Fund your studies and prove your budget
Paying all your tuition before the visa is no longer required, but your financial means are still assessed.
2026-2027 tuition fees for non-EU students (public institutions)Bachelor's €2,902, master's €3,950, PhD €398 per yearAutomatic exemption for French government scholarship holders and needs-based grant holders; institutions can grant other exemptions on request. Engineering schools and schools under other ministries set their own fees: check their website.
Verified on 10/10/2026 · Campus France CamerounSource
Tuition paid before the visaRule withdrawnPress release of 03/09/2026. Financial means are still assessed.
Verified on 07/10/2026 · Ambassade de France au CamerounSource
Minimum monthly funds877.50 €/monthVisa, first permit and renewals. Replaces €615.
Verified on 07/10/2026 · Service-public F2231Source
How to do it
Since the embassy's statement of 03/09/2026, paying all your tuition fees or holding that sum in the bank is no longer required before the visa, but each application is examined individually, with particular attention to the financial sustainability of your project.
- 1Draw up your full budget: tuition fees at your chosen institution, housing, everyday living costs and settling-in costs.
- 2Check that you can prove resources of at least €877.50 per month for your stay.
- 3Choose the type of proof that fits your situation: scholarship certificate, deposit in a bank account in France, permanent and irrevocable transfer (blocked account), or support from a sponsor.
- 4If a relative is funding you, gather their ID, proof that they have sufficient, reliable and regular resources, and their written commitment to support you.
- 5Keep your study project, your programme and your funding plan consistent: they are assessed together when you apply for the visa.
What you need
- Proof of your resources (scholarship, bank certificate or sponsor's commitment)
- Your sponsor's ID, if you have one
- Your sponsor's proof of income
- The tuition fees for your programme
Tips
- Plan a margin above the minimum: the first months cost more (deposit, settling in).
- If you are aiming for alternance, build your budget as if you had no salary: alternance is never guaranteed.
- Prefer clear, regular proof: reliable, traceable funding is more reassuring than a large sum deposited all at once.
Money
Paying your tuition fees from Cameroon
Only pay into the official account in the institution's name. An email, a WhatsApp message or an intermediary giving you new bank details is the classic sign of a scam: no intermediary is needed for your application.
- 1Ask your institution for the official document stating what you owe (invoice or fee request) with its bank details, and keep your letter of admission or enrolment certificate.
- 2Check those bank details by calling the institution yourself on the number shown on its official website, before any payment.
- 3Go to the bank in Cameroon with the person who is paying: CEMAC exchange regulations require you to justify where the money comes from and, above a certain amount, to provide supporting documents.
- 4Make an international bank transfer to the institution's account, giving your name and application reference in the payment description.
- 5Keep the transfer order, the bank's debit advice and the receipt or payment certificate sent by the institution.
What you need
- Letter of admission or enrolment certificate from the institution
- Invoice or fee request from the institution, with its bank details
- National ID card or passport of the person ordering the transfer
- Proof of where the money comes from (a bank statement, for example)
- Dated and signed transfer order
Tips
- Paying all your tuition fees before the visa is no longer required, but your ability to fund your studies is still assessed: your proof of payment helps show a solid budget.
- Start the transfer well before the school's deadline: a transfer out of the CEMAC goes through several checks and can take time.
- Before paying a deposit, ask the institution in writing for its refund conditions if your visa is refused.
A question about this step?
“Fund your studies and prove your budget”: ask Mbeng, the answer comes from the guides and official sources.