Study in Macau

Macau is a small country lying west of the Pearl River Delta. It is bordered by Hong Kong in the east, Guangdong province in the north, and the South China Sea in the east and south.

It is a small territory but quite a unique place to visit. It is home to the largest casino in the world, historic temples, ancient landmarks, unique restaurants and beautiful beaches.

Studying in Macau could be the ideal choice for students seeking to explore international educational opportunities. It is a great opportunity to witness a unique culture and lifestyle. And can be a rewarding experience for those students hoping to find a new way of life in an Asian culture.

Macau is becoming a popular destination with tourists who find it as a very welcoming location with clean streets, low cost of living, and overall beautiful architecture make it a very desirable place to live, study or visit.

Education in Macau

Macanese Students attend primary and secondary school for about 15 years, which is compulsory and provided through the government at no cost. Most schools are grammar schools, teaching the basics of education to students.

There are a few vocational schools that focusing on technology, construction, and electronics. Students may not enter into secondary school but may choose a vocational school instead. Then, some students move on to higher education.

Macau has ten higher level educational facilities including the University of Macau, Macau Polytechnic Institute, Institute for Tourism Studies, a public school, Macau University of Science and Technology, City University of Macau, University of Saint Joseph, Macau Institute of Management, a private school, Institute of European Studies of Macau, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau.

Students can choose from a pool of educational programs available in Macau in various areas of study. A bachelor's degree takes three to four years, depending on the area of specialization.

Some of the universities in Macau offer masters and doctoral programs as well, which can take an additional year to three years to complete. Some of the fields of study or courses include business management, law, and healthcare, Education, Law, Language, Chinese medicine study, Social sciences and the humanities, Sciences and technology, Business administration, to mention but a few.

The adult literacy rate in Macau was estimated at 96.5%, as of 2016, according to UNESCO.

Important things to note

Here are a few things to take note of before you go out and about in Macau.

Money-the official currency of Macau is the Macanese Pataca (MOP). THE Hong Kong dollar can also be used in Macau. 1 Hong Kong dollar= 1.03 Macau Pataca, and US$ 1=8 Macau Patacas. You can withdraw cash at the ATMs. You can exchange your foreign currency at any money exchange facility at the airport, in the CBDs, at the border, or at any large hotels.

Bank/ Credit Cards- Online payment methods like PayPal are not available in Macau. Other bank cards may not work a well. China Union pay bank cards and Alipay are most widely used.

Communication- it is advisable to get a local sim card for calling when you get to Macau. You can also communicate using platforms like Wechat. Several hotels also have free internet, and you can use it for emailing, video calling, and Skype.

Medical Requirements- travellers to Macau are not covered by the Government healthcare scheme and hence have to pay for required treatments. Routine vaccinations include Typhoid, Tetanus, and Rabies.

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About Macau

Macau is a country located in Asia and is one of two special administrative regions of China. Macau is a former colony of the Portuguese Empire, which was leased to them by China as a trading post in the year 1557.

The Portuguese paid an annual rent and administered Macau under China until 1887, when it gained perpetual colonial rights in the Treaty of Peking. It remained under Portuguese rule until 1999, when it was transferred to China.

Macau has a total area of 155.3 square kilometers. It currently has a population of 696 100 people and a population density of 21 340 per square kilometre. According to The World Fact book, Macau has the second highest life expectancy in the world.

Ethnic groups

Macau's population is composed of the Chinese who make up about 95% of the population, primarily the Cantonese and some Hakka. The remainder are of Portuguese or mixed Chinese-Portuguese descent, Filipino, Vietnamese and Japanese descendants.

Languages

The official languages of Macau are Portuguese and Cantonese Chinese. About 85.7% of the population speak Cantonese, Mandarin is spoken by 3.2%, and about 40% are able to communicate in standard Mandarin.

English and Portuguese are also spoken by 1.5% and 0.6% respectively as a first language, while English is widely thought as a second language. The other popular language is Hokkien, spoken by a small percentage of the population. The creole Macanese language is almost extinct.

Did you know? Facts about MACAU

• Macau tower bungee jump is the highest in the world

• Macau is connected to china and Hong Kong by the world’s longest sea bridge.

• Macau has the world’s largest casino

• Macau has the 9th fastest growing economy in the world.

• Its life expectancy is the highest in the world.

• 95% of the population is Chinese

• It has the world’s largest population density per square kilometre.

Must see places in MACAU

The Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral- St. Paul's Cathedral is an iconic building representing the history of the nation, it was once considered the finest Christian building in Asia, is its imposing Renaissance façade, a Macau landmark standing at the top of a broad flight of granite steps.

The church was gutted by fire in 1601, and a new one was completed in 1637. The church was then destroyed by a typhoon and fire in 1835, but its remaining façade still shows the cathedral's former glory.

Tourists can find pictures of the Virgin Mary enshrined in the church. Also notable is an inscription above the doorway dedicating the church to the Virgin Mary, figures of Jesuit saints, and some ornaments.

A-Ma Temple- the A-Ma Temple was built on the Macau Peninsula in 1488. It is Part of Macau's UNESCO Historic Center, this Buddhist temple is one of the city's most important religious sites.

It is divided into six sections which include the Gate Pavilion, Prayer Hall, Memorial Arch, Hall of Benevolence, Zhengjiao Chanlin, and Hall of Guanyin. This temple is quite intriguing, with features such as fierce-looking stone lions and statues of the goddess Matsu, as well as spectacular views over the bay.

The Maritime Museum and Fisherman's Wharf- the Maritime Museum of Macau (Museum Marítimo de Macau) has numerous displays of artefacts from Macau's maritime history, with models of ships that were used long ago, and fishing equipment.

It also houses exhibits showing the development of meteorological instruments and nautical instruments portraying important events in the city's voyages in the past. There is also the Inner Harbor section where you'll see a restored Chinese dragon boat, a sampan, flower boat, and fishing smack used by people fleeing from Vietnam.

Senado Square- this also referred as the historic heart of Macau, Senado Square or Senate Square is a delightful pedestrian area and where you can find the old Senate building, which is now occupied by the Municipal Council and regarded as the finest example of Portuguese colonial architecture in Macau.

It was built by the Portuguese in 1784, and the building was completely restored in 1940. In the interior you can find the Council Chamber and the Senate Library with its more than 50,000 rare manuscripts, some more than 500 years old.

About Macau's Economy

Macau has a capitalist service economy mainly based on tourism and gambling or casinos. Macau is a full Member of the World Trade Organization. It is the 83rd largest economy in the world. The GDP (PPP) of Macau as of 2020 is estimated at $40 billion, with a per capita of $58 931.

Nominal GDP for the same period is estimated at $26 billion, with a per capita of $38 769. Inflation rate as of 2018 was estimated at 3.005%. Macau’s gambling industry is the largest in the world and generates around $24 billion in terms of revenue.

As of 2018, its gambling revenue was estimated at $37 billion. Gambling in Macau is liberalized and lawful and hence people from all over the world spend more on gambling. About 24% of the labor force is employed in the gambling or gaming industry.

Clothing and apparel exports, gaming or gambling, and tourism are mainstays of the Macanese economy. According to the Macanese Government, Its Human Development Index is very high.

Macau is highly urbanized and most development is built on reclaimed land; two-thirds of the total land area is reclaimed from the sea. The Hong Kong dollar is an accepted currency in Macau and is pegged at the official rate of around 1 HKD = 1.03 Macanese Pataca.

Total revenue in Macau as of 2017 was estimated at $14.71 billion. Its expenses valued at $9.684 billion and its foreign reserves were valued at $20.17 billion.

Macau’s GDP contribution by sector as of 2017 was as follows:

• Industry 6.3%

• Services 93.7%

Industry

Industry in Macau revolves around tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, footwear, electronics, and toys. Industry contributes only about 6.3% to the GDP of Macao.

Trade

Macau has little arable land and only a few natural resources and hence depends on China for most of its imports including food, fresh water, and energy. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.

Exports in Macau were estimated at $1.45 billion as of 2018 and major exports included clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery, and spare parts. Main export partners include Hong Kong, china, and Portugal, to mention but a few.

Its imports were valued at $11.55 billion. The main products include raw materials, semi-processed goods, consumer goods, foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, garments, footwear, motor vehicles, capital goods, mineral fuels, and oils, to mention but a few. Its main import partners included china, Hong Kong, Italy, France, Switzerland, japan, and the united states of America to mention but a few.

Why Study in Macau

Affordable Tuition Fees in Macau
Internationally recognized degrees

Macanese universities offer a number of programs leading to internationally recognized degrees that enable employment anywhere in the world.

Affordable Accomodation in Macau
Opportunity to learn new languages

studying in Congo Brazzaville allows international students to learn French and any one of the 62 local languages or dialects.

International Environment in Macau
Diversity of Programs

universities in Macau have many study programs to offer including, business management, law, and healthcare, Education, Law, Language, Chinese medicine study, Social sciences and the humanities, Sciences and technology, Business administration, to mention but a few.

Great Weather in Macau
Experience the best shopping and night life

Macau has a strong presence of fashion and luxury and you can get some of the best clothing here. One of the features that has made Macau popular is the presence of the gambling industry. Students, though not usually advisable, can occasionally enjoy a weekend at the tables and make some extra money.

Scholarships in Macau

There are plenty of scholarships are available for students studying in Macau. Students can apply for any scholarship ranging from merit based scholarships, sports scholarships, engineering scholarships, law scholarships, medical scholarships, medicine scholarships, athletic scholarships, art scholarships, and grants, to mention but a few.

Macau Student Visa

No study visa is needed before your arrival in Macau. The University Student Resources and Services Section arranges the study visa application for all international students upon arrival in Macau.

However, you might need an Entry Visa into the country. Students will enter Macau with an Entry Visa and might be requested to show their letter of Acceptance at the Macau Immigration Border. This Letter will be sent to you after the confirmation of the faculty acceptance