Preparing for studies abroad
In order to prepare effectively your studies abroad, it is essential to: i) carefully choose the country and the study program you’ll apply for; ii) evaluate the financial costs as carefully as possible; iii) start the pre-registration and visa procedures as soon as possible.
Choosing the country
It is subjective and depends on your professional project, but it must be realistic. Do not dream of studying in Switzerland if you do not have the means to finance it.
Here are the most important considerations: the cost of studies and living; language requirements; whether or not you have relatives in the country; the possibility of working during and after your studies; and the recognition of the diploma obtained in Cameroon.
Choosing the institution and the training program
Ask yourself the fundamental questions: What type of training do you want to do? Do you want to start immediately after your AL or after an initial training? What are your goals once you have graduated? Etc.
Check out the websites of the schools/universities and look at their courses and admission criteria; use blogs, forums etc. to find out what former students have to say about the course, the city chosen etc.
Submit your application files before the deadline.
Financing your studies abroad
The most important issue, for studying abroad involves very high costs: up to several million CFA francs in tuition fees alone in countries such as the USA, France, Canada, England or Switzerland.
Make sure that you or your parents will be able to pay your tuition fees but also meet the costs of living (accommodation, compulsory health insurance, meals and transport, etc.).
Administrative procedures
Visit the embassy website of the country where you want to study to get information about the visa application. Follow all instructions carefully and respect the deadline for application.
Make sure that you meet all the criteria and that your application is complete when submitted.
Be motivated and persevering, for the procedure for admission to foreign universities and obtaining a visa, especially in western countries, means rigorous and long selection process; complex administrative procedures; language test; etc.
Beware of scams! Avoid using intermediaries for your application, unless they have a valid official mandate from the country concerned.
IN VIEW OF YOUR STUDIES ABROAD:
OPT for an initial training in a Cameroonian insitution having concluded a bilateral agreement with a foreign university such as Prépa Vogt. This will facilitate the recognition of your diploma by the foreign university to which you will apply or your automatic admission to the partner engineering school.
TARGET a course with real outlets in Cameroon if you plan to come back to work there; indeed, many study programs have no or very few outlets: nuclear engineering, fine arts, etc.
SEARCH and APPLY as much as possible for scholarships ; see our section “Scholarships”.
NEVER USE forged or falsified documents in your visa and university applications; they are detected in 100% of cases. The consequence will be the rejection of your application and a permanent ban on applying for admission or a visa for that country. In addition, it will jeopardize the visa applications of other compatriots.
