UM announces start of entrance examinations

The University of Macau (UM) has announced that the online application system for entrance examinations for the 2016/2017 academic year opened yesterday, and that the deadline for applications is February 19.
In addition, the UM stressed that students with “special talents” in academia, sports, music or community service can apply for the Preferential Admission Scheme, which will award successful applicants with between 10 and 30 bonus points toward admission.
This year, the scope of awards and qualifications that make an applicant eligible for bonus points has expanded.
Applicants may accrue bonus points if they hold awards from science or art-related competitions, certificates of high-level musical accomplishment, or awards received under the Macao Youth Volunteer program.
The UM says its first priority is nurturing local talent. The preferential scheme is therefore only available to applicants who are Form Six students of Macau secondary schools at the time of their application.
Various other scholarships have been made available again this year. The UM “Outstanding Student-Athletes Admission Award Scheme,” for example, seeks to encourage outstanding athletes to pursue academic studies simultaneously. The university says that this scholarship includes a full waiver of tuition fees and, in some cases, a partial or full waiver of residential college fees.