University of Macau International Student Scholarship

Overview

The University of Macau (UM) offers an admission scholarship for international students that covers both tuition fees and on-campus accommodation fees for the full normal study period. There is no separate scholarship form to complete. Every eligible international applicant is automatically considered during the standard admissions evaluation, and those who qualify receive both waivers without any additional application step.

UM is Macau's flagship comprehensive public university and holds strong positions in regional and global rankings. It offers programmes across law, business, education, humanities, social sciences, science, technology, engineering, and health sciences. Teaching is available in English, Portuguese, and Chinese, with many programmes operating primarily in English. The campus spans Macau's main peninsula and Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, China, giving students access to a cross-boundary academic environment.

The scholarship is oriented toward students with genuinely international educational backgrounds — specifically those who attended school outside mainland China, Macau SAR, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan. Students admitted through the Joint Admission Examination for Macao Four Higher Education Institutions are excluded from this award. If you completed your primary, secondary, or higher education in any of those four areas, confirm your priority status with UM's International Affairs Office before applying.

Key Facts at a Glance

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality and Passport Requirements

You must hold a valid foreign passport and satisfy UM's standard admission requirements for your chosen programme. Macau SAR residents, Macau permanent residents, and holders of mainland Chinese travel documents are not the target group for this scholarship. Contact the International Affairs Office if your residency background is complex.

Programme Requirements

The scholarship covers full-time bachelor's and master's degree programmes only. Executive degree programmes and part-time study modes are explicitly excluded. Verify that your target programme is full-time before applying.

Educational Background and Priority

Priority in scholarship consideration goes to students who received their elementary, primary, secondary, or higher education outside the four specified areas: mainland China, Macau SAR, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan. Students schooled entirely within those areas may still be considered for admission but receive lower priority for this scholarship.

Exclusion — Joint Admission Examination

Students who gain admission through the Joint Admission Examination for Macao Four Higher Education Institutions are not eligible for this scholarship, regardless of their academic profile.

Annual Continuation

Scholarship holders must maintain satisfactory academic performance each year. UM has not published a specific minimum GPA threshold. Performance is assessed against UM's internal academic standards, and the award can be withdrawn if your standing is deemed unsatisfactory.

What the Scholarship Covers

• Full tuition fee waiver for the normal duration of the bachelor's or master's programme
• On-campus accommodation fee waiver for the normal study period
• Both waivers apply for the standard programme length — extended or repeated years are not automatically covered
• Monthly stipends and personal living expenses are not included

How to Apply

1. Confirm eligibility: Verify that you hold a valid foreign passport, are applying to a full-time bachelor's or master's programme, and that your educational background outside the four areas supports priority consideration.
2. Apply for admission: Submit your international admission application through UM's International Affairs Office at gao.um.edu.mo. Scholarship consideration runs automatically alongside admission review.
3. Prepare academic documents: Gather certified copies of all transcripts, school certificates, and graduation certificates in English or Chinese. Documents in other languages require certified translation.
4. Submit language proficiency evidence: Include IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent documentation for English-medium programmes. Portuguese proficiency evidence is required for Portuguese-medium programmes.
5. Await your combined decision: UM evaluates eligible international applicants for the scholarship during the admissions review. Your offer letter will state whether the scholarship has been awarded.
6. Accept your offer and arrange accommodation: Confirm acceptance by the stated deadline and contact UM's student affairs office to arrange on-campus accommodation covered by the scholarship.
7. Apply for a student visa: UM's International Affairs Office guides admitted international students through the Macau student visa process.

Required Documents

• Completed international admission application form (via gao.um.edu.mo)
• Certified copies of academic transcripts from all previous institutions
• Graduation certificate or school leaving certificate
• Valid foreign passport (bio-data page)
• English or Portuguese language proficiency evidence (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent)
• Research proposal or statement of purpose (for master's applicants, programme-dependent)
• Academic reference letters (number and format as specified by your programme)
• Passport-size photographs to UM's specification

Key Dates & Deadlines

UM runs two main intake cycles — a primary September intake and a February intake for some postgraduate programmes. Scholarship consideration is embedded in the admissions timeline and has no independent deadline. International applicants should submit well before the closing date published at gao.um.edu.mo. UM processes applications and scholarship assessments on a rolling basis, so early submission is to your advantage. Check the UM website each cycle for current deadlines.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Submit early in the admissions window to allow UM time to process your scholarship consideration before cohort decisions are finalised
• Include clear documentation of where your schooling took place — school certificates with institution addresses, transcripts from international institutions — to establish your priority status
• Contact the International Affairs Office before applying if you are unsure whether your educational location qualifies for priority consideration
• A language proficiency score comfortably above the minimum threshold strengthens your overall admissions file

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying through the Joint Admission Examination for Macao Four Higher Education Institutions if you want this scholarship — those applicants are explicitly excluded
• Applying to an executive or part-time programme, which the scholarship does not cover
• Assuming the scholarship renews automatically — you must maintain satisfactory academic performance each year
• Missing the admissions deadline; there is no separate extension for scholarship consideration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the University of Macau International Student Scholarship?

An admission-based scholarship that waives both tuition fees and on-campus accommodation fees for eligible international students during the normal study period of their full-time bachelor's or master's programme at UM. Consideration is automatic — no separate scholarship form is required.

Who is eligible for the UM International Student Scholarship?

Valid foreign passport holders admitted to full-time bachelor's or master's programmes at UM who meet UM's admission requirements. Priority goes to students educated outside mainland China, Macau SAR, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan. Students admitted through the Joint Admission Examination are excluded.

Do I need to apply separately for the UM scholarship?

No. All eligible international applicants are automatically considered during the admissions evaluation. Your standard international admission application is the only form you need to submit.

What does the UM International Student Scholarship cover?

Full tuition fees and on-campus accommodation fees for the normal programme duration. Monthly stipends and living expenses are not included.

What happens if my academic performance drops during my studies?

You must maintain satisfactory academic standing each year. UM has not published a specific GPA minimum; performance is assessed against UM's internal standards. Falling below an acceptable level can result in the scholarship being reduced or withdrawn.

Does the scholarship apply to executive or part-time programmes?

No. Executive degree programmes and part-time study modes are explicitly excluded. The scholarship applies only to full-time bachelor's and master's degree programmes.

What does it mean that priority is given to students educated outside mainland China, Macau SAR, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan?

Students who completed their elementary, primary, secondary, or higher education entirely outside those four areas are evaluated more favourably for the scholarship than those schooled within them. If your entire education took place within those areas, you may still be admitted but are less likely to receive the scholarship award.

How long does the UM scholarship last?

For the standard programme duration — the normal number of years for your bachelor's or master's degree — subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory academic performance.

What currency are UM fees in?

The Macanese Pataca (MOP). All tuition and accommodation fees at UM are denominated in MOP.

Where can I get current information about the UM scholarship?

Visit gao.um.edu.mo/international-admission/scholarship-assistantship-academic-prizes/admission-scholarship/ or contact UM's International Affairs Office directly for current cycle dates and programme-specific eligibility details.