The public University of Macau (UM) said in a statement last week that thanks to its steady increase in its international reputation and the quality of its teaching and research, it is attracting a rising number of students from around the world.
For the 2019/2020 academic year, the university received more than 13,000 applications for its undergraduate programmes, up nearly 30 per cent from last year, hitting a new high in the university’s history, according to the statement.
The number of applicants from the nine cities in Guangdong province, which are part of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), increased 46 per cent from last year. Through a merits-based selection process, 2,041 of the applicants were accepted, which is similar to the number from last year, the statement pointed out.
In addition, the number of outstanding students admitted by the university also hit a new high this year. A total of 348 outstanding students were admitted this year through the Principals’ Recommended Admission Scheme, according to the statement. Mainland students admitted by the university this year scored an average of 18.6 per cent higher than the admission marks required by tier-one universities for their respective provinces and cities, which is also a record number in the university’s history, the statement pointed out.
The local university, which has its 1-square-kilometre campus on Hengqin island, is currently ranked among the top 400 universities in the world by both Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds, according to the statement.
The university has three state key laboratories and the largest residential college system in Asia. This year, more outstanding students from Macau, mainland China and abroad have chosen to study at UM, the statement noted. Among the 348 outstanding students admitted through the Principals’ Recommended Admission Scheme, 37 are ranked No 1 in their secondary school classes. All students admitted through the scheme will receive scholarships. Five students will receive the University of Macau Grand Lotus Scholarship; 94 will receive the University of Macau Golden Lotus Scholarship; 147 will receive the University of Macau Silver Lotus Scholarship; and 102 will receive the University of Macau First Year Scholarship. Recipients of the Grand Lotus Scholarship and the Golden Lotus Scholarship are eligible for direct admission to the Honours College in their first year of study.
Many outstanding students from mainland provinces and cities applied to UM this year, up 58 per cent from last year, according to the statement. This year, the number of applications from the nine GBA cities in Guangdong province increased 46 per cent compared to last year, “a sign that the university is held in high regard in the GBA,” the statement said. Among these applicants, 52 were admitted. This year, the university also launched a new scholarship for outstanding students from GBA cities in Guangdong in order to promote exchanges among GBA cities and nurture more professionals to contribute to the development of the area, the statement pointed out.
The university also strives to recruit more international students and strengthen academic exchange and collaboration with regions covered by the Belt and Road initiative (BRI). This year, a total of 570 students from 31 countries and regions applied to the university, with an increase in both the number of applicants and the number of countries. Among them, 24 are top students from Chinese Independent High Schools in Malaysia. Half of them are ranked among the top 10 per cent in their school classes. Five of them received Grade A in eight subjects in the universal examination of Chinese Independent High Schools in Malaysia. According to the Macau Post Daily, the number of students admitted from these high schools and their quality are also the highest in UM’s history, the statement said.
