University of Macau International Student Scholarship
A competitive tuition and accommodation fee waiver awarded by the University of Macau to international Bachelor's and Master's applicants holding a valid foreign passport, with no separate application form required beyond the admission application.
Quick Facts
Status
Applications OpenFunding
Full / PartialDeadline
Aligned with UM's international admission application cycle (varies by round; check GAO admission timeline each year)
Country
MacauAbout the University of Macau International Student Scholarship
The University of Macau (UM), Macau's flagship public research university, established the International Student Scholarship to attract more international students to full-time Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes. Administered by UM's Global Affairs Office (GAO) under formal university rules (GAO.04/202003/303.r02), the scholarship is awarded competitively during the normal admission evaluation process rather than through a separate application form, though eligible candidates must indicate interest through the application channel GAO sets up each cycle.
The scholarship comes in two tiers, full and half, based on the strength of the applicant's profile. A Bachelor Awardee receiving the full scholarship gets a 100% tuition fee waiver for the Bachelor's degree programme (plus, where applicable, the Honours College Certificate Programme and a first enrolled Minor Programme) and a 100% accommodation fee waiver for Residential College living for around 10 months of the two semesters per academic year. Half-scholarship holders receive 50% of each. Master Awardees receive the equivalent tuition waiver for their Master's programme and an accommodation fee waiver for the Postgraduate House (shared room) covering 12 months including the summer.
Only valid foreign passport holders who meet the admission requirements of their intended degree programme are eligible; candidates admitted through the Joint Admission Examination for Macao's Four Higher Education Institutions are excluded. Selection weighs academic excellence, research ability or potential, and communication and interpersonal skills. Priority is given to applicants who completed their prior schooling (elementary, secondary, or higher education) entirely outside mainland China, Macao SAR, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan, and to applicants from UM's strategic partner institutions and countries.
The scholarship runs for the normal period of study, four academic years for a full Bachelor's award (five for five-year programmes) and two academic years for a full Master's award (three for three-year programmes), but continuation each year is not automatic. Bachelor Awardees must complete at least 24 credits (or their programme's required load), fulfil the Residential College requirement, and hit a yearly GPA threshold, with a one-time grace period available if GPA dips into the 3.00-3.29 band. Master Awardees need annual endorsement from their academic unit based on academic performance. Awardees may still receive stipends from other funding sources as long as the combined total stays within UM's stipulated ceiling.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
One of the few Macau-based scholarships open to Bachelor's-level international applicants, not just postgraduates
No separate scholarship application paperwork for most applicants, reducing administrative burden
Covers both tuition and campus accommodation, easing the overall cost of living in Macau
UM is consistently ranked among the top universities in Greater China and offers English-medium instruction in most programmes
Macau's compact size and low crime rate make it an easy, safe environment for first-time international students
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in Macau
Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, runs a higher-education system distinct from mainland China, closer in structure to Hong Kong's, with most instruction at UM and MUST delivered in English or Chinese/Portuguese depending on the faculty. Macau is compact, safe, and bilingual (Cantonese/Mandarin/Portuguese), with strong transport links to mainland China and Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
Eligibility Requirements
6 requirements
Documents Checklist
6 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Step 1: Apply for admission to a full-time Bachelor's or Master's degree programme at UM through the university's online international admission system.
Step 2: Confirm eligibility (foreign passport holder, not via the Joint Admission Examination route) and indicate interest in the Scholarship through the application channel set by GAO.
Step 3: No separate scholarship application form is required for most applicants; GAO's selection committee evaluates eligible candidates automatically during the admission review based on academic excellence, research potential, and interpersonal/communication skills.
Step 4: If a conditional offer is made, satisfy all admission conditions before the Scholarship can be activated.
Step 5: Await the Scholarship announcement alongside the admission decision; appeals against the outcome must be filed with GAO within 5 working days of the announcement.
Step 6: Register in the first semester and maintain the annual academic performance thresholds to continue the award year to year.
Application Timeline
October (varies by round)
Admission applications open
Scholarship consideration happens automatically during this review
Rolling through the admission cycle
Admission and scholarship decisions announced
5 working days after announcement
Appeal window
Typically August/September
First semester registration
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Apply as early as possible in the admission cycle since scholarship selection happens alongside admission review, not afterward
Highlight international schooling background clearly, as it factors into priority selection
Target programmes at UM strategic partner institutions or from priority partner countries for a selection edge
Keep GPA well above the 3.30/14.0 threshold in year one, since continuation for Bachelor Awardees is judged annually, not cumulatively
Master's applicants should build a strong relationship with their intended academic unit/supervisor, since annual continuation depends on that unit's endorsement
Budget for fees not covered by the waiver, such as re-sit fees and personal living costs beyond food and rent
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions - click any to expand
No. Most eligible candidates are automatically considered for the Scholarship during UM's regular admission evaluation; no separate scholarship form is required.
No. It covers only full-time Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes; PhD applicants should look at the separate UM PhD Scholarship (UMPS).
Bachelor Awardees with a GPA between 3.00-3.29 get a one-time one-year grace period to recover; below 3.00, the Scholarship pauses until GPA recovers to 3.30 or above.
Yes, as long as your total combined stipend does not exceed UM's stipulated ceiling under its relevant rules.
No, that admission route is explicitly excluded from Scholarship consideration.
Ready to Apply?
Head to the official portal and start your application today.
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Deadline: Aligned with UM's international admission application cycle (varies by round; check GAO admission timeline each year)