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The number of outstanding local students applying to the University of Macau is up 23 percent from last year

With constant improvement in various areas, the University of Macau (UM) is attracting more and more outstanding students. Recently, UM released undergraduate admission results for the 2012/2013 academic year. This year, a total of 7,654 students applied to UM, hitting a new high. Of the 7,654 applicants, 466 were recommended for direct admission by their secondary school principals, up 23 percent from the previous year. On the rise is not just quantity, but also quality. Admitted mainland students scored an average of 10 percent higher in the national university entrance examination than the admission marks required by the class-1 universities in their home provinces and cities. And for students admitted by the accounting programmes of the Faculty of Business Administration, this figure is more than 24 percent.

UM Rector Wei Zhao says that UM is steadily improving its teaching and research and gaining recognition from the local and international communities, thanks to a series of proactive measures, including curriculum reform, the launch of general education and residential colleges, and the founding of the Honours College. Wei Zhao adds that UM is very happy that many outstanding local students have chosen Macao and UM for further education this year.

This year, 466 local students, who ranked among the top 10 percent in their secondary schools, were recommended for direct admission by their principals, up 23 percent from last year. In the end 272 were accepted, all on scholarships. This year, UM increased both the quota for principal-recommended admission and the amounts of scholarships for students thus admitted, which leading to all students admitted through principals’ recommendation being exempt from tuition, as compared to the original half-tuition treatment. In addition, to increase opportunities for local students, UM this year continues to implement the Preferential Admission Scheme for Admission Examination Candidates, granting bonus points to 185 local students with academic, athletic, musical and other talents.

For non-local students, UM markedly raised the entry bar. A total of 2,779 applications from thirty-one provinces, cities and autonomous regions across the country were received. Among these applicants, 2,027 reached the admission marks required by the class-1 universities (key universities) in their home provinces and cities, with English marks reaching 110 or more. Admitted mainland students scored an average of 10 percent higher in the national university entrance examination than the admission marks required by the class-1 universities in their respective provinces and cities. And for students admitted by the accounting programmes of the Faculty of Business Administration, this figure is more than 24 percent, representing an all-time high among all programmes. The number of Hong Kong students applying for UM’s undergraduate programmes is twice that of last year.