The University of Macau (UM) 澳门大学

Address: Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China (中國澳門氹仔大學大馬路澳門大學)
Website: https://www.um.edu.mo/

Founded in 1981, the University of Macau (UM) is a comprehensive research-oriented public university of international standing, with a multicultural campus and a system of whole-person education underpinned by faculties and residential colleges in an international education setup. Eighty percent of its faculty members are from outside Macao. With English as the primary medium of instruction, the university is committed to cultivating innovative and socially responsible graduates who exhibit love for their home country and possess global perspectives and competitiveness.

UM has over 16,900 students. For undergraduate education, the university adopts a ‘4-in-1’ collaborative education model, which consists of discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, and community and peer education. At the postgraduate level, UM emphasises ‘knowledge integration’ and ‘collaborative innovation’, aiming to promote interdisciplinary integration, foster innovative research, cultivate innovative talent for society, and produce high-impact research results.

International Reputation

UM’s global standing has improved significantly in recent years. The university ranks 145th in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, 14th in the THE Young University Rankings, 28th in the THE Asia University Rankings, and 1st among universities in the Association of Portuguese Speaking Universities (AULP). In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, UM ranks 267th. In the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings, it is ranked 206th. In addition, UM is among the top 1% in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) database in 16 fields: Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Clinical Medicine, Chemistry, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Psychiatry/Psychology, Social Sciences, General, Biology & Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Genetics, Agricultural Sciences, Economics & Business, Environment/Ecology, Neuroscience & Behavior, Geosciences, and Mathematics. Among these, Engineering, Computer Science, and Pharmacology & Toxicology are ranked in the top 0.1%.

Cutting-Edge Research

UM adopts a research policy that can be summarised as ‘highlighting characteristics, leveraging strengths, creating peaks, and strengthening cooperation’, focusing on supporting academic disciplines that reflect Macao’s characteristics, meet the needs of Macao and the country, and align with international trends. UM has established a ‘3+3+3+3’ strategic research layout, with the four 3s referring to three state key laboratories (State Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, and State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City), three emerging research fields (precision medicine, advanced materials, and regional oceanography), three interdisciplinary research fields (artificial intelligence and robotics, data science and cognitive and brain sciences), and three research platforms for the humanities and social sciences (Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, Centre for Macao Studies, and Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management). The university encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, especially the integration of modern technology in the humanities and social sciences.


UM actively supports entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer to enhance the social impact of its research. The Hengqin University of Macau Advanced Research Institute (HUMRI), Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute (ZUMRI), and UMTEC Limited are among the key units that support the university’s industry-academia collaboration initiatives. As UM’s first industry-academia demonstration base in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), ZUMRI serves as a collaborative hub for developing the GBA into an international technology and innovation centre. It leverages the research strengths of UM’s three state key laboratories and institutes with competitive disciplines to integrate into the GBA, participate in national research projects, accelerate technology transfer, and promote the development of emerging industries.

Vision and Mission

Building on new opportunities in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, UM continues to broaden its educational reach. The university is establishing a new campus in the Cooperation Zone. On 9 December 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Cooperation Zone campus was held, setting the stage for UM to become the first higher education institution in Macao to extend operations into the Cooperation Zone, injecting fresh impetus into the development of Macao and GBA. During this period of unprecedented expansion, UM remains committed to its motto—Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom, and Sincerity—while consistently pursuing improvement and innovation. As a university firmly rooted in Macao, UM aims to contribute to the development of the GBA, integrate with the nation, and go global. UM aspires to become an internationally recognised university of excellence through high-quality and student-centred education, high-impact research, and outstanding community services.

UM Map
Source: https://www.um.edu.mo/