1981 The University of East Asia, the predecessor of the University of Macau, was founded. The university comprised the University College (which housed the School of Arts, School of Business Administration, and School of Social Sciences), Junior College, and College for Continuing Education.
1982 The University of East Asia’s Open College was established.
1984 The University of East Asia’s Graduate College was established.
1984 The first cohort of undergraduate students graduated and honorary doctorates were awarded for the first time.
1985 The University of East Asia’s College for Continuing Education became the Polytechnic College.
1987 The University of East Asia’s Institute of Macau Studies was established (later renamed the Centre for Macau Studies).
1988 The government acquired and restructured the University of East Asia, revising its charter.
1989 The then President of the Portuguese Republic, Mário Soares, visited the university.
1989 The School of Arts, School of Business Administration, and School of Social Sciences of the University of East Asia became independent faculties. The university also established the Faculty of Science and Technology and the School of Education.
1990 The university changed its bachelor’s degree programmes from a three-year system to a four-year system.
1991 The University of East Asia was renamed the University of Macau, and a new university charter was promulgated.
1991 The Faculty of Law was established.
1992 The Centre for Continuing Education and Special Programmes (later renamed the Centre for Continuing Education) was established.
1992 The first cohort of master’s students of the University of Macau graduated.
1997 The then President of the Portuguese Republic, Jorge Sampaio, visited the university.
1997 The university produced its first doctoral graduate.
2001 The Macao Special Administrative Region Government restructured the University Council.
2002 The Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences was established.
2003 The then Vice President of China, Zeng Qinghong, visited the university.
2006 The Legislative Assembly of Macao passed the Juridical Regime of the University of Macau, and the Chief Executive promulgated the new Charter of the University of Macau. According to the charter, the University Council is the highest collegiate organ of the university.
2007 The University of Macau 10-Year Development Strategy was formulated.
2008 The university conducted global recruitment for top management positions for the first time.
2009 The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed a resolution that authorises the Macao Special Administrative Region to exercise jurisdiction over the new campus on Hengqin Island.
2009 The then President of China, Hu Jintao, officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus.
2009 The Honours College was established.
2009 The University of Macau Development Foundation was established.
2010 The then Premier of the State Council of China, Wen Jiabao, visited the university.
2010 The Ministry of Science and Technology approved the establishment of two state key laboratories: the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine.
2010 East Asia College and Pearl Jubilee College were established.
2011 The Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management was established.
2013 The Faculty of Health Sciences was established.
2013 The new campus was handed over to the Macao Special Administrative Region on 20 July and brought under its jurisdiction.
2013 The then Vice Premier of the State Council of China, Wang Yang, presided over the inauguration ceremony for the new campus.
2014 The Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering was established.
2014 The university completed relocation to the new campus and began holding classes on the new campus in the 2014/2015 academic year.
2014 Chao Kuang Piu College, Cheng Yu Tung College, Choi Kai Yau College, Lui Che Woo College, Moon Chun Memorial College, and Shiu Pong College were established.
2014 The President of China, Xi Jinping, visited the university.
2016 Cheong Kun Lun College, and Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College were established.
2016 The university was awarded the Medal of Merit—Education by the Macao SAR Government.
2017 The Institute of Collaborative Innovation was established.
2018 The university was gifted ‘The Wall of Great Wisdom’ sculpture by the Ministry of Education.
2018 The Ministry of Science and Technology approved the establishment of the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City.
2018 The Institute of Microelectronics was established.
2019 The Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences was established.
2019 The Faculty of Business Administration received accreditations from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and Association of MBAs (AMBA), as well as became a full member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). The faculty also launched its Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme.
2019 The Cultural Building was inaugurated.
2019 The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship received approval to serve as a national co-working space.
2019 The university’s first industry-academia collaboration demonstration base—Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute—was inaugurated in Hengqin.
2020 The university received approval to establish the Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau.
2020 The Public Administration Training Centre was established.
2021 The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine was awarded the Medal of Merit—Professions by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.
2021 The Macau Institute for Translational Medicine and Innovation at the University of Macau was inaugurated.
2021 The University of Macau Five-Year Development Plan was released.
2021 The Macao Base for Primary & Secondary STEM Education at the University of Macau was listed as one of the national science education bases for 2021-2025.
2022 The Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, was established.
2023 The Hengqin University of Macau Advanced Research Institute was established.
2023 The Museum of Art was inaugurated.
2024 The university introduced new arts programmes, including a Master of Fine Arts programme and a Doctor of Fine Arts programme.
2024 Guangdong-Hengqin University of Macau Higher Education Development Co., Ltd. was established. The university started preparations for the establishment of a new campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.