For many African students, securing admission abroad is no longer the hardest part, as new financial demands in France and tighter visa rules in the United States raise the cost, risk and uncertainty of studying overseas.
African students face higher costs and tougher entry conditions as France raises non-EU tuition and the US tightens visa rules
- African students face new financial hurdles in France, with visa applicants required to prove access to up to €25,000 before studying.
- Students and parents in Cameroon protested, demanding that France delay the new financial requirements for those who applied under previous rules.
- France has raised tuition fees for non-EU students significantly, making higher education less accessible to many African students.
- The United States introduced stricter visa regulations, including shorter admission periods, limited academic flexibility, and stricter deadlines for departure after studies.
In the French case, Cameroonian students and parents protested outside the French embassy in Yaoundé after new financial requirements threatened to prevent successful applicants from taking up their university places in France.
According to Radio France Internationale, student visaapplicants in Cameroon may now need to demonstrate access to as much as €25,000, including tuition and processing costs, before receiving a visa to study in France.
The requirement followed a July 9 announcement by Campus France Cameroon directing applicants to prove that they had paid their tuition fees in full or had enough money to cover the entire cost.
The measure came after some applicants had already submitted their documents, paid registration fees and agreed on instalment plans with their institutions.
Some private university programmes cost about €14,500, while registration fees can reach €3,500.
Although universities may allow families to settle the balance in instalments, applicants may now have to prove that they possess the full amount before travelling.
In response, protesters have asked French authorities to delay the requirement until the next admission cycle and allow applicants who began the process under the previous conditions to complete it.
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The dispute comes as studying in France becomes more expensive for students from outside the European Union.
In May, the French government ordered universities to raise tuition fees for most non-EU students from the start of the next academic year.
Under the new structure, a bachelor’s degree at a French public university will cost nearly €3,000 per year, up from €178.
The higher tuition charges, combined with demands for proof of full payment, could place French education beyond the reach of more African families.
Meanwhile, the United States is introducing tighter conditions for international students, exchange visitors and foreign journalists.
Under the new regulations, admission periods for student and exchange visa holders would not exceed four years, although they could apply for extensions.
Foreign journalists, whose visas can currently remain valid for years, would receive admission periods of up to 240 days.
The regulations would take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, subject to congressional review.
Students and parents in Cameroon protested, demanding that France delay the new financial requirements for those who applied under previous rules.Business Insider Africa
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The rules would prohibit graduate students from changing their “educational objectives” during their programmes or transferring to another institution without authorisation.
Additionally, the period students have to leave the US after completing their studies or training would fall from 60 to 30 days.
Those seeking to remain beyond their approved period would need to apply to the Department of Homeland Security for an extension. Alternatively, they could leave the country and seek readmission.
The measures form part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown since returning to office in January 2025.
His administration has increased scrutiny of legal immigration, revoked student visas and withdrawn the legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants.
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Together, the developments in France and the US point to rising financial and regulatory barriers for African students seeking education abroad.
France’s requirements could exclude families that can afford tuition through installments but cannot provide the full amount upfront.
Similarly, the US regulations could create uncertainty for students whose programmes exceed four years or whose academic circumstances change.
