Studying in Germany from Cameroon

Admission, funding, insurance and language: what the embassy requires for the student visa, from the Studienkolleg to a master's degree.

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Important Information

This guide summarizes the information published by the German Embassy in Yaoundé, consulted on 03/10/2026. Requirements, amounts and processing times change regularly: this information may be out of date by the time you read it. The only reliable reference is the embassy's official website: jaunde.diplo.de. Institut der Fuchs is not a visa agency and does not process any application on behalf of the embassy.

Admission

The student visa requires an admission. The embassy accepts in particular:

  • a final admission with a certificate of enrolment;
  • a conditional admission together with enrolment in a language course;
  • an admission to a language course preparing for university studies (DSH, TestDaF);
  • an admission to a Studienkolleg (preparatory year for school leavers whose diploma does not give direct access to university);
  • an invitation to an entrance examination.

No more than three months may pass between the end of a language course and the start of your studies.

Funding: blocked account or formal obligation

You must prove that you can support yourself, usually for one year, through a blocked account opened with a bank established in Germany (of your choice) or through a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a person residing in Germany. The embassy states a minimum of €992 per month for studies; this amount is reviewed regularly, so check it before opening the account. For a private university, funding for the first year must be proven. If the visa is refused, the embassy issues, on request, a certificate allowing you to close the blocked account.

Health insurance

"Incoming" insurance from a German insurer is required for at least two months, and for at least one year if you first attend a language course and take an exam in Germany.

Language level

A certificate is required when the university has not already checked your level or when the admission letter does not confirm the required level (or a preparatory course). For a programme taught in German, this means an ALTE certificate (Goethe, TestDaF, telc, ÖSD, ECL); for a programme taught in English, IELTS or TOEFL. As a guide, the embassy points out the TestDaF equivalences: 4 × TDN 3 corresponds to B2, 4 × TDN 4 to B2/C1 and 4 × TDN 5 to C1/C2.

The application and submission

  • Registration on the Auslandsportal, then submission at VFS Global in Yaoundé (holders of German or European publicly funded scholarships apply directly to the embassy and are exempt from fees);
  • Visa fees: 50,000 FCFA (25,000 FCFA under 18), plus VFS service fees;
  • CV and cover letter in German or English, one page each;
  • Diplomas, transcripts, valid passport and biometric photo.

Appointment waiting times are much shorter for master's, doctoral and scholarship applicants than for bachelor's degrees, the Studienkolleg and language courses, where the wait can exceed one year according to the embassy's indicative figures.

Preparing in Bafoussam

Institut der Fuchs prepares you for levels B1, B2 and C1 and for the Goethe, TestDaF, telc, ÖSD and ECL exams required by universities and the Studienkolleg, as well as for English for English-taught programmes.

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need in the blocked account?

The embassy states at least €992 per month, usually for one year. This amount changes regularly: check it on the embassy's website before opening the account.

Can I go for a language course before university?

Yes, with an admission to a preparatory course (DSH, TestDaF) or to the Studienkolleg. According to the embassy, studies must begin no later than three months after the language course.

Do I need a German certificate?

Not if the admission letter confirms your level or includes a preparatory course. Otherwise, an ALTE certificate (or IELTS / TOEFL for an English-taught programme) is required.

Where is the application submitted?

Registration is done on the Auslandsportal; submission takes place at VFS Global in Yaoundé, except for holders of publicly funded scholarships, who apply to the embassy.

How long is the wait?

According to the embassy's indicative figures, the wait is considerably shorter for master's, doctoral and scholarship applicants than for bachelor's degrees, the Studienkolleg and language courses (often more than a year).

Official sources

Last checked by the institute: 03/10/2026. In case of any discrepancy, the embassy's website prevails.