Macau Foundation
Macau Foundation Belt and Road Scholarship
Edit ScholarshipScholarship funded by the Macau Foundation for students from selected Belt-and-Road countries to study at Macau University of Science and Technology, supporting international enrollment from Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Overview
The Macau Foundation Belt and Road Scholarship is funded by the Macau Foundation — a public institution established by the Macau SAR Government — and administered through Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST). The scholarship supports students from a defined set of countries with historical, cultural, or strategic ties to Macau and China: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil, and Mongolia. It funds study at MUST at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.
The Macau Foundation sets the specific financial terms of the award each cycle — including the per-country allocations, whether the award covers full or partial tuition, and any accommodation or stipend components. Because these terms are published in an official annual call rather than maintained as fixed year-round figures, you must check the current cycle's announcement to know the exact amounts and coverage for your intake. What is consistent is that students from eligible countries apply through MUST's standard international admissions pipeline, and scholarship consideration is embedded in that process.
Macau has served historically as a bridge between China and the Lusophone world, and between China and Southeast Asia. The scholarship country list reflects this: it includes Portuguese-speaking countries (Portugal, Brazil), Southeast Asian nations (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), and Belt and Road partner countries (Bangladesh, Hungary, Mongolia). If your country is on the list and you are applying to MUST, this scholarship represents dedicated institutional funding tied directly to your region.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Funding Body | Macau Foundation (public institution, Macau SAR Government) |
| Administered Through | Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) |
| Host Country | Macau SAR, China |
| Degree Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Eligible Countries | Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil, Mongolia |
| Value | Set by the Macau Foundation each cycle — may include full or partial tuition and potentially other support; check the official annual call for current amounts |
| Application Process | Through MUST international admissions; no separate standalone scholarship application |
| Currency | MOP (Macanese Pataca) |
| Official Website | must.edu.mo — International Student Admissions |
Eligibility Criteria
Country of Origin
You must hold citizenship of one of the following countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil, or Mongolia. The Macau Foundation determines this list and may update it in future cycles. Confirm your country's eligibility with MUST's admissions office when applying for your intake.
MUST Admission Requirement
You must gain admission to a MUST degree programme at the bachelor's, master's, or PhD level. The Macau Foundation scholarship is accessible only through MUST's admissions pipeline — you need a MUST programme offer before scholarship consideration can proceed. Meeting MUST's standard academic entry requirements for your chosen programme is the first step.
Programme Eligibility
The scholarship applies to full-time degree programmes at MUST. Confirm with MUST's admissions office whether your specific programme is covered under the Macau Foundation scholarship in the current cycle, as scope may vary from year to year.
Ongoing Eligibility
Continuation after each academic period is tied to maintaining satisfactory academic performance. The specific continuation criteria may mirror MUST's standard academic ranking requirements or may reflect additional conditions set by the Macau Foundation. Review your offer letter carefully for the applicable standard.
What the Scholarship Covers
- Financial support for study at MUST at the bachelor's, master's, or PhD level for students from eligible countries
- The exact components — whether the award covers full tuition, partial tuition, accommodation, or a living stipend — are set by the Macau Foundation each cycle and communicated through the official annual call
- Award amounts and the number of recipients per country may vary from year to year
- Do not assume terms from a previous cycle apply to your intake; verify directly with MUST or the Macau Foundation
How to Apply
- Confirm your country's eligibility: Verify that your nationality appears on the current cycle's eligible country list by contacting MUST's International Student Admissions Office or checking the Macau Foundation's official communications.
- Apply through MUST's international admissions portal: Submit your complete international admission application to MUST for your chosen degree programme. The Macau Foundation scholarship is evaluated as part of this process.
- Prepare certified academic documents: Gather certified copies of all transcripts, degrees, and certificates from your prior education. Non-English and non-Chinese documents require certified translations.
- Include English proficiency documentation: MUST's English-taught postgraduate programmes require IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent evidence. Include the relevant certificate with your application.
- Indicate your scholarship interest: When applying, inform MUST's admissions office that you are from an eligible country and are seeking the Macau Foundation Belt and Road Scholarship. This helps ensure your file is routed correctly for scholarship assessment.
- Await the admission and scholarship offer: MUST and the Macau Foundation coordinate to identify eligible-country applicants. Your offer letter will specify the scholarship terms applicable to your cycle.
- Confirm acceptance and complete enrolment: Accept your offer within the stated window, pay any remaining fees not covered by the award, and complete enrolment and visa formalities with MUST.
Required Documents
- Completed MUST international admission application
- Certified copies of all academic transcripts from prior education
- Graduation or degree certificates (certified copies)
- Valid passport clearly showing your country of citizenship
- English language proficiency certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent)
- Two academic reference letters (recommended for postgraduate applicants)
- Research proposal or statement of purpose (required for PhD applicants)
- Passport-size photographs
Key Dates & Deadlines
The Macau Foundation Belt and Road Scholarship runs on MUST's annual admissions cycle. Applications for September intake are typically accepted from early in the calendar year, with a window closing several months before the academic year start. The Macau Foundation publishes specific scholarship terms in an official annual call — check must.edu.mo and the Macau Foundation's official channels for current cycle dates and award details. For February intake where applicable, a separate window exists. Contact MUST's International Student Admissions Office for the current cycle's schedule.
Tips for a Strong Application
What helps
- Contact MUST's admissions office before applying to confirm the current cycle's Macau Foundation scholarship terms — award amounts and conditions are set annually and can differ from previous cycles
- A strong academic record is essential because MUST evaluates you competitively alongside other international applicants, including those from your own eligible country
- Clearly establish your nationality through your passport documents — your country of citizenship is the primary eligibility checkpoint for this scholarship
- Apply early in the admissions window; per-country allocations may be limited and offered on a first-qualified basis
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the scholarship terms from a previous cycle apply to your intake — always verify the current year's official call
- Applying to a MUST programme without first confirming it falls within the Macau Foundation scholarship's scope for your cycle
- Submitting incomplete or uncertified academic documents, which delays the admissions review and scholarship consideration
- Not informing MUST's admissions office that you are from an eligible country — proactively flag your scholarship interest so your file is assessed accordingly
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Macau Foundation Belt and Road Scholarship?
A scholarship funded by the Macau Foundation — a public institution of the Macau SAR Government — and administered through MUST. It supports students from 11 eligible countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil, and Mongolia) to study at MUST at the bachelor's, master's, or PhD level.
Which countries are eligible for the Macau Foundation Belt and Road Scholarship?
Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil, and Mongolia. The Macau Foundation may update this list in future cycles; confirm eligibility for your intake with MUST's admissions office.
What does the scholarship cover?
The Macau Foundation sets the specific financial terms each cycle. The award may cover full or partial tuition and may include accommodation or a stipend component. The exact coverage is published in each year's official call — do not rely on figures from a previous cycle.
Do I apply directly to the Macau Foundation?
No. The scholarship is administered through MUST's international admissions process. Apply to MUST for your target degree programme and the scholarship consideration happens through that process.
Is there a separate scholarship application form?
No separate standalone form. Your MUST international admissions application is the vehicle for scholarship consideration. Inform MUST's office of your eligible-country status when you apply.
How many scholarships are available?
The number of recipients per country and per cycle is set by the Macau Foundation and may change each year. Check the current official call for specific quotas.
What degree levels does the scholarship cover?
Bachelor's, master's, and PhD programmes at MUST.
Why are these specific countries on the eligible list?
The country list reflects Macau's historical and strategic role as a bridge between China and the Lusophone world (Portugal, Brazil), Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), and Belt and Road partner nations (Bangladesh, Hungary, Mongolia).
Where can I find the current cycle's scholarship terms?
Contact MUST's International Student Admissions Office directly and check must.edu.mo for current information. The Macau Foundation also publishes scholarship call announcements through its official channels.