University of Dschang

The University of Dschang is a non-profit public scientific and cultural institution whose objectives are to advance higher forms of culture and research to the highest level and at the fastest rate of advancement, to provide higher education to everyone who has the aptitude and desire to pursue it, to support development, to promote social and cultural advancement, and to advance the practice of bilin.

About the University of Dschang

In the West Cameroon town of Dschang, which is 425 kilometers northwest of Yaoundé, is where you’ll find the University of Dschang. In 1993, it changed from being an agricultural institution to a university. Its origins are in three agricultural training schools.

The establishment of university centers in Cameroon was permitted by the Cameroonian government in 1977. Presidential Order No. 77/108 of April 28, 1977, established the University Center at Dschang (UCD). The UCD merged the ENSA (Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique) in Yaounde and the Institute for Agricultural Technology in Dschang in May 1978. As quickly as feasible, ENSA was to be moved to Dschang.

The National Institute of Rural Development is the result of the later merger of these two academic institutions. The US administration decided to help UCD in 1979–1980 after discussions with the Cameroonian government. Via what was known as the Agricultural Education Project, the University of Florida was chosen in 1981 after a competitive process to design that support.

The University of Dschang (UDC) was established in 1993 in place of the UCD.

The governments of Cameroon and the United States decided to construct a new educational facility in Cameroon in 1979. At that time, the Cameroonian government had decided to locate educational facilities in strategic regions of the nation. The new schools were to be located in the west (at Dschang) and in the south-west, because there were already academic institutions in the commercial capital (Douala), the political capital (Yaoundé), and in the north at Ngaundere (at Buea).

The Dschang project was funded by a USD 44 million grant and loan from the US government, and a USD 74 million contribution from the Cameroonian government that went for infrastructure and employee pay. Around USD 8 million were given by Belgium. The US investment was split between two separate initiatives, one focused on infrastructure and the other on training and academic programs. A Senegalese construction firm was given the contract earlier. 

With a tiny subcontract to Florida A&M University, the latter was given to the University of Florida (UF) in 1982. The UF team was headed by Joe Busby, who was replaced as leader in 1987 by Charlie Eno. Eno led the team through 1989 before being replaced by Peter Hartmann, who oversaw the project from 1989 to 1992.

René Owona served as the institute’s director general. The Director General title later changed to Rector when the institute became a university center. Owona was expelled from UCD and appointed minister of commerce by 1990. Professor Jean Mfoulu, who was transferred from the Ministry where he was Director for Higher Education, took over for Owona after he left. His main base of operations was the University of Yaoundé, where he taught sociology. Mfoulu was a Boston University Doctorate recipient.

A four-year construction delay put considerable strain on all program components, including student housing, the library, office space, and research facilities.

The scheduling of faculty training was another cause of stress. Almost fifty Cameroonian professionals obtained graduate training throughout the project. The pressure on the remaining teachers and students from sending so many people—almost half of the UCD staff—off for extended study was enormous. UCD only managed to get through the challenging period thanks to the strong collaborative spirit of the remaining staff, which included American, Belgian, Cameroonian, and French members, as well as the usage of teaching assistants from other schools. After completing their foreign training, the returnees accepted posts as faculty members.

Faculty and Departments At the University of Dschang

Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences

• Geography
• Modern English Letters
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• French Expression Letters
• Cartography, Topography, GIS, and remote sensing
• Communication (Professional License)
• African Languages ​​and Linguistics
• Translation Interpretation
• History and Archeology
• Documentation – Archival – Library
• Spanish
• German Studies
• Africa and Globalization (Master)
• Bilingual Letters French – English
• Sociology
• Italian Studies
• African Literature and Cultures
• Tourism (Bachelor and Professional Master)
• Urbanism, Cities and Regional Planning (Professional Master)
• Climate Change, Biodiversity and Green Economy (CCBEV) (Professional Master)
• Communication Studies

Faculty of Economics and Management

• Department of Economic Analysis and Policies (APE)
• Department of Public Economy and Human Resources (EPRH)
• Department of Finance and Accounting (FICO)
• Department of Marketing and Organization (MO)

Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences

• Department of Fundamental Private Law
• Department of Business Law
• Department of Criminal Sciences
• Department of Internal Public Law
• Department of International and Community Law
• Department of English Law
• Department of Political Science

Faculty of Sciences

• Department of Biochemistry
• Department of Animal Biology
• Department of Plant Biology
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Computer Science Mathematics
• Department of Physics
• Earth Science Department

Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences

• Plant Productions
• Animal Production
• Forestry
• Agricultural Engineering
• Rural Economy-Sociology and Agricultural Extension

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) about the University of Dschang

How many Students Does the University of Dschang admit per year?

The university has over 800 academic staff and 14,000 students.

Is the University of Dschang a Federal or State School? 

It is a public university.

What is the cut-off mark for the University of Dschang?

Students only need the school’s admission requirements.

What is the University of Dschang’s Official Website?

www.univ-dschang.org

Is the University of Dschang a good school?

Yes. The university has been ranked 3rd in Cameroon and 3822nd in the World 2022 overall rankings, equally ranked 39th in academic topics. Recently, it is ranked as the #1 top university in Cameroon during 2023.

Are there hostels at the University of Dschang?

Yes.

When is the Admission Form coming out for the University of Dschang?

Check the university’s website to know about this.

Who founded the University of Dschang?

The university created Presidential Decree No. 77/108. 

What are the requirements for the University of Dschang?

Depending on the level of study and the program being sought, the University of Dschang has different admission requirements. These are some standard prerequisites for admittance to undergraduate programs, though:

• The requirement for candidates is a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• The General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination must be passed by candidates in at least five subjects—including English and mathematics.
• A minimum grade of “C” is required for candidates to pass the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level) with at least two subjects in the field of study they are applying for.
• The University of Dschang’s competitive entrance exam is the only requirement for applicants.

For graduate programs, the admission requirements include:

• Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or its equivalent.
• A 2.5-grade point average, or its equivalent, is required for applicants.
• Applicants must pass the entrance test or present additional documentation of their academic and professional credentials.

It’s crucial to remember that admission standards can change depending on the program and that overseas students could have extra requirements to meet, such as proving their English language competency. Thus, it is advised that applicants confirm the admission requirements with the particular program they are applying for.