Study in Burkina Faso
Who this applies to
Students (incl. international, mostly francophone West Africa) at Burkinabè universities. French-medium; follows the French HE model loosely.
Governing authority
Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche Scientifique et de l'Innovation (MESRSI). Degrees CAMES-recognized.
Degree system
Licence (3) · Master (2) · Doctorat — LMD/Bologna-influenced. French-language.
Admission
- How
- Baccalauréat + program capacity; international students apply with legalized diplomas.
- Language
- French (proficiency required).
Tuition
- Public Nationals
- Nominal for citizens (~US$2/yr reported); international students pay a minimum ~US$1,000/yr (UniPage, Joseph Ki-Zerbo).
- Private
- Higher fees.
- Source
- UniPage; Higher Education Strategy Associates
Student visa & residence permit
Study visa for non-nationals (ECOWAS nationals freer movement).
Scholarships
National scholarships (MESRSI); Francophonie/CAMES & bilateral programs.
Sources & references
- tuition (citizen vs foreign) — https://www.unipage.net/en/22184/university_joseph_ki_zerbo (2026-06-12)
- system overview — https://higheredstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Burkina-Faso-1.pdf (2026-06-12)
Universities in Burkina Faso