Universidade Católica Timorense São João Paulo II

Universidade Católica Timorense São João Paulo II

Email: info@uct.university

Overview

Universidade Católica Timorense São João Paulo II (UCT) is a private Catholic university located in Dili, Timor-Leste, officially inaugurated on 8 December 2021 as the first Catholic university in the country, operating under the Archdiocese of Dili. It was established to provide high-quality higher education grounded in Christian values, ethical leadership, and academic excellence, and has grown rapidly with an expanding student body and multiple faculties. 

UCT comprises four major faculties, which is education, language, and arts; medical sciences; social sciences; and agricultural engineering, offering a range of undergraduate and professional programs, including a globally aligned MBBS medical degree designed with international preparation in mind. Its urban campus in the Balide area of Dili features modern facilities, and the university plays an active role in both national development and regional academic cooperation. 

Key strengths of UCT:

1. Modern Facilities with Clinical Training: UCT offers advanced laboratories, simulation centers, and a fully equipped library, which helps the students to gain practical skills in a real academic setting. Students also get real-time hospital exposure through active clinical partnerships, which ensures strong practical foundations before graduation and licensing.

2. Growing Academic Diversity: Aside from medicine, UCT has faculties in education, arts, social sciences, and agricultural engineering, supporting multidisciplinary learning and community impact.

3. International and Regional Collaboration: UCT maintains cooperative agreements with several foreign universities and associations, enriching student mobility, academic exchange, and institutional networking. 

Academic Calendars

The academic year at UCT is divided into two semesters:

Spring Semester:

1. Nomination and Application Deadline: October - December

2. Semester Start: Early March

3. Semester End: Late June - Early July

Fall Semester:

1. Nomination and Application Deadline: April - June

2. Semester Start: Early September

3. Semester End: Late December - Early January

Orientation for international students is conducted a week before each semester, covering essential topics such as course registration, cultural adaptation, and campus facilities.