Coming to Yaoundé or Douala for an exam, a training course or a conference
Updated on 23 October 2026 · 6 min read
Every year, candidates travel to Yaoundé and Douala for competitive entrance exams (concours), language tests and professional exams, and participants come for training courses, seminars and conferences. The rule is the same for all: know your exact venue, book your room as soon as the date is published, arrive the day before, and plan the trip to the venue on the morning itself.
An exam in Yaoundé or Douala: who comes, and when
| Event | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Concours (grandes écoles, public service) | Dates and exam centres are set by the ministry or the school, in an official notice. Many concours are held the same weekend in several cities, often including Yaoundé and Douala. |
| Language tests | For example TCF and TEF at the Institut français in Yaoundé and Douala, or IELTS with the British Council in Yaoundé. Sessions fill up: register early. |
| Professional exams and training | Courses at a school, a ministry or a company, sometimes over several weeks. |
| Conferences and seminars | Yaoundé hosts many institutional and international meetings, including at the Palais des Congrès; Douala hosts business events and trade fairs. |
Use official sources for the dates
Take the date, the time and the exam centre only from the official notice (communiqué or arrêté) of the ministry, the school or the test centre, such as the Ministry of Higher Education for many concours. Websites that repost notices can be late or wrong.
Book early: rooms near the venues go first
When a big concours or a conference brings many people to the same city on the same dates, rooms near the venues are the first to go and transport is busy. As soon as the date is published, book your accommodation and your trip; you can adjust later. With us, a 30% deposit secures the dates; see our cancellation policy before you book.
Stay near the venue
- Tell us the venue (school, faculty, test centre, conference hall): we suggest the apartment we have checked that is closest to it.
- Revise in peace: an apartment gives you a quiet room, a table and a kitchen, better than a crowded house the night before an exam. Our apartments have Wi-Fi.
- Come as a group: several candidates or colleagues can share a larger apartment and the transport.
- Long courses: for a course of several weeks, ask for a quote by the week or the month.
On the day: getting there on time
- 1Do a test runThe day before, go to the venue at the same time as your exam or session, to see the route, the entrance and the traffic.
- 2Prepare your bag the night beforeNotice or registration receipt, ID, pens and anything else the notice lists. Check what is not allowed in the room.
- 3Leave earlyWeekday mornings are the busiest in both cities; on exam days, many candidates arrive at the same time. Plan to be there well before the doors open.
- 4Book your transportA car with driver takes you to the gate and can bring you back after the exam, or take a group of candidates together.
Coming from another city or from abroad
From Douala to Yaoundé, or the other way, the road takes 3½ to 5 hours and the Camrail express train about 4 h 45: travel the day before, and in daylight. See Douala to Yaoundé. From abroad, check your visa and yellow fever certificate in preparing your trip; for a conference, your invitation letter is often part of the visa file. A pickup at the airport saves time after the flight.
Beware of offers of help
No one can sell you a place in a concours or a test result. Ignore anyone who offers one for money, and report it to the organisers.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the official dates and centres of a concours in Cameroon?
In the official notice (communiqué or arrêté) of the ministry or the school organising it, for example the Ministry of Higher Education. Your exam centre is also shown on your notice or registration receipt.
Where can I take the TCF or IELTS in Cameroon?
At the time of writing, the TCF is offered at the Institut français in Yaoundé and Douala, and IELTS with the British Council in Yaoundé. Check the sessions with each centre.
Should I arrive the day before an exam in Yaoundé?
Yes if you come from another city: the trip takes several hours and morning traffic is heavy. Arriving the day before also lets you check the route to the venue.
Can I rent an apartment near the exam centre?
Tell us the venue and the dates: we suggest the apartment we have checked that is closest to it, in Yaoundé or Douala.