Macao currently has 4 public and 6 private higher education institutions, including integrated education-based and research-based universities, multidisciplinary polytechnic institutions focused on applied education, as well as professional institutions that focus on training tourism and exhibition and meeting planners, gaming specialists, paramedics, and other management professionals.

Even though Macao's modern higher education institutions have a relatively short history, they have developed and flourished during the past 30 years, attracting an increasing amount of non-local students.

At the same time, in recent years, over 50% of local high school graduates stay in Macao to further their education. Macao's higher education institutions are attractive to both locals and non-locals alike.


Higher education institutions overview

4 public higher education institutions:

UM is the only public comprehensive university in Macao. UM implements a ‘4-in-1’ model of education that consists of discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, and community and peer education. The purpose of implementing this education model is to provide a multifaceted education to help students cultivate self-knowledge and self-confidence, so that they will possess both ‘great knowledge’ and ‘great character’. UM in 2010 received approval from the central government for establishing two state key laboratories, namely the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, and the State Key Laboratory for Quality Research in Chinese Medicine.

Macao Polytechnic Institute is a public tertiary institution in Macao. We offer a number of Bachelor’s programmes, which are all practically oriented, in an extensive range of academic areas. We take pride in our long history of educational provision. For several decades, we have been the nurturing professionals who now excel in the fields of arts, information technology, healthcare, business administration, public administration and physical education. We are committed to our student-centred educational provision and are dedicated to quality teaching. For many years we have been the most popular choice among local secondary students for university education.

Established in 1995, the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao. IFT is the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education. Currently, the Institute has the most number of bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT offers the following four-year Bachelor Degree Programmes: Culinary Arts Management, Heritage Management , Hotel Management, Tourism Business Management, Tourism Event Management and Tourism Retail and Marketing Management.

Academy of Public Security Forces is a public tertiary institution which is responsible to the Secretary for Security of Macao SAR. It serves as a breeding group for polices and firefighters personnel who will be better trained to serve the community. Academy of Public Security Forces delivers formal training for different ranks to meet their varying training and development needs.



6 private higher education institutions:

City University of Macau, formerly known as University of East Asia which was established in 1981, was renamed in February 2011. It is an ideal institution of advance learning and research engagement. There are 31 degree programs from the Faculty of International Tourism and Management, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Urban Management and Studies, Faculty of Law and Institute on Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries. The International Hospitality and Tourism Management master's degree program and PhD program are accredited by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO) TedQual Quality Education. It is also one of the test centres for the most comprehensive international mainstream English examinations in Macao, offering exams such as TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS and SAT.

The University of Saint Joseph was created in Macao in 1996 by the Catholic Foundation for Higher Education (owned in equal parts by the Diocese of Macau and the Portuguese Catholic University) with the aim of setting up a Catholic University in Macau, closely following the model and standards of top European universities. USJ offers a wide range of programmes across diverse fields of knowledge. The government of Macao accredits all our programmes, and our graduates have been able to pursue careers and further studies with prestigious local and international institutions, thus endowing us with a high level of recognition and credibility.

Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) has inherited the spirit of Sun Yut-sen and Kiang Wu, which is also the educational philosophy of “From Personhood to Benevolence”, valuing the care for human being and diversified education. KWNC is committed to cultivation students to be professional nursing talents who strive for both competence and integrity as the College is not only cultivating qualified nursing specialists, but also embracing the comprehensive education for every student. Graduates from KWNC will master professional skills and knowledge, and will broaden their development prospects.


Founded in 2000, Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) has grown steady-fast with vigour. As the largest multi-disciplinary university in Macao, M.U.S.T. is ranked as the youngest among the Top 50 Universities in the Greater China. M.U.S.T. is authorized by the Macao SAR government to award academic degrees at doctoral, master and bachelor levels. Currently, there are near 11,000 students studying at the University. The faculties/departments include the School of Business, Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Information Technology, Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University International College and the Department of General Education, covering a wide range of fields such as social sciences, science, law, management, business, medicine, pharmacy, art, communication, tourism and language.

Macau Institute of Management (MIM) is a higher education institution, offering degree programmes and professional management training to the Macao community. To promote continuous learning, MIM encourages working adults to further their studies and offers programmes with flexible schedules and tailor-made study schemes. In addition to qualified professional background, MIM trainers and lecturers possess solid management and teaching experience. They are well able to deliver programmes packaged with practical management skills and knowledge to address the needs of our working adults.

The Macau Millennium College (MMC) is recognized by the Macao SAR government as a private institution of tertiary education in Macao. The mission of MMC is to provide education of the highest quality to our students in selected academic, research and professional fields at affordable rates. These fields are closely related to the Tourism and Gaming Industry. MMC has always been actively involved in academic interchange, and works with colleges overseas to widen students’ international exposure and understanding.


Many Unique Programs to Choose From

During the 2019/2020 academic year, Macao offered 300 higher education programs, covering 9 different academic categories and 36 majors. In response to the historical and industrial uniqueness of Macao, the local programs related to the fields of tourism, gaming, Portuguese language, and translation have gradually developed their respective system and characteristics over the long course of educational practice of the local institutions. In addition, the establishment of National Key Laboratories has driven the development of the programs in the areas of traditional Chinese medicine and microelectronics.

Program Type

Degree/Diploma

Normal Study Period

Tuition fee (USD/entire course)

Research Program

Doctoral Degree

3 Years

22,000 - 39,000

Master's Degree

2 years

11,000 - 19,000

Programs for Associate Degree/Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor's Degree

4 years

13,000 - 48,000

Bachelor's Degree Supplementary Program

1-2 Years

4,000 - 7,000

Diploma/Certificate

Postgraduate Diploma/ Certificate

1-2 Years

4,000 - 9,000

Associate's Degree

2 years

6,000 - 12,000


Academic year of Macao's higher education usually lasts from September until July of the following year. It is separated into a first semester (September - January) and and a second semester (February - July) with a summer break in August. Some research program admission times may not conform to the set semester periods.

Contact Information

Higher Education Institutions

Contact Information

University of Macau

Website:www.umac.mo
Email:info@umac.mo
Tel:(853)8822 8833

Macao Polytechnic Institute

Website:www.ipm.edu.mo
Email:registry@ipm.edu.mo
Tel:(853)2857 8722

Macao Institute for Tourism Studies

Website:www.ift.edu.mo
Email:admission@ift.edu.mo
Tel:(853)2856 1252

Academy of Public Security Forces

Website:www.fsm.gov.mo/ESFSM
Email:esfsm-info@fsm.gov.mo
Tel:(853)2887 1112

City University of Macau

Website:www.cityu.edu.mo
Email:info@cityu.edu.mo
Tel:(853)2878 1698

University of Saint Joseph

Website:www.usj.edu.mo
Email:admissions@usj.edu.mo
Tel:(853)8796 4400

Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau

Website:www.kwnc.edu.mo
Email:admit@kwnc.edu.mo
Tel:(853)8295 6200

Macau University of Science and Technology

Website:www.must.edu.mo
Email:enquiry@must.edu.mo
Tel:(853)2888 1122

Macau Institute of Management

Website:www.mim.edu.mo
Email:registry@mim.edu.mo
Tel:(853)2832 3233

Macau Millennium College

Website:www.mmc.edu.mo
Email:info@mmc.edu.mo
Tel:(853)2878 8186