Burkina Faso orders students to seek approval before studying abroad

Burkina Faso has introduced a new requirement for all students seeking to pursue higher education abroad to obtain prior authorisation from the Ministry of Higher Education.

The decree, adopted by the Council of Ministers, applies to all Burkinabè students intending to begin studies overseas, regardless of whether they are funded through government scholarships, private sponsorship or their own finances.

The government said the measure would strengthen oversight of overseas training, align it with national development priorities and better prepare graduates for integration into the domestic labour market.

Under the terms of this decree, any Burkinabè student who wishes to begin studies abroad, whether receiving a scholarship or using their own funds, is required to obtain prior authorisation from the ministry in charge of higher education

Ministry of Higher Education

“Under the terms of this decree, any Burkinabè student who wishes to begin studies abroad, whether receiving a scholarship or using their own funds, is required to obtain prior authorisation from the ministry in charge of higher education,” the government said after the Council of Ministers meeting.

Higher education minister Adjima Thiombiano said the policy would allow “the state to monitor training content in accordance with the current vision of the government, to avoid social cases after studies abroad and to prepare the professional integration of these students.”

The decree amends Burkina Faso’s 2021 higher education scholarship framework by requiring self-funded students, as well as scholarship recipients, to obtain prior authorisation.

France remains one of Burkina Faso’s leading study destinations, with around 2,500 Burkinabè students enrolled in French higher education institutions in 2022, according to Campus France. The decree also follows France’s suspension of visa issuance in Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, in 2023 amid diplomatic tensions.

Burkina Faso’s move comes as governments in some student-sending countries are reassessing how outbound student mobility is managed. Earlier this year, Nepal proposed overhauling its No Objection Certificate (NOC) framework by linking foreign currency approvals to priority fields of study, alongside broader reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of outbound student mobility.

The decree forms part of a series of education reforms introduced since Burkina Faso’s military-led transitional government took power in 2022.

Last year, authorities introduced a mandatory month-long “patriotic immersion” program for students entering public universities after completing the baccalaureate examination. The first rollout involved around 60,000 high school graduates, with participation becoming a prerequisite for university enrolment.

The government said the initiative was designed to strengthen civic values and prepare young people for national service and the defence of the country amid the country’s ongoing security crisis.

More recently, authorities suspended the General Union of Burkina Students (UGEB), one of the country’s largest student organisations, accusing it of “glorifying terrorism” after it criticised the government’s handling of the security situation. Rights organisations criticised the suspension, arguing that it reflected a broader narrowing of civic space.

Authorities have yet to explain how the new approval system will operate, including the criteria for assessing applications, when it will take effect or whether unsuccessful applicants will have a right to appeal.