Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
In Cameroon, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education increased from 4.7% to 16% between 2004 and 2012. From 2004 to 2013, initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita declined from 58 to 18. Data on initial household funding as a percentage of GDP per capita also remained between 31.3% and 29%.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education in Cameroon is not tuition-free. Article 9 of the Law No. 2023/007 on Higher Education Policy in Cameroon states that public universities are funded by government and local authority subsidies, as well as tuition fees paid by students. These costs are authorized under Law No. 98/004 and implemented through university statutes in accordance with Decree No. 2019/055.
Governance
Public higher education is provided in eleven state universities in Cameroon. Higher education financing is centrally governed by the Ministries of Higher Education (MINESUP), Finance (MINFI), and Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT). The Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for policy formulation and institutional supervision, while budget allocation and execution are managed centrally by the Ministry of Finance under Organic Law No. 2019/006. The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) is responsible for investment planning.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The allocation and disbursement of university funding remain centralised, with the Ministry of Finance providing funds at the national level based on proposals prepared by the Ministry of Higher Education. Despite decentralization reforms under Law No. 2019/023 and Law No. 2019/024, funding does not pass through regional or local governments; public universities receive their state budget allocations directly from central government authorities.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Private higher education institutions are regulated under Law No. 98/004, but there is no statutory provision for public funding of private universities, even in regions without public institutions.
Allocation and equity
The central government determines each university’s allocation based on staffing and salary costs, operational expenditures, and projected student enrolments.
There are no explicit equity-weighted allocation formulas targeting disadvantaged groups. The primary government response to equity has been to keep registration fees low to avoid excluding students from low-income backgrounds.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Section 14 of Law No. 2023/007 on Higher Education Policy in Cameroon guarantees university admission to any citizen holding a secondary school leaving certificate. Section 14 further allows academic institutions the freedom to determine their own conditions of access, and Section 15 requires the state to “ensure that academic institutions take appropriate measures or initiatives to ease access to higher education for disabled and vulnerable people”.
While national legislation does not mandate quotas, universities may adopt internal measures to facilitate access for students with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds, in line with Law No. 98/004.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Various government ministries offer scholarships and target different groups: academically excellent students (Ministry of Higher Education), young people pursuing vocational or technical training (Ministry of Youth and Civic Education), and those studying abroad in strategic fields (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The Minister of Higher Education is the government official responsible for the main higher education scholarships. While the scholarships aim to support national development and skills training, they do not appear to target vulnerable or underrepresented groups specifically.
The Ministry of Higher Education of Cameroon announces a wide range of international scholarships targeting various academic levels and equity groups. For instance, the Commonwealth Scholarships (UK, 2023–2025) support postgraduate students from low- and middle-income backgrounds across six thematic areas. The Academic Mobility Programme (Cameroon, 2024) supports university researchers and staff, especially those with limited resources, to conduct research nationally or abroad. The Tunisian Government Scholarships (2024/2025) offer full and partial scholarships for undergraduates and postgraduates in technical and scientific fields, aimed at young Cameroonians. Additionally, the Mauritian Government Scholarships (2022/2023) provide 15 scholarships at all university levels for Cameroonians of both sexes with English proficiency. The Moroccan Government Scholarships (2022/2023) offer 50 scholarships for university and postgraduate studies in diverse technical, scientific, and medical fields, targeting young Cameroonian students. The Egyptian Government Scholarships (2021/2022) and earlier Tunisian offers provide further opportunities, primarily for university-level Cameroonian students.
Scholarships specifically for students with disabilities are available at some institutions, such as Taniform University. Some international scholarships prioritise students from disadvantaged backgrounds, rural or marginalised communities.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
There is no evidence of a nationwide government program that specifically subsidises or provides transportation for university students.
University transportation support in Cameroon is institution-based, not government-led. For instance, the University of Buea operates a free campus shuttle service on designated routes, connecting key locations such as residence halls, academic buildings, libraries, and recreational facilities. The service is available at regular intervals during peak hours and is free for students and staff. The ICT University in Yaoundé also provides a shuttle/bus service that covers routes throughout the city, making it easier for students to reach campus regardless of their residential location.
Accommodation
The Ministry of Higher Education offers scholarships that can cover tuition, accommodation, and living expenses for high-achieving students. These scholarships are competitive and not available to all students.
Most state universities in Cameroon offer on-campus student residence halls at subsidised rates. However, the availability of these facilities is limited due to high demand and insufficient infrastructure.
Textbooks
No systematic or large-scale government support exists for purchasing textbooks at the higher education level. University libraries and international donations are the primary sources of access to textbooks for higher education students. Some NGOs and international partners, such as Book Aid International, support university libraries and reading initiatives, thereby indirectly easing the burden of textbook costs for students.
This profile has been reviewed by the Government of Cameroon, with the support of the National Commission of Cameroon for UNESCO.
