Mainland Gaokao Students Applying to Universities in Macau: University of Macau 2027 Online Application Starts May 4, Does Not Affect Gaokao University Choices

2026-10-04 · Guides

The University of Macau has announced its 2027 admissions arrangements for mainland Gaokao students: online applications will be open from May 4 to June 27, 2027. Admission is based on Gaokao scores (above the Tier 1 cutoff or the special-type admission control line) and English scores, with no interview required, and it does not affect Gaokao university choices. This article outlines the application requirements, procedures, tuition and accommodation fees, as well as the latest updates for the Macau University of Science and Technology for the 2027/28 academic year.

Here is the bottom line: Students taking the Gaokao in 2027 can apply online to the University of Macau (UM) from May 4 to June 27, 2027. UM's admissions for mainland students operate independently and are not included in the national unified admissions plan. It does not count against your Gaokao university choices, and being admitted to UM will not affect the filing and admission of your mainland choices (no file locking or file retrieval). Admission is primarily based on Gaokao scores and the English subject score, with no interview required.

For many families, this means an additional option after the Gaokao. Below, we break down the key points step by step based on the mainland admissions page on the UM Registry's official website.

Key Admissions Points for the University of Macau in 2027

Item	Details
Application Period	May 4 to June 27, 2027
Application Method	Online application system on the UM mainland admissions page; applicants must apply themselves
Application Fee	MOP 300, payable via WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay, or international credit cards
Score Requirement	2027 Gaokao score must reach the first-tier undergraduate admission score line or the special type admissions control score line of the respective province or municipality
English Requirement	The foreign language subject must be English, with a Gaokao English score of 110 or above (out of 150; proportionally converted for other scoring systems)
Program Choices	Up to 3 program choices can be selected; admission is based on the order of preference
Interview	No interview required
Results Release	Released in batches in early to mid-July 2027, completed by mid-July at the latest

A few details to note:

Admissions Scope: The UM website states that, approved by the Ministry of Education, it recruits across all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions nationwide, with no upper or lower limits set for provincial quotas. Repeat students are also eligible to apply.
Scores to Report: The application form requires your raw Gaokao score (excluding any bonus points), Gaokao category, and English score. The university will later verify these with the provincial admissions offices.
Modifications Before Deadline: You can log into the system to modify your information and program choices before the application deadline. Remember to click "Confirm" to submit after making changes. No changes can be made after the deadline.
Official Channels Only: The UM website explicitly states that it has not entrusted any agencies to recruit in the mainland; applications must be completed through the UM official website.

Things to Note After Admission

After admission, download the "Admission and Payment Notice" from the online application system and pay the first semester's tuition within the specified deadline to confirm your enrollment. Late payment will be considered a waiver, and the university does not accept deferred payments.
Payments can be made via Alipay (must be a single transaction, cannot be split) or bank transfer. If using Alipay, ensure your daily single-transaction limit is sufficient in advance.
After admission, you cannot change or adjust your admitted program choice. If you wish to change your major, you must do so after enrollment according to the Registry's regulations.
Tuition is non-refundable once paid, except in specified circumstances.

Tuition and Accommodation Fees

Below are the fees for the 2026/2027 academic year published on the UM website (the Registry's fees page notes "Data as at Oct 2025"; for the 2027 intake standards, please refer to the official website at that time):

Item	Non-local Students (Including Mainland Students)
Full Tuition for 4-Year Bachelor's Programs	MOP 490,400 (payable in 8 semesters, MOP 61,300 per semester)
Full Tuition for 5-Year Bachelor's Programs	MOP 613,000
Residential College Accommodation Fee	MOP 16,500/academic year (twin room, calculated for approximately 10 months)

The reference conversion provided on the UM mainland admissions page is: approximately RMB 413,000 for four years of tuition, about RMB 51,600 per semester, and about RMB 14,000 for accommodation (based on a reference exchange rate of approximately 1 RMB to 1.19 MOP; actual rates depend on bank conversions). Meal and other residential college fees can be found on the respective college webpages.

Scholarships: UM awards the "University of Macau Full Scholarship" and the "University of Macau Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Students Full Scholarship" (the latter is for students with household registration in the nine GBA cities) based on merit using that year's Gaokao scores. No separate application is required. The scholarship covers tuition and residential college fees for the first academic year. To maintain it in subsequent years, students must complete the required credits and maintain a GPA of 3.3 or above, renewable for up to four years.

Macau University of Science and Technology: 2027/28 Academic Year Schedule Still Updating

The Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) also recruits mainland Gaokao students. As of October 4, 2026, in the "2027/2028 Academic Year Admissions Schedule" on the MUST undergraduate admissions website, the column for "Mainland Current Year Gaokao Students - Direct Admission" shows as Updating, and specific application dates have not yet been announced. It has been confirmed that recommended admissions for secondary school students from Macau and Hong Kong will open for application starting October 5, 2026.

Updates from MUST in 2026:

On June 18, 2026, four new undergraduate programs were announced: Bachelor of Science in Space Science and Technology and Bachelor of Science in Nanoscience and Technology from the Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Medicine, and Bachelor of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics from the Faculty of Business Administration.
On August 7, 2026, MUST announced the conclusion of the Gaokao admissions process for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Regarding rankings, according to the university's official website: MUST is ranked 269th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 and 398th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.

Tuition fees at MUST are subject to the documents on the "Fees for Preparatory Courses and Bachelor's Degrees" page on the official website. The MUST official website also states that it has never established admissions agency relationships with any individuals or organizations; please apply through the university's online application system.

Ranking References

According to the University of Macau's official website (in the graduate admissions news released in August 2026), UM is ranked 145th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 267th in the QS World University Rankings. Rankings are for reference only; when choosing a university, you should still consider the major, tuition fees, and personal planning.

Advice for the Class of 2027 Students and Parents

Check the English subject score first. UM requires a Gaokao English score of 110 or above (out of 150), which is a hard threshold. If your English is weak, focus on improving it during your senior year.
Treat Macau as an option outside your mainland choices. Since it does not count against your choices and does not lock your file, you can apply in parallel with mainland applications. However, pay attention to the deadline for UM's payment confirmation and coordinate it with the mainland admission timeline.
Calculate your budget in advance. Based on the 2026/27 standards, four years of tuition and accommodation will approach RMB 470,000, plus living expenses. Families need to plan ahead.
Keep an eye on official website updates. The 2027 mainland application dates for MUST have not yet been announced; it is recommended to check regularly starting in the spring of 2027.
Adapt to English-medium instruction. UM uses English as the primary language of instruction. Improving your academic English before enrollment will greatly help your transition during the first year.

This article is compiled based on information from the universities' official websites as of October 4, 2026. Specific requirements are subject to the admissions brochures of both universities for the respective year.

Need Help?

If you are considering applying to universities in Macau after the Gaokao, or want to plan for options in Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas simultaneously, check out our university application planning services. If you need to improve your English scores, learn more about our IELTS training, or you can directly book a one-on-one consultation.