In 2025, the sixth-term Macao SAR Government put forward four major projects in its first Policy Address to propel Macao's social and economic development, and further its integration into regional and national development strategies. The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town is one of these projects. It has received strong support from the Central Government and has been included in the National 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), as well as the Third Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) of Macao.
The University Town is being developed in three phases, with the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) actively participating in the initiative. In August 2026, UTM commenced operations at the first-phase campus of the University Town, marking the extension of its teaching activities in Hengqin under the "One University, Two Campuses" model.
UTM will continue to establish new disciplinary areas, with a focus on nurturing talents needed for the development of a tourism powerhouse. It will collaborate with local higher education institutions to launch cross-institutional course auditing, credit-taking, and micro-credential certificates, and also introduce collaborative programmes with international partner institutions. These efforts aim to build an innovative model that strengthens the foundation at home while fostering cross-institutional collaboration, breaking through the constraints of one university and creating a diversified and integrated educational environment.
First-Phase Campus of University Town
The first-phase campus of the University Town is located at Dezhi Plaza in Hengqin, shared by the University of Macau, the Macao Polytechnic University, and the Macao University of Tourism. The project has a gross floor area of approximately 65,000 square metres, comprising classrooms, laboratories, and administrative office spaces. The living amenities include student dormitories, food court, and sports centre. In addition, there are student centre, auditorium, and other teaching and research facilities to support academic exchange and practical teaching.
Future Development
The third-phase of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town will house the campuses of the Macao Polytechnic University and the Macao University of Tourism. It is expected to be substantially completed by 2030, providing more comprehensive teaching, research, and living spaces for long-term development.
In support of the integrated development of education, technology, and talent, and to contribute to the Macao SAR's position as “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” (world centre of tourism and leisure; a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries; and a multi-cultural exchange and cooperation base with an emphasis on Chinese culture), the University will systematically cultivate interdisciplinary talents integrating culture, tourism, and technology. This will be achieved through discipline upgrading, industry-academia-research collaboration, Macao-Hengqin synergy, and China-Portuguese-speaking countries international outreach, thereby providing high-quality talent support and driving innovation in cultural tourism technology for the nation and the Macao SAR.
At the first-phase campus of the University Town, UTM focuses on postgraduate education, offering master's and doctoral degree programmes covering areas such as luxury hospitality management, cultural and creative industries, digital marketing and analytics, business administration, and tourism management. The University will progressively broaden its academic scope, introduce more international collaborative programmes and dual-degree offerings, and leverage the policy advantages of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to drive industry-academia-research integration.
A Cross-Border Learning Experience
The first-phase campus of the University Town lies in the Cooperation Zone, approximately 3 kilometres from the Hengqin Port, which operates 24-hour customs clearance.
With convenient cross-border access, students can move between Macao and Hengqin for learning, gaining exposure to different institutional environments and market models, broadening their cross-border perspectives, and accumulating hands-on regional experience. The international collaboration resources of the Macao campus will also be extended to Hengqin, allowing students to participate in overseas exchanges, dual-degree programmes, and international academic activities.
Campus Facilities
The student centre features self-study and reading areas, student activity spaces, and leisure and social zones, with Wi-Fi coverage throughout the campus. The teaching buildings are equipped with standardised classrooms and multimedia equipment to accommodate a variety of course types. Student dormitories offer a range of unit types with full amenities. On-campus facilities include food court, supermarket chains, convenience stores, and cafés, providing a one-stop solution for daily needs.
