Macau targets Southeast Asian talent through scholarships and academic recognition

Macau is implementing strategies to attract international talent, specifically targeting students from Southeast Asia through scholarships and academic recognition. Kong Chi Ming, director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), noted a steady rise in Malaysian students enrolling in Macau’s higher education institutions, particularly in fields such as AI and tourism.

To support this growth, local universities have signed agreements with Malaysian education groups to recognize standardized grades. The University of Macau (UM) currently hosts 80% of the Malaysian students studying in the region and is preparing for its 2027/2028 postgraduate intake, which includes PhD, Master’s, and postgraduate certificate programs. While funding and assistantships are available, they depend on specific program conditions.

The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) is also aiming to increase its Malaysian student intake by 5%. Additionally, the first phase of the Macau-Hengqin International Education Town has begun operations, currently housing nearly 1,000 UM students and international faculty members.