University of Buea
Set in Molyko at the foot of Mount Cameroon, the University of Buea is Cameroon's first university built on the Anglo-Saxon model. A university centre in 1985 and a full university since the 1993 reform, it trains students from the English-speaking subsystem, within a bilingual and multicultural setting. It is known for its school of translators and interpreters (ASTI) and its health sciences.
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At a glance
- City and campus
- Buea (Molyko campus); Higher Technical Teachers' Training College (HTTTC) in Kumba
- Founded
- University centre in 1985; present status and name in 1993
- Status
- English-speaking state university (Anglo-Saxon tradition)
- Vice-Chancellor
- Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga (Decree No. 2017/318 of 27 June 2017; in office in 2026)
- Pro-Chancellor
- Prof. Gloria Enow Ashuntantang (appointed 2 June 2026)
- Students
- 33,000 in 2024-2025, including 50 students with disabilities (WHED)
- Official website
- www.ubuea.cm
History
Buea, former capital of German Kamerun and then of the federated state of West Cameroon, has hosted a university centre since 1985. The 1993 university reform made it a full university, expressly “designed in the Anglo-Saxon tradition” for students from the English-speaking subsystem, according to Osidimbea. It remained the only English-speaking state university until the University of Bamenda was created in 2010.
In November 2016, the Anglophone lawyers and teachers whose protests started the Anglophone crisis demanded, among other things, that common law be taught at Buea and Bamenda through a law school. Schools across the English-speaking regions then closed, according to Wikipedia. The university now has a Faculty of Laws and Political Science.
Faculties, schools and colleges
| School | Acronym | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Arts | FA | Application (GCE A Level or Bac) |
| Faculty of Science | FS | Application |
| Faculty of Education | FED | Application |
| Faculty of Social and Management Sciences | FSMS | Application |
| Faculty of Laws and Political Science | FLPS | Application |
| Faculty of Health Sciences | FHS | Entrance exam (nursing, public health, biomedical sciences… in 2026) |
| Faculty of Engineering and Technology | FET | Not stated online |
| Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine | FAVM | Not stated online |
| College of Technology | COT | Not stated online |
| Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters | ASTI | Bachelor's degree required, then selection |
| Higher Teachers' Training College | HTTC | Selective, see the becoming-a-teacher page |
| Higher Technical Teachers' Training College (Kumba) | HTTTC | Selective, see the becoming-a-teacher page |
Strengths
- ASTI, a master's-level school of translation and interpreting, open only to bachelor's degree holders: an asset in an officially bilingual country.
- Health sciences: the faculty recruits by entrance exam in nursing, public health, biomedical sciences and health management (2026 results).
Among its former students, the singer Daphne studied law and psychology there.
Student life and campus
Molyko, the campus district, lives to the rhythm of its students. The university had 650 permanent and 200 part-time lecturers according to Wikipedia, and 50 students with disabilities in 2024-2025 according to WHED. Formalities are handled on the ubstudent.online portal, whose operator warned in 2026 against people charging students excessive fees.
Admission
Applications are made online at ubstudent.online. A secondary-school leaving qualification (GCE A Level or Baccalauréat) is required; some programmes, such as health sciences, require an entrance exam. ASTI requires a bachelor's degree. The basic state university fee is CFA 50,000: see the cost of higher education page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the University of Buea?
In Molyko, in the town of Buea (South-West Region), at the foot of Mount Cameroon; its technical teacher-training college is in Kumba.
What can you study at the University of Buea?
Arts, science, education, social and management sciences, law, health, engineering, agriculture and veterinary medicine, plus translation (ASTI), technology and teacher training.
How do I apply to the University of Buea?
Online, on the ubstudent.online portal, with a GCE A Level or Baccalauréat; some programmes require an entrance exam.
Can French speakers study at Buea?
Yes, the Baccalauréat is accepted, but teaching is in English, in keeping with the university's Anglo-Saxon tradition.
How many students does the University of Buea have?
33,000 in 2024-2025, according to the IAU's World Higher Education Database (WHED).
Who heads the University of Buea?
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga, appointed in 2017. Prof. Gloria Ashuntantang was appointed Pro-Chancellor on 2 June 2026.
Handle with care
Sources hesitate between 1992 and 1993 for the move to university status. We found no official application fee or 2026-2027 timetable online. The effects of the Anglophone crisis on the campus since 2017 are not covered here for lack of verified sources.