Universities in Benin

All higher education institutions in Benin come under the purview of the Ministry of National Education, which has kept higher education in Benin mostly centralized and public funded. Université du Dahomey, later renamed to Université Nationale du Bénin (UNB), was the first university in Benin and alone catered to most of the demand for higher education in Benin. However, since late 1990s, there has been a significant increase in private institutions offering higher education in Benin. These institutions have to receive accreditation by the ministry of National Education.
 
Higher education universities and colleges in Benin offer three programs that are either vocational or academic oriented.
 
Post secondary vocational programs usually take two to three years. Students successfully completing the two year program receive the Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (Higher Technician Certificate) or the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie  (University Diploma of Technology). Students who successfully complete the three year course are entitled to earn the Diplôme ďEtudes Techniques Supérieures (Diploma of Higher Technical Studies).
 
The first-cycle of higher education in Benin involves two year long programs that require candidates to have completed their Baccalauréat de ľEnseignement Secondaire (Secondary Education Baccalaureate) for admission. Successful completion of two years of the Bachelor’s degree program in Benin entitles the student to conferment of a university Diploma in his/ her chosen field of study:

• Diplôme Universitaire ďEtudes Littéraires (University Diploma of Literary Studies) in the humanities
• Diplôme Universitaire ďEtudes Scientifiques (University Diploma of Scientific Studies) in the sciences
• Diplôme ďEtudes Universitaires Générales (University Diploma of General Studies) in law and economics.

 
Students who complete a third year of study in the first-cycle receive the Licence (licentiate). A Maîtrise or master’s degree I Benin is awarded to students who successfully complete a fourth year of studies after receiving their Licence.
 
Graduate programs in Benin, usually one year long, require interested students to have earned a Maîtrise for admission. Successful students of graduate programs in Benin receive degrees depending on their field of study.

• Students of management, the arts and the humanities are awarded a Diplôme ďEtudes Approfondies (Diploma of Advanced Studies)
• Students of demography and natural resources are awarded a Diplôme ďEtudes Supérieures Spécialisées (Diploma of Higher Specialized Studies).

Higher education in Benin culminates in doctoral programs which are offered in a number of areas such as agronomy, economics and law.
 
The above mentioned system of higher education in Benin, however, is undergoing significant reform. As member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Benin has adopted the Bologna process of reforming its higher education. Once restructured, higher education in Benin will have three main features:
 

• The system will be divided into three internationally recognized cycles, namely, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate
• A national qualifications frameworks will be setup
• The semester system will be adopted to allow comparability of qualifications and encourage academic mobility

 
This reform of higher education in Benin is planned for the period from 2011 to 2013 with a three key objectives:
 

• Upgrading information and communications technology physical infrastructure
• Improve the quality of teaching, learning and research
• Effective capacity building to sustain the new Bachelor-Master-Doctoral system