Macao has always been an international city, evolving from a hub for Sino-European trade to a world centre of tourism and leisure. As such, it offers a range of high-quality education options for globally-minded families.
Macao’s four international schools boast innovative and challenging curricula. With state-of-the-art facilities, these are places where sporty, creative and technically-minded children can thrive in multicultural environments. Importantly, they also have proven track records in securing placements for their graduates at top universities around the world.
This guide takes readers on a school-by-school tour, providing a comprehensive picture of Macao’s international education landscape.
School of the Nations
The longest-running international school in Macao, School of the Nations (SON) had humble beginnings. When it opened in 1988, the school consisted of a single classroom in a modified apartment and just five kindergarten students. In 2008, SON moved into a seven-storey, purpose-built campus in Taipa – equipped with a library, indoor basketball court, outdoor football pitch, indoor gym and theatre. Today, around 650 students are enrolled.
SON has always been known for its innovative approach to education, inspired by the Baha’i faith. Instruction takes place in English and Mandarin, with a curriculum drawing on strengths from both the Chinese and international education systems.
SON was the first school in Macao to use the Cambridge International system, back in 1994. It has also offered the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme since 2009. For preschoolers, SON runs a special three-year programme focusing on character development, science and maths.
Sixty-six percent of SON students graduating in 2022 went on to universities in the US and Australia. The remaining graduates entered universities in Macao, the mainland, and elsewhere overseas.
According to SON’s framework, the school strives to help each student develop noble qualities, advance in understanding of academic and spiritual concepts, and engage in constructive action to improve the world around them. Community service is considered an important part of school life.
The International School of Macao
Founded in 2002, the International School of Macao (TIS) teaches a Canadian curriculum and is accredited with the province of Alberta’s Ministry of Education. More than 50 percent of its teachers hail from Canada. The school is located on the Macau University of Science and Technology’s Taipa campus.
TIS started out with just 58 students. Its roll now exceeds 1,300 pupils, from kindergarteners to grade 12 (the final year of school in the territory). From grade 10 onwards, students are required to complete the Alberta High School Diploma, while the IB Diploma Programme is optional. Over 40 percent of its 2022 graduating class received offers from universities considered to be in the world’s top 50 tertiary education institutions, demonstrating the school’s commitment to academic excellence.
Last year, the school unveiled its revamped Innovation Lab (formerly known as the Robotics Lab). This state-of-the-art facility gives students hands-on experience in creative and technological fields, including screen printing, woodwork, 3D printing and robotics.
Complimentary to a focus on tech, TIS is an accredited Common Sense School. This means students are actively taught how to make smart and ethical decisions when using digital technology. The school holds an annual Digital Citizenship Week.
TIS is also known for its strong sports programme, with student-athletes participating in a number of local and regional conferences.
Macau Anglican College
The Macau Anglican College (MAC) is run under the auspices of the Anglican Church in Hong Kong. It follows a modified Cambridge International curriculum that complies with local requirements. All MAC students learn Mandarin as well as English, with bilingualism a highly prized pillar of the school’s educational offering.
Located in Taipa, MAC opened as a kindergarten and primary school in 2002, then added a secondary programme in 2008. About 1,400 students are currently enrolled, making MAC the largest of the international schools. In 2022, MAC reported a 100 percent pass rate in its Cambridge examinations. A quarter of graduates went on to study at universities in the UK, 42 percent enrolled in local universities, and most others headed off to higher education programmes in other places around the world.
The school places a strong emphasis on mental health and well-being; all students have ready access to counsellors from Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Work Coordination Office (‘Sheng Kung Hui’ is the Cantonese name of the Anglican Church). MAC provides strong support to students with special needs through its Inclusive Education Unit, which opened in 2011.
MAC also offers a range of sporting and arts opportunities to students, including through its school band.
Generations International School
Generations International School is the newest of Macao’s international schools, opening its doors just last year. It currently accepts enrollments up to grade 8, but will eventually provide education for students all the way to grade 12. The main language spoken at Generations is English, followed by Portuguese and then Chinese: it is the only officially trilingual international school in the city.
The school follows a Finnish educational model called SISU. A SISU curriculum aims to foster children’s natural curiosity, mental flexibility, creativity and independence, while encouraging personal growth. The school maintains a relatively low teacher-student ratio, with a maximum of 16 students per class – allowing teachers the time and space to focus on each individual’s needs. Secondary students can sit exams in either the Cambridge International or IB Diploma Programme.
Adaptation is a core principle at Generations. Each student receives an individualised learning plan and wellness lessons plus access to special education support. Students’ happiness is approached as a goal.
Classrooms at the Generations’ Coloane campus are Nordic-inspired and modern in aesthetic. The complex includes an auditorium, canteen, library, music room, indoor and outdoor sports courts.
Macao’s international schools offer a unique blend of global education standards and locally appropriate cultural integration – catering to the city’s diverse student body. Each of these four institutions is equipped to provide the next generation of global citizens with world-class learning environments and opportunities.
