Macau is attracting international students – but are they staying?

Lynzy Valles

Macau has repeatedly expressed its ambition to become an international city and a hub for talent, innovation, and higher education.

However, building a talent hub requires more than simply attracting people to the city.

It also requires a long-term strategy to retain skilled individuals who have already developed connections and gained experience in Macau’s society.

International graduates represent one potential source of skilled talent, yet retaining them remains a challenge.

Many international students spend several years studying in Macau, building connections, adapting to the local culture, and becoming familiar with the city before facing uncertainty about their future after graduation.

Unlike many economies that actively compete for international graduates, Macau currently offers limited options for overseas students who wish to remain after completing their studies. In Macau, international students’ visas typically expire at the end of the academic year, on August 31, leaving them with limited time to seek employment or explore opportunities to remain in the city.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, and South Korea have introduced post-study pathways that allow international graduates time to search for employment and transition into the local workforce.

Depending on the country, graduates may receive a period ranging from several months to several years to find a job after completing their studies. These policies recognize that international students are not simply temporary visitors. During their years of study, many have already built connections, adapted to local communities, and developed familiarity with the societies they hope to join.

Beyond their academic contributions, international students also provide economic benefits to the city. Their presence supports local consumption, creates demand for housing and services, and contributes to the broader community ecosystem during their years of study.

Data from the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) shows that 7,052 bachelor’s degree graduates completed their studies during the 2024/2025 academic year.

However, the lack of detailed breakdowns makes it difficult to determine how many of these graduates were on international student visas.

For many graduates, remaining in Macau after completing their degrees remains an uncertain path. Without a dedicated post-study employment period, international graduates may have little time to search for opportunities, despite having already invested years in studying and integrating into the city.

In 2020, the SAR government expressed its ambition to expand the international student population, projecting that the total number of university students would grow by 28%, from 39,000 in 2020 to 50,000 by 2025.

Data from the DSEDJ shows that in the 2025/2026 academic year, the number of bachelor’s students stood at 38,633. Including master’s students, total enrollment reached 45,771 students.

While expanding enrollment remains important, the next challenge is ensuring that students who choose Macau for their education have a pathway to remain and become part of the city’s workforce.

A city that invests in educating young talent should also have a strategy to retain those who can contribute to its future.

This does not mean every international student should automatically be retained; rather, Macau should consider creating a pathway for highly skilled international graduates with strong potential, particularly those whose expertise could contribute to the city’s “1+4” development strategy.