University Introduction

Founded in 2000, the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) has rapidly developed into the largest multi-disciplinary university in Macao. MUST endeavors to educate students specialized in various fields, attaches equal importance to teaching and research, focuses on the quality of programs, pursues excellence, and has continuously reached new heights in academic development.

Ranked top 300 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (2020-2025);
Ranked 58th in the THE Asian University Rankings (2024);
Ranked 38th in the THE Young University Rankings (2024);
Ranked 464th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings (2025).

In May 2022, MUST became the first university in Macao to receive full Institutional Accreditation (IA) by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). The University sits on Taipa with a campus of 210,000m2. The beautiful surroundings and convenient transport render it an ideal place for students to pursue higher education and carry out research.

Mission and Vision

Upholding the motto of “Dedication to practical studies, Enhancement of knowledge, Ability and Quality”, MUST adheres to its mission “to promote cultural exchange, nurture intellectual growth, foster economic development, and further societal progress”. The University aligns closely with the needs of Macao and the rapid development of the Motherland, draws on and incorporates experiences from world-class higher education institutions, creates and offers a great diversity of educational programs, and aims to cultivate high-quality talents who are solid in theory, competitive in practice and innovation, proficient in Chinese and English, noble in character, admirable in morality, and adaptive in the context of a globalized economy. At the same time, MUST puts forth great efforts in conducting multi-disciplinary cutting-edge research and strives to join the ranks of renowned universities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Faculties and Programs

The Macao S.A.R. government has authorized MUST to award academic degrees at doctoral, master, and bachelor levels, with some programs conducted in Portuguese or Spanish. In addition to local students, MUST attracts a great many students from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Currently, there are more than 23,000 students enrolled at the University, including about 3,200 doctoral students, 6,000 master students, and 13,900 undergraduate students.

As of today, MUST owns the following faculties/departments: Faculty of Innovation Engineering, School of Business, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Faculty of Medicine, University International College, School of Liberal Arts, and the Department of General Education, providing a wide range of courses, including Social Science, Science, Engineering, Law, Management, Business, Medicine, Pharmacy, Tourism, Art, Communication, and Language. In addition to degree programs offered by the School of Liberal Arts, the School also provides evening degree programs and a wide range of short courses (daytime/evening) for lifelong learners and people who wish to enrich their knowledge.In July 2023, the School of Business  earned the international accreditation of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and been positioned among the top 6% of business schools globally. So far, the employability and the opportunity to further studies of MUST graduates proves to be highly satisfying. Several graduates continue their studies in world-renowned universities abroad, and an even greater number of graduates have taken up employment in government departments and well-known enterprises in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao. MUST was ranked 244th in the “Global University Employability Rankings 2022” by the Times Higher Education (THE), becoming the only university in Macao to be ranked in the list for two consecutive years.

Faculty Members and Research Development

The key to excellent education and extraordinary research is to have a knowledgeable, professional, experienced and internationalized faculty team.

MUST has about nine hundred professional staff, including chair professors, professors, distinguished professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. Many academic and research staff have either worked or studied in world-renowned institutions and universities.

In addition, MUST has invited a group of world-class specialists and experts to teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These specialists include academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Academia Sinica in Taiwan, the United Kingdom Royal Academy of Engineering, the United States National Academy of Sciences, Highly Cited Scholars, and other top scholars. By teaching courses and supervising graduates, these outstanding scholars impart the newest knowledge, disseminate the latest research findings, and introduce students to international horizons and diverse cultures.

Academic freedom has always been the pursuit of the University. MUST supports academic staff and researchers to develop diverse research projects and encourages teachers to collaborate and produce new knowledge, new technology, and new products, to advance diversified academic development, and provide services both for Macao’s and national progress. MUST focuses on developing features and research areas where the University has strengths, for example, quality control and innovative drugs in Chinese medicines, lunar and planetary sciences, cancer and rheumatism treatment, system engineering, environmental science, smart city, architecture and city planning, human resources management, and gaming tourism management. Other areas of interest are studies about Macao history, Macao society, culture, and sustainable development, comparative studies of cross-regional laws in the cross-strait region, art design, communication, intellectual property protection, marine protection development, next generation internet, innovation for robotics technologies, mathematical sciences, Macao intellectual property service, among others. MUST encourages the faculty to publish high-quality research findings. In recent years, the University has been granted about 150 national and provincial research projects on an yearly basis, and our research publications at SCI/SSCI academic journals have increased continuously, with an annual average of more than 1,300 papers, of which more than 50% are published at the Q1 zone, including "Cell", "Science" and "Nature" and other top scientific journals in the world. Likewise,more than 440 international patents have been granted.

Currently, MUST owns four state-level research platforms:

the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine;
the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences;
the National Observation and Research Station of Coastal Ecological Environments in Macao, and
the Research Centre for Macao History, Chinese Academy of History.   

Additionally, more than 20 prominent institutes and research centers have been established, to conduct strategically interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research in multiple fields. The University also established Macao’s first laboratory named after a Nobel Prize Winner, “Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery”. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China authorized MUST to jointly establish the Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences Partner Base and Joint Laboratory with five higher institutions in Mainland China. In 2021, the University founded the Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering; in March 2022, the Key Laboratory of River Basin Digital Twinning of Ministry of Water Resources, jointly applied by the University and the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, was officially approved for establishment.

These institutes and laboratories perform the functions of teaching and research simultaneously, not only providing practical training opportunities for outstanding research talents but also making great contributions to the studies of Macao’s sustainable development and adequately diversified economy.

Campus Life and Facilities

With respect to campus facilities, MUST has a beautiful campus and several modern teaching buildings, well-established laboratories, and rich collections of library resources. MUST advocates a harmonious, professional, and caring campus that facilitates students to achieve all-round development and fulfill whole-person education. MUST has set up a Mentor Scheme to assist students in coping with problems in their studies and life. By holding many forms of student social activities, MUST encourages students to actively participate in extra-curricular activities to develop organizational skills, improve social and cognitive abilities, and broaden their knowledge span. MUST provides diverse facilities for students to engage in different kinds of colorful extra-curricular activities, for example, the establishment of a student center with multiple piano rooms, rehearsal rooms, multi-functional rooms, and other rooms that are open for students to use for free all year round. The Art Troupe has become a brand of the art and culture of the University and offers students a stage to showcase their artistic talent. The Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Planning helps students to find their personal strengths and expertise to explore their own potential, establish a healthy, upright core value system in terms of career development, and enhance their competitiveness as well as planning and preparation to enter the labor market or entrepreneurism. The Student Affairs Office organizes visits, field trips, and community activities for students. The University encourages students to participate actively in various professional competitions locally and abroad. Based on students' interests, the Student Affairs Office coordinates all kinds of training and provides students with guidance and counseling services.

The campus has convenience stores, bank centers, student restaurants, a teaching restaurant, a food studio, coffee corners, a computer store, an Olympic-standard track with a field stadium and gymnasium, and a tennis court, providing conveniences for students to exercise and satisfy all their needs. The University Hospital is located on the campus providing 24-hour support and handling emergencies for students and staff. The hospital carries advanced equipment; in addition to a local professional medical team, there is also a team of well-known specialists from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and other countries. Moreover, the University has a security force that patrols the campus and dormitories to safeguard an orderly campus environment.

The University owns five dormitories located on campus, and others in Macao and Coloane, providing sufficient work, study, and living arrangements for teachers and students. The newly completed Block O teaching complex has been put to use, providing a large number of classrooms, staff offices, and teaching facilities. The Block R teaching complex was completed in 2019. It has a multifunction hall and movie house, as well as classrooms, research and practical teaching laboratories, studios, college offices, and logistic-support rooms. These facilities provide a substantial upgrade in educational facilities for the University.

Academic Exchange and International Cooperation

Internationalization has been an important momentum for MUST In terms of academic construction and management, MUST aims to become an international university with leading management standards by integrating the experience of world-renowned universities with specific local, social, and cultural characteristics, and establishing its own management principles and culture, model and framework, mechanisms, and procedures that fit into the University's international outreach.

At present, MUST has established multiple forms of partnerships with more than two hundred institutions in Europe, America, Australia, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong in educational programs, academic research, personnel training, student exchanges, and other areas. It has also become a member of the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) and the International Association of Universities (IAU); starting from March 2022, the University has become a partner of Times Higher Education's “THE Campus +”.

MUST encourages students to engage in overseas exchange programs and provides long-term, mid-term, and short-term funding for outstanding students to study abroad. It also supports students to pursue further studies or employment overseas in various ways, including helping students to seek further studies abroad through recommendations, among other means.

Looking ahead, MUST will continue to attach equal importance to teaching and research, attract talents from all fields, hold tight to the two key elements “quality” and “innovation”, and give full play to the advantage of a non-profit private university to continue to improve through excellent education and outstanding research and serve the society by fulfilling its mission.