Before writing this guide, I read the scholarship rules, the Master’s admission guidelines, the Bachelor’s application pages, and the fee pages. They sit on three different UM websites, and reading them side by side changed how I explain the scholarship. The headline is simpler than most summaries suggest: your admission file is your scholarship file. The details, however, depend on whether you apply at the Bachelor’s or the Master’s level.
This guide covers both levels, converts every date to Pakistan, US, and GMT time, and gives Pakistani, US, and other international applicants their own sections. Where UM has not published a detail, I say so instead of filling the gap with a guess.
A quick guide to the University of Macau International Student Scholarship for the 2027/2028 intake.
Quick Facts
This table is the short version. Each row comes from an official UM page that I opened on October 24, 2026, and the sections below explain the details.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | International Student Scholarship (ISS), University of Macau |
| Host university | University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China |
| Levels | Full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs (executive programs are excluded) |
| Subjects | Any eligible full-time degree program; see the program table below |
| Who can apply | International applicants with a valid foreign passport who meet the admission requirements of their program |
| Funding type | Partial funding: tuition waivers for every award, plus shared-room housing waivers for Bachelor’s Full and Half and Master’s Type A |
| Cash payment | Master’s Type A only: a teaching assistantship worth MOP 4,000 per month |
| Separate scholarship form | None. Eligible applicants are considered during admission review |
| Intake | Academic year 2027/2028 |
| Master’s deadlines | December 3, 2026 (batch 1) and April 30, 2027 (batch 2) |
| Bachelor’s deadline | April 8, 2027 for Direct Admission (the window opens February 3, 2027) |
| Application fees | Master’s: MOP 200. Bachelor’s Direct Admission: MOP 300 |
| Official page | Global Affairs Office: Admission Scholarship |
- Quick Facts
- Overview
- Who Can Apply
- How Winners Are Selected
- Funding and Benefits
- Required Documents
- English Language Requirements
- Costs
- Application Procedure
- Deadlines and Time Zones
- Residence Permit or Visa
- For Pakistani Applicants
- For US Applicants
- For Other International Applicants
- After You Receive an Offer
- Common Mistakes
- Scam Warning Signs
- How to Apply Safely
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Words
- Official Links
- Read More
Overview
The International Student Scholarship (ISS) is the University of Macau’s main admission-based award for non-local students at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level. The Global Affairs Office manages it under a rule set that took effect on October 17, 2025. UM calls the award competitive, and it continues for your normal period of study as long as you pass a yearly academic review.
Here is the part many summaries blur. There are five different packages, UM decides which one you receive, and each package pays for different things. Bachelor’s awards are called Full and Half, and Master’s awards are called Type A, Type B, and Type C. I break them down in the funding section.
Why this site labels it Partial Funding
UM describes the scholarship as a tuition and accommodation fee waiver. Only one of the five packages adds money you can spend, and none of them lists flights, food, or insurance. That is why this post carries the Partial Funding label instead of Fully Funded Scholarships.
Programs and subjects covered
UM publishes separate 2027/2028 program lists for Bachelor’s and Master’s study. The table below combines both lists by faculty, so you can see where your subject sits at each level. Programs marked as new depend on official approval, so confirm they are running before you build your plan around them.
| Faculty or institute | Bachelor’s programs (2027/2028 list) | Master’s programs (2027/2028 list) |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | Chinese Language and Literature; English Studies; History; Japanese Studies; Portuguese Studies | English Studies; Chinese History and Culture; Translation Studies (English-Chinese); Philosophy; Portuguese (linguistics, literary and cultural studies, Chinese-Portuguese translation); MPhil in Chinese Linguistics, Chinese Literature, and History; Master of Fine Arts |
| Business Administration | Accounting; Business Intelligence and Data Analytics; Finance; Business Administration; International Integrated Resort Management | MBA; MSc in Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, and International Integrated Resort Management |
| Design | None in the 2027/2028 list | Industrial Design; Visual Communication Design |
| Education | Education (Chinese); Education (English); Education (Integrated Science); Education (Mathematics); Pre-Primary Education; Primary Education | MPhil in Education (eight specializations); MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Education |
| Engineering | Civil Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Electromechanical Engineering | MSc in Civil Engineering, Coastal Environment and Safety, Construction Project Management, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Smart Ocean Technology, and Smart Power Grid |
| Information Science and Computing | Computer Science | MSc in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Financial Technology, Internet of Things, and Robotics and Autonomous Systems |
| Law | Law in Chinese Law and Global Legal Studies (English); Law in Portuguese (evening) | Master of Law in Chinese, English, and Portuguese language tracks, including European Union Law, International Law, Comparative Law, International Business Law, and Macau Law and Practice; Law and Technology (new, subject to official approval) |
| Medicine | Biomedical Sciences; Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology | MSc in Global Public Health; MPhil in Medicinal Food and Nutrition Sciences (new, subject to official approval) |
| Science | Bioinformatics; Mathematics (two tracks); Chemistry and Physics (both new, subject to official approval) | MSc in Mathematics |
| Social Sciences | Communication; Economics; Government and Public Administration; Psychology; Sociology | MA in Communication; MSocSc in Economics, European Studies, Clinical Psychology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, International Relations, and Public Administration; MPhil in Macao Studies |
| Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Brain Sciences | None in the 2027/2028 list | MSc in Data Science (eight specializations) and MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience |
| Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering | None in the 2027/2028 list | MSc in Innovative Materials |
| Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences | None in the 2027/2028 list | MPhil in Chinese Medicinal Science, Medicinal Administration, and Pharmaceutical Sciences; MSc in Medicinal Administration |
| Institute of Microelectronics | None in the 2027/2028 list | MSc and MPhil in Microelectronics |
Note: The language of instruction differs by program. Some Bachelor’s and Master’s programs are taught in Chinese or Portuguese, so read the official program page before you choose. The scholarship rules exclude executive degree programs and do not mention certificate or diploma programs, so email the Global Affairs Office before you assume those qualify.
Who Can Apply
This section covers eligibility only: the rules you must meet before UM will consider you for the scholarship. How UM chooses among eligible applicants is a separate topic, and the next section covers it.
Degree levels covered
- Bachelor’s: full-time degree programs that run four or five years, depending on the program.
- Master’s: full-time degree programs of two or three academic years, depending on the program.
- Not covered: executive programs and PhD study. UM runs a separate UM PhD Scholarship through its Graduate School.
Eligible nationalities and passports
UM does not publish a list of eligible countries. The rule is built on the document you hold: a valid foreign passport. A Pakistani, American, Indian, Nigerian, or Brazilian passport can all qualify in principle, provided you also meet the admission requirements of your program.
| Identification document | Admission route | Scholarship status |
|---|---|---|
| Valid foreign passport | International applicant route | Eligible if you meet your program’s admission requirements |
| Chinese mainland ID card or passport | Separate mainland admission guidelines | Not covered by the foreign passport rule |
| Macao ID card | Macao student guidelines | Not covered by the foreign passport rule |
| Hong Kong permanent ID card | Hong Kong student guidelines | Not covered by the foreign passport rule |
| Taiwan identification document | Taiwan student guidelines | Not covered by the foreign passport rule |
If you hold a foreign passport and also hold a document from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan, write to the Global Affairs Office before you apply. Ask which category UM will use for you, and keep the answer in writing.
Master’s entry requirements
- A bachelor’s degree, or an academic background that UM recognizes as equivalent.
- An overall result of grade C+ or better. UM defines this as 2.3 on a 4.0 scale, 14 on a 20-point scale, or 70 out of 100. The Faculty of Law is the exception.
- English proof if your previous degree was not taught in English (see the English section below).
- Any extra knowledge or professional experience that your specific program asks for.
Final-year bachelor’s students may apply and receive a provisional offer, which turns into a full admission only after they finish the degree with a qualifying result. If you are unsure how your grades convert, my CGPA to percentage and GPA converter gives a quick estimate. Treat it as a guide, because UM applies its own rules.
Bachelor’s entry requirements
For Direct Admission, UM accepts a long list of school-leaving and university qualifications. These are the ones most international applicants use.
- A-Level or International A-Level: grade C or above in three subjects, not counting English or Chinese.
- SAT with AP: an SAT score of 1,190 or above out of 1,600, plus two AP subjects at grade 3 or above.
- ACT with AP: an ACT composite score of 24 or above, plus two AP subjects at grade 3 or above.
- International Baccalaureate: the IB Diploma with 28 points or above.
- Canadian secondary school: a provincial diploma with an average of 80% or above in five Grade 12 subjects (six for the Ontario diploma).
- Named national exams: Portugal (ENES), Brazil (ENEM), Taiwan (GSAT), Malaysia (UEC and STPM), Thailand (Mathayom Suksa 6), Indonesia (SMA Ijazah), Myanmar (matriculation), and Vietnam (upper secondary certificate).
- Degree-based routes: a bachelor’s degree or a potential graduate status, an associate degree or higher diploma with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, or current or past enrollment in a bachelor’s program elsewhere.
- Offer-based route: a current-year bachelor’s offer from a recognized institution outside Macao, or a public exam result accepted for bachelor’s admission outside Macao.
Some programs add a subject condition. Civil, Electrical and Computer, and Electromechanical Engineering, Computer Science, both Mathematics tracks, and Physics expect Physics at senior-secondary level. Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Bioinformatics, and Chemistry expect Chemistry.
Who is excluded
Two groups are excluded in plain words. The first is applicants to executive degree programs. The second is applicants admitted through the Joint Admission Examination for the four Macao higher education institutions. The Registry also lists an Admission Examination channel for international applicants, so if you take that route and enter through the joint exam, the scholarship rules say UM will not consider you. For that reason, I would plan around Direct Admission and ask the Global Affairs Office before choosing the exam route.
How Winners Are Selected
A committee evaluates eligible applicants, and the rules describe the process as fair and objective. The listed criteria are academic excellence, research ability or potential, and communication and interpersonal skills. The rules say the criteria are not limited to these three, and they use the phrase “and/or,” so not every applicant is judged on every item.
Two preferences matter for international readers. Applicants who studied in primary school, secondary school, or a higher institution outside China are prioritized. Applicants from UM’s strategic collaboration partners or countries, and applicants with unique cultural backgrounds, may receive favorable consideration. UM has not published a list of those partners or countries on the pages I reviewed.
Academic excellence
Your certificates and transcripts are how UM sees this. They are also the documents the admission team checks first.
Research ability or potential
For Master’s programs, your referees are asked to judge your academic qualifications and potential for the field you chose.
Communication skills
Some programs hold interviews, and English-taught Bachelor’s programs use an interview to assess English.
Study history outside China
Written into the rules as a priority. It applies to schooling or higher education completed outside mainland China, Macao, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
UM does not publish the number of awards, cutoff scores, or success rates on any page I reviewed, and I will not invent them. For Master’s admission, UM lists academic results, work experience, recommendation forms, interview or written test performance (when used), and program quotas as offer criteria. Quotas mean that a strong file can still miss out in a crowded program.
Because UM decides the scholarship inside the admission review, I would not spend energy hunting for a separate form. I would spend it on the three things UM can actually read: your transcripts, your two recommendation forms (for Master’s), and your English evidence. The published Master’s forms do not list a motivation letter, but programs can add interviews or extra material. If yours does, my guide on how to write a winning motivation letter will help you prepare.
Funding and Benefits
UM publishes five packages for students admitted in the 2026/2027 academic year and later. The Global Affairs Office page is the main source, and the Graduate School repeats the Master’s packages. The cards below show what each award pays, in UM’s own terms.
Bachelor’s awards
Bachelor’s awards come in two sizes, and both cover tuition and the shared-room housing fee.
100% waivers
Covers 100% of Bachelor’s program tuition and 100% of the Residential College accommodation fee for a shared bedroom.
50% waivers
Covers 50% of Bachelor’s program tuition and 50% of the Residential College accommodation fee for a shared bedroom.
Master’s awards
Master’s awards come in three types, and UM decides which type you receive.
Tuition, housing, and a stipend
Covers 100% of Master’s tuition and 100% of the shared on-campus accommodation fee, and adds a teaching assistantship of MOP 4,000 per month.
Tuition only
Covers 100% of Master’s program tuition. Housing and living costs stay with you.
Tuition differential
Removes the international tuition differential, so you pay the local student tuition rate instead of the international rate.
The Graduate School page calls the Type A assistantship a half teaching assistantship, while the Global Affairs Office page leaves out the word half. Both pages give MOP 4,000 per month. I treat the amount as confirmed and the half label as a detail to confirm with UM before you plan around the stipend.
How long the funding lasts
UM grants the scholarship for the normal period of study, and it continues from year to year only if your annual academic review is satisfactory. You must also keep active student status, follow UM’s rules, and take part when UM invites you to internationalization activities. If you have a stipend from another source, the scholarship does not block it, but your total stipend cannot exceed the ceiling in UM’s rules.
What the packages do not mention
None of the five packages lists flights, food, local transport, personal spending, or insurance. Budget for those yourself, and ask UM which medical and insurance costs apply to your program.
Required Documents
The two levels use different systems, so the document lists differ. The Master’s list below comes from the Graduate School’s international applicant page and the 2027/2028 admission guidelines.
Master’s applications
Prepare these six items before you open the online form.
Passport copy
A valid foreign passport. International applicants must hold valid identification throughout the process.
Passport-size photo
A JPG at 300 dpi with a white background and no border. UM uses it for the student ID card.
Certificates and transcripts
Final-year students send the latest transcript, which must include at least three years of results, plus a testimonial.
English proof
Needed if your degree was not taught in English. UM may also ask for a medium-of-instruction letter from your university.
Two recommendation forms
UM’s own forms, online or on paper. At least one must come from a university academic.
English versions
Documents not in Chinese, English, or Portuguese need an English version from the institution or an English translation.
Upload every file as an A4 PDF, and keep the total size under 6 MB. If your scans are too large, my free PDF compressor can reduce them before you upload. Online recommendation requests go out automatically after you submit, so talk to your referees before you click the final button.
Bachelor’s applications
UM expects you to upload your identification and academic documents inside the application window. Files that are missing when the window closes mean the application is not processed. The exact list depends on your qualification, and the Registry’s admission rules excerpt describes it. That excerpt still belongs to the 2026/2027 cycle on the Registry page, so recheck it when the 2027/2028 version appears.
- A-Level or International A-Level: senior-secondary transcripts, plus predicted A-Level grades from your school if you are still studying, or your completion certificate and official A-Level certificate if you have finished.
- SAT or ACT with AP: transcripts, official score reports, and an AP transcript, with scores sent through the official testing platforms.
- IB Diploma: predicted grades from your school if you are still studying, or the diploma and full transcript if you have finished.
- Degree-based routes: an official transcript, plus the certificate if you graduated or a testimonial if you are still studying.
- Offer-based route: senior-secondary transcripts plus the current-year offer letter or the official public exam result.
After an offer
Offered candidates must provide certified true copies of their academic documents, or show the originals, at registration. UM does not return submitted documents. Master’s students also submit a medical examination report at registration.
English Language Requirements
English rules are different for Master’s and Bachelor’s applicants, and both sets depend on how your earlier studies were taught.
Master’s level
You need English proof only if your previous bachelor’s or master’s degree came from a university where English was not the medium of instruction. UM accepts any one of the following.
| Evidence | Minimum UM lists |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Overall 6.0 or above, with no sub-score lower than 5.5 |
| TOEFL | 80 on the internet-based test or 550 on the paper-based test |
| College English Test (China) | Level 6, with a score of 430 |
| Test for English Majors (China) | Pass at Level 4 or Level 8 |
TOEFL and IELTS scores stay valid for two years from the test date, and they must still be valid on the day you submit. Some programs set their own language rules. The official list marks about a dozen of them, including the MBA, both Design degrees, the Communication degree, and several Arts and Law programs, so check the Graduate School page for your program. Even if your degree was in English, UM can ask for a letter from your university that confirms English as the medium of instruction, so request it early.
Bachelor’s level
Applicants to programs taught mainly in English attend an interview that checks their English. You can skip the interview if you hold one of the results below. Each score stays valid for two years from the test date.
- TOEFL iBT: 80 for tests taken before January 21, 2026, or 4.5 out of 6 for tests taken on or after that date.
- IELTS: band 6.0 or above.
- IGCSE English: grade C or 5 or above.
To check whether your section scores add up to the overall band UM asks for, use my IELTS band score calculator.
Costs
The scholarship removes the biggest costs, but you still pay application fees and several expenses UM does not cover. The table lists the official amounts first. The dollar figures are my rough estimates, based on 1 USD = 8.08 MOP, the rate shown by fxfeed.io on July 29, 2026. Check a live rate before you budget.
| Item | Official amount | Estimate in USD | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s application fee | MOP 200 | About 25 | Non-refundable. You pay once even if you rank two programs. |
| Bachelor’s Direct Admission fee | MOP 300 | About 37 | Pay it inside the application window, or the application is invalid. |
| Type A teaching assistantship | MOP 4,000 per month | About 495 | The only cash component across the five packages. |
| Bachelor’s tuition, non-local students, 4-year programs | MOP 490,400 in total | About 60,700 | The 2026/2027 fee list shows MOP 61,300 per semester over eight semesters. It shows what a waiver is worth, and 2027/2028 fees may differ. |
| Residential College accommodation | MOP 16,500 | About 2,040 | Listed for a double room, with data as of October 2025. Check the official Residential College page for the billing period. |
| Master’s tuition for 2027/2028 | Not announced yet | Not available | The Graduate School page says the 2027/2028 fee scheme is to be announced. |
What a Half scholarship still leaves
This is my own arithmetic, not a UM quote. On the 2026/2027 fee list, 50% of MOP 490,400 is MOP 245,200 (about USD 30,400), and you would still pay that over four years before housing, food, and travel. A Half award is valuable, but it is not a free degree, so build a funding plan before you accept.
Application Procedure
The flowchart shows the order I recommend. The numbered steps below add the details that differ between the Master’s and Bachelor’s routes.
Pick the Bachelor’s or Master’s route first, because they use different portals and calendars. Check each program’s language of instruction in the official lists. Master’s applicants can rank up to two programs in a single application.
Match your passport, grades, and English evidence to the sections above. If you are unsure whether your qualification counts, email the Graduate School (Master’s) or the Registry (Bachelor’s) before you pay any fee.
Scan every document as an A4 PDF. For Master’s applications, the total upload must stay under 6 MB. Ask your two referees early, because their forms must arrive before the deadline.
Master’s applicants register on the Graduate School portal, receive a reference number by email, and complete the form. Bachelor’s applicants use the Registry’s online system during the Direct Admission window. An unpaid application is invalid, and Direct Admission allows no changes after the fee is paid, so pay only after you have checked every field and file.
UM reviews the scholarship together with admission. Master’s selection runs from August 2026 to June 2027, and results appear in the online system. Some programs add an interview or a written test.
Follow the offer letter exactly: sign the acceptance, pay what the debit note requires, submit certified copies, and complete the medical exam. UM’s Student Resources Section then arranges the first student visa application for new students.
Deadlines and Time Zones
The dates below come from the Graduate School’s 2027/2028 guidelines and the Registry’s 2027/2028 calendar. UM lists dates but not closing hours on the pages I reviewed. The timeline shows the order of events, and the table converts a planning assumption of 11:59 PM Macau time.
The next closing date is December 3, 2026 for Master’s batch 1. On the day I published this guide, that was 40 days away. Master’s selection starts in August 2026, so I would apply in batch 1 if your file is ready. UM does not say that batch 1 improves your odds, but quotas are limited and selection is already under way.
| Closing date | Macau time (UTC+8) | Pakistan (PKT) | US Eastern (ET) | US Pacific (PT) | GMT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s batch 1 closes, Dec 3, 2026 | 11:59 PM | 8:59 PM | 10:59 AM EST | 7:59 AM PST | 3:59 PM |
| Bachelor’s Admission Examination application closes, Jan 20, 2027 | 11:59 PM | 8:59 PM | 10:59 AM EST | 7:59 AM PST | 3:59 PM |
| Bachelor’s Direct Admission closes, Apr 8, 2027 | 11:59 PM | 8:59 PM | 11:59 AM EDT | 8:59 AM PDT | 3:59 PM |
| Master’s batch 2 closes, Apr 30, 2027 | 11:59 PM | 8:59 PM | 11:59 AM EDT | 8:59 AM PDT | 3:59 PM |
Every conversion above lands on the same calendar date as the Macau deadline. The US shifts to daylight time on March 14, 2027, so the Eastern and Pacific gap to Macau shrinks by one hour for the April deadlines. Macau and Pakistan do not change their clocks. Because UM has not published a closing hour, finish your application at least three days early, and keep the confirmation email.
To keep these dates next to your other applications, add them to my scholarship deadline tracker.
Residence Permit or Visa
Macao law requires non-local students, except Hong Kong residents, to hold a “Special Authorization to Stay.” It works as the student visa, lasts one year, and must be renewed every academic year. UM’s Student Resources Section arranges the first application for new students and collects passport photocopies during registration. After that, you follow the renewal notices that UM posts on its e-bulletin.
Before you travel, check one more thing. UM’s Master’s guidelines tell applicants to confirm that their identification documents satisfy Macao’s entry requirements. UM can also reject expired or invalid documents. I found no UM page that says whether your passport needs an entry visa for Macau, so ask the Macao Public Security Police Force before you buy a ticket.
The student visa page I reviewed shows a last-modified date of April 2020. Confirm the current steps with the Student Affairs Office after you receive your offer.
For Pakistani Applicants
Pakistani passport holders are eligible on the same terms as everyone else. I found no Pakistan quota and no Pakistan-specific scholarship page, so what changes for you is the paperwork and the time zone.
Your calendar in Pakistan time
Macau is three hours ahead of Pakistan. A deadline at 11:59 PM Macau time falls at 8:59 PM PKT on the same date. Use the conversion table above, and submit well before evening in Pakistan on the last day.
Bachelor’s applicants
Cambridge A-Level and International A-Level students have the clearest route: grade C or above in three subjects, not counting English. For programs in engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physics, Physics must be one of your subjects, and Chemistry applies to the biomedical, pharmaceutical, bioinformatics, and chemistry programs. If you studied FSc or HSSC, I found no line on the Registry page that names it. Your other listed options are an IB Diploma, a current-year bachelor’s offer from a recognized institution outside Macao, or a degree-based route. Email the Registry with your exact qualification before you pay the MOP 300 fee.
Master’s applicants
UM asks for a bachelor’s degree it recognizes as equivalent and an overall result of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale or 70%. A four-year degree with a CGPA on a 4.0 scale maps directly. If your university reports percentages or another scale, convert carefully and keep the original grading key beside the converted figure. I could not confirm whether UM recognizes two-year BA and BSc degrees, so ask the Graduate School before you apply.
English evidence and medium-of-instruction letters
Most Pakistani universities teach in English, which usually means you do not need a test. UM can still ask for a letter from your university stating that English was the medium of instruction, so request it with your transcripts. If your degree was not taught in English, use IELTS, TOEFL, or one of the other accepted tests.
Attestation and translations
I did not find HEC or IBCC attestation listed as an upload requirement in the UM guidelines I reviewed. UM asks for certified true copies or originals after an offer, during registration. Ask the Graduate School or the Registry which attestation they will accept before you spend money or time on it. Documents in Urdu need an English version from the institution or a translated English copy.
For US Applicants
US citizens hold a foreign passport from UM’s point of view, so they qualify on the same terms. The details that matter for you are test routes, transcripts, and the time difference.
Your calendar in Eastern and Pacific time
A deadline at 11:59 PM Macau time on April 8, 2027 is 11:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time and 8:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time on the same date. For the December and January deadlines, Macau is 13 hours ahead of Eastern and 16 hours ahead of Pacific. Always compare the date and the AM or PM label.
Bachelor’s applicants
Your clearest routes are the SAT with two AP exams (1,190 or above, with each AP at grade 3 or above), the ACT with two AP exams (24 or above), or the IB Diploma. For Physics-based programs, your AP subjects must include Physics, and for Chemistry-based programs they must include Chemistry. A US high school diploma alone is not listed as a standalone route. A current-year bachelor’s offer from a recognized college outside Macao is another listed route.
The Registry’s admission rules excerpt lists College Board code 10330 for SAT and AP scores and ACT code 8202. That excerpt belongs to the 2026/2027 cycle, so confirm both codes inside the 2027/2028 portal before you order score reports.
Master’s applicants
A US bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale meets the minimum, although competitive programs will expect more. Your degree was taught in English, so you normally do not need a test, though UM can still request a medium-of-instruction letter. One difference from US habits: UM requires its own recommendation forms, online or on paper, so your professors cannot simply upload a general letter. At least one form must come from a university academic.
For Other International Applicants
This section is for applicants from Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. If you hold any valid foreign passport, you are in the international applicant group. What differs is how your school qualification maps to UM’s list.
If your school exam appears on UM’s list
UM names several national qualifications. They include the Portuguese ENES, the Brazilian ENEM, the Malaysian UEC and STPM, the Thai Mathayom Suksa 6, the Indonesian SMA Ijazah, the Myanmar matriculation examination, and the Vietnamese upper secondary certificate. Some need only a pass or a completed senior-secondary level, and the Malaysian exams require specific grades. Read the Registry page for the exact condition.
If your exam is not on the list
Many national exams from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America do not appear as named categories. You still have options. You can use A-Levels or the IB Diploma if you sat them, a degree-based route if you hold a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or above, or the offer route if a recognized institution outside Macao has made you a current-year bachelor’s offer. If none of these fits, email the Registry with your exact qualification before you pay.
Language and program fit
Not every program is taught in English. Chinese Language and Literature is taught in Chinese, and Portuguese Studies is taught in Portuguese. The official list notes that Japanese Studies and Portuguese Studies do not require prior knowledge of the language, which opens those programs to beginners. Applicants from Portuguese-speaking countries should note that UM names Portugal’s and Brazil’s national exams.
Planning your calendar
Use the conversion table above for Pakistan, the US, and GMT. For other places, subtract the gap between your UTC offset and Macau’s UTC+8. For example, Lagos (UTC+1) is seven hours behind Macau, Nairobi (UTC+3) is five hours behind, Dhaka (UTC+6) is two hours behind, and Manila (UTC+8) is on the same clock. If you hold a passport from a UM partner country, ask the Global Affairs Office whether the favorable-consideration rule applies to you.
After You Receive an Offer
Offers and scholarship decisions arrive through UM’s online application system. Read the offer letter slowly, because it sets the deadlines for acceptance and payment, and missing them cancels the offer.
- Accept on time: upload the signed acceptance and pay what the debit note requires. Master’s applicants pay the first-semester tuition or a non-refundable deposit that offsets part of it.
- Meet every condition: if your offer is conditional, you must satisfy the conditions before the scholarship applies.
- Register in the first semester: the rules say awardees must be registered students and should register in their first semester.
- Keep one enrollment: you cannot be registered at another institution at the same time without UM’s approval.
- Be accurate: misrepresentation at the application stage ends the scholarship, and you would have to refund the waived fees.
If you disagree with a scholarship decision, you have five working days from the notice to send a written appeal with reasons to the Global Affairs Office. If you need to defer, Master’s students can defer for at most one academic year, and only for medical or exceptional reasons. I found no published answer on whether a scholarship moves with a deferral, so ask UM in writing first. Also ask how the waivers appear on your debit note, because I found no page that explains it.
Common Mistakes
- Waiting for a scholarship form: there is none. Your admission application is the scholarship application.
- Exceeding the Master’s upload cap: all files together must stay under 6 MB, and each must be an A4 PDF.
- Forgetting to brief referees: online recommendation requests go out automatically after you submit, and late forms hurt your file.
- Paying the Direct Admission fee too early: after payment, UM accepts no changes to your programs or documents.
- Using expired English scores: IELTS and TOEFL results must be within two years, and IELTS needs no sub-score below 5.5 for Master’s.
- Skipping program-specific language rules: about a dozen Master’s programs set their own English requirements.
- Taking the joint exam route and expecting the scholarship: applicants admitted through the Joint Admission Examination are excluded.
- Assuming Half means half of everything: it covers 50% of tuition and the Residential College fee, not living costs.
Scam Warning Signs
- A paid scholarship form: UM says no separate scholarship application exists, so anyone selling one is not offering UM’s process.
- Guaranteed awards: UM awards the scholarship competitively, so no agent can promise a Full or Type A award.
- Payment to a personal account: the only fees I found are small application fees paid to UM through its own system.
- Unofficial email addresses: official UM offices use addresses that end in um.edu.mo.
- Pressure to act today: real deadlines are published on UM pages, and scammers invent urgency.
In a 2026 admissions notice for mainland China applicants, UM said it does not work with institutions or agencies for student admissions. That notice targets a different audience, but I found no agent step on any international application page I reviewed.
How to Apply Safely
Important: Use only web addresses that end in um.edu.mo, and never send your passport scan, a password, or a payment to an unverified contact.
- Start from the official pages in the Official Links section, not from an advertisement or a message.
- Register with your own email address, and keep the reference number and password in a safe place.
- Pay the application fee only inside UM’s online system, and save the receipt.
- Keep your confirmation email, because it carries the application number that proves submission.
- Write to UM’s offices for questions. The Global Affairs Office answers at gao.enquiry@um.edu.mo, the Graduate School at gradschool@um.edu.mo, and the Registry at +853 8822 4007.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions I would ask first if I were applying. The answers match the structured data on this page.
Is the University of Macau International Student Scholarship fully funded?
Not in the full-cost sense. Every award waives tuition, and the Bachelor’s Full and Half awards and the Master’s Type A award also waive shared-room housing fees. Only Type A includes a cash payment, a teaching assistantship worth MOP 4,000 per month. Flights, food, insurance, and personal costs are not listed as covered.
Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?
No. UM states that no separate application is required. If you are an eligible international applicant, UM considers you automatically while it reviews your admission application, so your Bachelor’s or Master’s application is also your scholarship application.
What are the application deadlines for 2027?
Master’s applications close on December 3, 2026 for batch 1 and on April 30, 2027 for batch 2. Bachelor’s Direct Admission runs from February 3, 2027 to April 8, 2027. UM lists dates without a closing hour on the pages I reviewed, so plan around Macau time (UTC+8) and apply several days early.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes, if you hold a valid Pakistani passport and meet the admission requirements of your program. UM has no nationality list for this scholarship, and it tests the passport you hold. Bachelor’s applicants should confirm that their school qualification is accepted, and Master’s applicants need a recognized bachelor’s degree with a result equal to 2.3 on a 4.0 scale or 70%.
Can US students and other international students apply?
Yes. Any applicant with a valid foreign passport can apply, including US citizens. US Bachelor’s applicants can use the SAT or ACT with two AP exams, or an IB Diploma, among other listed routes. Applicants from countries with no named exam on UM’s list can use A-Levels, an IB Diploma, a degree, or a current-year offer from a recognized institution outside Macao.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
Master’s applicants need English proof only if their previous degree was not taught in English. UM accepts IELTS 6.0 overall with no sub-score below 5.5, TOEFL 80 internet-based or 550 paper-based, CET-6 430, or TEM 4 or 8. Bachelor’s applicants to English-taught programs attend an interview unless they hold an accepted IELTS, TOEFL, or IGCSE result.
Can I choose between the Full, Half, Type A, Type B, and Type C awards?
No page I reviewed lets you request a specific award. The scholarship is awarded competitively during admission review, and UM decides the package. Bachelor’s awards are Full or Half, and Master’s awards are Type A, B, or C.
Can I apply through an agent?
You do not need one. UM runs its own online application systems, and the only fees on the pages I reviewed are the small application fees paid to the university: MOP 200 for Master’s and MOP 300 for Bachelor’s Direct Admission. Never pay anyone for a scholarship form, because no such form exists.
Does this scholarship cover PhD studies?
No. The International Student Scholarship covers Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs. UM manages PhD funding separately through its Graduate School, so check the UM PhD Scholarship pages if you want a doctorate.
Final Words
Three actions matter most. First, pick your level and check your qualification against UM’s published rules, because the scholarship follows admission. Second, submit a complete file early, keeping Macau time (UTC+8) in mind. Third, verify every fact on UM’s own pages before you act, because dates, fees, and packages can change.
This scholarship is a real opportunity, but it is competitive and it is not fully funded, so plan your finances honestly. If this guide helped you, share it with a friend who is applying, and use the contact page or the YouTube channel to ask your questions.
Official Links
I opened each page below on October 24, 2026. Start here, and treat these pages as the final authority.
- Global Affairs Office: Admission Scholarship
- Rules for the International Student Scholarship (PDF)
- Graduate School: International Student Scholarship for Master’s applicants
- Graduate School: Master’s programs and 2027/2028 application periods
- Graduate School: documents for international Master’s applicants
- Master’s Admission Guidelines 2027/2028 (PDF)
- Graduate School: postgraduate tuition fee schemes
- Registry: 2027/2028 Bachelor’s application periods
- Registry: application requirements for international Bachelor’s applicants
- Registry: Direct Admission rules and online application
- Bachelor’s programs offered in 2027/2028 (PDF)
- Registry: Direct Admission rules excerpt (PDF, 2026/2027 cycle)
- Registry: Bachelor’s application and tuition fees
- Student Affairs Office: student visa information
Ready to Apply for the University of Macau International Student Scholarship 2027?
Read the official program information, and apply only through UM’s own portals.
Apply for Master’s Bachelor’s Direct Admission Official Scholarship Page Watch on YouTube Join WhatsApp ChannelRead More
If you are comparing options, these guides from this site cover other scholarships for international students.
- SDU Danish Government Scholarship 2027
- UWA Global Excellence Scholarship 2027
- Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027
Editorial note and disclaimer: Scholarship figures, program lists, and dates change, and UM can amend its rules without notice. Check every detail on the official pages before you apply, and read the site disclaimer. This guide is not legal, immigration, or financial advice, and it does not guarantee admission, funding, or a visa.
Published: October 24, 2026
Last verified: October 24, 2026, against the official pages listed above
Published by: Study Abroad with Arbaz
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