Studying abroad is a global phenomenon, with students crossing countries, continents, and oceans to get the best education possible.
The reasons for these ranges from better education to low and affordable cost. There are many reasons why studying in Cotonou is worth it and we will look into these.
The Bénin Republic is a French-speaking Country in West Africa, south of the Atlantic. The capital of this country is Port Novi while the commercial hub is Cinonou. It’s far from a sophisticated city with a large number of citizens as foreigners within the metropolis.
The metropolis has been in life due to the fact that 1845 was a French colony of west Africa-previously referred to as Dahomey.
The town of Cotonou has a number of international facilities authorized by the Bénin republic ministry of tertiary training.
The beninoise government adopted a national strategy and policy in 1990 to improve the educational system of the country which had improved the standard of education in the country, especially in the areas of access to teaching and learning conditions.
The Republic of Benin operates on a 6-4-3-3-4 system.
Primary school: 6 years
Junior high school: 4 years
Senior high school: 3 years
Bachelor’s degree: 3 years
Master’s degree: 4 years
Education is compulsory for children between ages 6 and 11. Children are expected to spend 2 to 3 years in kindergarten, while the primary school certificate takes six years to complete.
It takes seven years to complete junior and senior high school. Sequel to the completion of the four first years of junior high school, students will have to take the O-level (Brevet d’Etudes du Premier Cycle: BEPC).
Students are expected three years later to take the A level (Baccalauréat: BAC) exam which is the equivalent of the U.S. high school diploma.
French, the official language of Benin, is generally the language of instruction.
Cotonou has an internationally friendly and conducive environment for learning resulting in advantages.
Some benefits of studying Cotonou Universities are as follows:
•Exposure to different Language Skills.
International students in Cotonou benefit from additional language skills provided by different international faculties through various French-speaking-related activities,and French publication which is a big asset in getting employment possibilities. These openings help international students to be able to speak French fluently.
•Secured and Safe Environment
The crime rate in Cotonou is one of the lowest in the world. People rarely have huge gates or barbed wire fences covering their homes because of the safe environment.
The residents in the town move freely with absolutely no fear of robbery or any related crime. International students inside and around the city are secure and safe.
•Time and cost
In most parts of the world,a bachelor’ degree take at least four years to complete unlike in Cotonou where there is an accelerated program allows completion of B.Sc. in far less time, most times under 3 years- depending on the course you study
If you are looking for a fast and quality degree program, schooling in Cotonou will help to achieve this based on the fact that the system avoids irrelevant theoretical teaching but focuses on relevant topics to save time and resources. As a result, most arts and social science courses can be completed within 3 years or less while Engineering and medical courses will take 4 years to complete.
The summer programs have made it even faster for students
•Traffic Congestion is Not aThings of Concern.
International students in the city of Cotonou rarely fear getting stuck up in traffic due to the fact the metropolis has properly structured roads built as much as international requirements comparable to any present-day roads in other parts of the world.
So you shouldn’t worry about getting late for classes or other academic activities.
4. Conducive Learning Environment
From getting a cheap and inexpensive apartment with a consistent water and electricity supply to having an environment conducive for research and learning, Cotonou had carved a niche as one of the most student-friendly cities in Africa for international students.
Top Universities In Cotonou.
1.Adonaï Institute of Management Studies or Institut supérieur de Management Adonaï (ISM Adonaï)
The institution is a private higher education institution in Benin. Adonaï Institute of Management Studies became active in 2006. The campus is located in Cotonou.
Adonaï Institute of Management Studies provides quality education that is appreciated throughout the whole country.
Despite being one of the youngest universities in Benin, Adonaï Institute of Management Studies ranks high in international ratings.
The institution is situated at Saint-Jean, von derrière la Gazette du Golfe
Cotonou is a city with a population of over 679,000 and a student population of 5,000.
The University was accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS and);the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES). It is a privately funded university with an admission acceptance rate of 58%.
It is ranked #1 in Cotonou, 4 in Benin republic and 726 in Africa.
2.PIGIER Benin
The PIGIER-BENIN School, founded in 1993, is a private higher education institution in management sciences and technologies.
The school has about 8000 students with a 35 to 1 student/staff ratio.
One of the most soothing qualities of the school is its ability to attract about 15 students.
Located in Carré 1270, Rue 320 Agontikon Cotonou, the institution is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS).
It offers various bachelor’s degrees with A levels as the admission requirement and A levels and bachelor’s certificates for Master degrees.
The school is ranked #2 in Cotonou and 5th in Benin. It has an acceptance rate of 65%.
3.IRGIB Africa University
IRGIB AFRICA University was founded in the year 2006 as a private university by D.r Virgile Ahyi, a pharmacologist. IRGIB Africa university is a privately owned university with a vision to create an institution of high standard in both social and economical progress.
The institution is legally recognized by the Beninese ministry for research and education.
The school is ranked #3 in Cotonou and 7th in Bénin and accredited by Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique, Bénin.
It is located at Derrière Immeuble Air France; Route de l’Aéroport de Cotonou; 07 BP 231.
Cotonou, and has an admission acceptance rate of 65%.
4.African University of Technology and Management Rankings also known as Université Africaine de Technologie et de Management
It is a privately funded university founded in the year 1997 and accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS). It is situated at Qtier Gbegamey 04; Boîte Postale 1361 Cadjehoun, Cotonou with a student enrollment of 2500, a 10 to 1 student /staff ratio having a full-time staff of 250 persons.
The university runs different types of bachelor’s and master’s programs with admission requirements based on entrance examinations and students’ past academic records and grades.
It ranked 4th in Cotonou and 8th in Benin.
In total, there are 10 universities in Cotonou and even though some have an English campus, all of them use the official language of the Benin Republic which is French.
Though the Cotonou education system is not the best on the continent, it has a lot of benefits to be considered when choosing an institution.
