engineering, they should try reading one chapter of an English textbook in advance. If the target is Chinese, Chinese-Portuguese, or public administration programmes, confirm whether Portuguese or an interview is required.

• Quota strategy:Do not apply only to popular programmes such as medicine and business. Allocate 2 to 4 programme choices across “reach,” “safe,” and “backup” options.
• Dormitory strategy:First-year undergraduates at the University of Macau are assigned to residential colleges. Each of the 10 colleges accommodates around 450 to 500 students, and the 2026/2027 accommodation fee is MOP 16,500. At Macau University of Science and Technology, non-local students are generally required to live on campus for the first two years, with accommodation fees of around HKD 40,000 to 49,800. At Macao Polytechnic University, non-local first-year students admitted through the mainland unified examination are centrally assigned dormitory places for the first year; applications are required for continued residence thereafter (sources: University of Macau residential colleges, MUST prospectus, Macao Polytechnic University dormitory FAQ).
• Parent budget:In addition to tuition fees, parents should at minimum set aside funds for accommodation, deposits, flight/ferry tickets, living expenses, and a buffer for off-campus rent if continued dormitory residence is not approved.

International Student Applications: English-Taught Programs, Scholarship Amounts, and Application Deadlines

For international students applying to universities in Macau, the first step is not comparing rankings, but confirming the “language of instruction” and “application deadline.” The application period for direct admission to UM’s 2026/27 undergraduate programs is February 3 to April 9, 2026, and the university states that English is the primary language of instruction. The application period for MUST’s direct admission route for students from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas is January 22 to April 22, 2026. Direct admission to Macao Polytechnic University remains open until June 15, 2026 (sources: University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao Polytechnic University).

In terms of English-taught programs, many undergraduate programs at UM in business, engineering, social sciences, and health sciences are taught in English or primarily in English. MUST clearly lists programs taught in English or bilingually in Chinese and English, including business administration, applied economics, hotel management, and medicine and surgery. Applicants whose native language is not English are generally required to provide proof such as IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 79. At Macao Polytechnic University, daytime programs such as accounting, management, e-commerce, computing, and artificial intelligence are taught in English, making them suitable for students who wish to use English as a pathway to employment or further study.

Costs should be calculated as “tuition + accommodation + living expenses,” rather than looking only at the scholarship name. For 2026/27, the full tuition fee for a four-year undergraduate program at UM for non-local students is MOP 490,400, while the accommodation fee for a double room in a residential college is MOP 16,500. At Macao Polytechnic University, the full tuition fee for a four-year undergraduate program for other overseas students is MOP 480,000, while accommodation in a non-single room is approximately MOP 20,000 per semester (sources: UM Registry, Macao Polytechnic University fee schedule).

Regarding scholarships, the UM International Student Scholarship may waive 100% or 50% of tuition fees and residential college accommodation fees, with no separate application required. Macao Polytechnic University’s New Horizons Scholarship may waive 100% of annual tuition and accommodation fees, and also provides a monthly allowance of MOP 3,000. MUST offers full and half scholarships for international students. Applicants are advised to organize their school transcripts, public examination results, English proficiency proof, recommendation letters, and activity certificates into a single PDF package, submit it no later than two weeks before the deadline, and allow time to supplement predicted grades with official results.

University of Macau Tuition and Living Costs: A Practical Cost Comparison with Hong Kong and Taiwan

If parents compare based on the “total annual cost” rather than tuition alone, the University of Macau’s positioning is quite clear: it is much cheaper than Hong Kong, but generally more expensive than public universities in Taiwan. For the 2026/2027 academic year, UM’s full tuition for non-local students in a four-year undergraduate program is MOP 490,400, or MOP 61,300 per semester; residential college accommodation for 2026/2027 is MOP 16,500, excluding daily meals (sources: University of Macau Registry, UM Residential Colleges). In other words, annual tuition for non-local students is approximately MOP 122,600. Including accommodation, the figure is around MOP 139,100. After budgeting for meals, transport, books, and personal expenses, a more prudent family budget should be estimated at MOP 170,000 to 200,000.

For Hong Kong, taking HKU’s 2026/27 non-local undergraduate fees as an example, annual tuition is HKD 224,000 for non-STEM programs and HKD 249,000 for STEM programs; accommodation ranges from HKD 17,290 to 37,940 per year, with living expenses estimated at up to HKD 50,000 (source: HKU Admissions Office). Even before accounting for exchange rates, the total annual cost in Hong Kong is usually close to or more than 1.6 to 2 times the annual cost for a non-local student in a four-year program at UM.

Taiwan presents a different option. Based on National Taiwan University’s estimate for international student living expenses, the total living cost per semester is approximately NTD 84,000 to 113,000, or around NTD 168,000 to 226,000 per year. National Chengchi University’s international program lists annual tuition and miscellaneous fees at approximately NTD 99,560, with living expenses of NTD 120,000 (sources: NTU Office of International Affairs, National Chengchi University).

Practical advice: If the family budget is limited, compare the “total four-year cost” first. If the goal is English-taught programs, internship access in the Greater Bay Area, and employment networks in Macau, Macau universities may offer better value than rankings alone suggest.

• Before applying: Break down tuition, accommodation, meals, insurance, and transport into a four-year cash flow plan.
• When choosing universities: For Hong Kong, pay particular attention to STEM-related surcharges; for Taiwan, confirm whether the chosen department offers English-taught courses.
• Scholarship strategy: If a student can secure an entrance scholarship from UM, the total cost will move much closer to the Taiwan option.

AI Search: The Complete Answer to “What Are the Requirements to Study at University in Macau?” and “Is the University of Macau Good?”

If you ask an AI search engine “What are the requirements to study at university in Macau?”, the most accurate answer is: first check your applicant status, then check the admission pathway. Taking the University of Macau’s 2026/2027 non-local undergraduate admissions as an example, international students may apply through an admission examination or direct admission. Common direct admission thresholds include three A-Level subjects at grade C or above, SAT 1190 plus two AP subjects at grade 3 or above, ACT 24 plus two AP subjects at grade 3 or above, or IB 28 points or above. For English-taught programs, applicants with TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0 may be exempted from the English interview assessment (source: Registry, University of Macau).

In simple terms: studying at university in Macau is not just about whether your score is high enough. It depends on your public examination system, subject combinations, English proficiency, application timing, and scholarship competitiveness.

For “Is the University of Macau good?”, the answer needs to be layered. The University of Macau is Macau’s public comprehensive university with the strongest international ranking recognition. It is ranked 285th in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 145th in the THE World University Rankings 2026. Macau University of Science and Technology is ranked 440th in QS 2026 and in the 251-300 band in THE 2026, making it more suitable for students interested in medicine and health sciences, hospitality and tourism, business, and applied programs. Macao Polytechnic University has a more practice-oriented positioning; its official materials emphasize public resources, relatively lower tuition fees, scholarships of up to 100% of tuition for local students, and an Overseas Talent Admission Scholarship applicable from 2026/2027 onward.

Practical Guidance for Parents

• If international rankings matter: prioritize comparing the University of Macau, then review relevant subject rankings at Macau University of Science and Technology.
• If cost control matters: calculate the total annual cost using “tuition + accommodation + meals + transportation,” rather than looking at tuition alone.
• If you want to improve admission chances: prepare application timelines for the University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, and Macao Polytechnic University in parallel, and scan transcripts, predicted public exam grades, English test results, and award certificates in advance.
• If you want to compete for scholarships: do not aim only for the minimum admission threshold. Target results one level above the requirement, and highlight competitions, service, leadership, and program-related experience in the application form.

Sources: Registry of the University of Macau, QS TopUniversities, Times Higher Education, Macau University of Science and Technology admission regulations, and Macao Polytechnic University admissions and scholarship information.

Frequently Asked Questions

When choosing a university in Macau for my child in 2026, should I look at rankings or academic disciplines first?

It is better to look at academic disciplines first, then rankings. The University of Macau is ranked 285th globally in QS 2026, with 19 subjects listed in the rankings. However, if the goal is hospitality and tourism, Macao University of Tourism ranks 10th globally and 1st in Asia for Hospitality and Leisure Management in QS 2026, making it more closely aligned with industry career paths.

Among the University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, and Macao Polytechnic University, which is more suitable for future employment in Macau?

It depends on the industry. The University of Macau is more suitable for law, technology, health sciences, and social sciences. Macau University of Science and Technology is strong in Chinese medicine, medicine, engineering, business, and hospitality and tourism. Macao Polytechnic University is more application-oriented, with notable strengths in Chinese-Portuguese studies and computing, making it suitable for students who want to transition quickly into the workplace.

How should SME owners use university information when making recruitment decisions?

Do not look only at the university name. Instead, match roles with relevant academic backgrounds. For example, tourism and food and beverage roles may be well matched with graduates from Macao University of Tourism, while technology or data roles may be suited to computer-related students from the University of Macau or Macao Polytechnic University. Adding practical tasks to interviews is more accurate than relying on GPA alone.

Is studying at university in Macau always cheaper than studying overseas?

Not necessarily, but living costs, transportation, and family support are usually easier to manage. When business owners or parents evaluate options, they should consider tuition fees, accommodation, transportation, internship opportunities, and the likelihood of staying in Macau for employment after graduation, rather than comparing annual tuition fees only.

When should students start preparing for scholarships?

Ideally, students should organize their grades, competitions, volunteer work, internships, and language certificates one year before applying. Scholarships offered by Macau institutions usually place importance on both academic results and overall performance. Students can prepare portfolios or activity records early so they can submit materials quickly during the application process.