ESAE University Cotonou: Courses, Fees and Admission (2026)

ESAE (École Supérieure d'Administration, d'Économie, de Journalisme et des Métiers de l'Audiovisuel) is a private higher-education school in Cotonou. It teaches administration, finance, law, management, IT and journalism, from Licence (bachelor's) to Master level. This page tells you what it offers, what it costs to register, and how to apply.

ESAE is number 5 on our list of the top 10 private universities in Cotonou. All ten are accredited and verified by us, and their students served NYSC before Nigeria's January 2024 suspension.

One thing to know before you apply: Nigeria's evaluation of Benin and Togo degrees for NYSC is currently suspended. Your school's licence and courses are not affected. See the NYSC section below.

• Type: private higher-education school

• Founded: 2011

• Recognised by: Benin's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

• Location: Gbèdjromèdé, Cotonou (third street after the "16 ampoules" junction, towards Jéricho). It also has a presence in Parakou.

• Levels: Licence (Bac+3) and Master (Bac+5)

• Language: French is the main language. Ask whether your programme has English teaching.

• Website: esae.bj

ESAE's website lists eight faculties:

• Business Administration (Administration des Affaires)

• Financial Administration (Administration des Finances)

• General Administration (Administration Générale)

• Business Law (Droit des Affaires)

• Computer and Telecommunications Engineering (Génie Informatique et Télécommunications)

• Journalism and Audiovisual Professions (Journalisme et Métiers de l'audiovisuel)

• Management Sciences (Sciences de Gestion)

• Legal Sciences (Sciences Juridiques)

The Le Grand Frère schools directory lists these state-approved (agréé par l'État) Licence programmes for ESAE: filmmaking and production, economic sciences, financial administration, general administration, journalism, legal sciences and management sciences. In July 2025 ESAE also announced four new professional certificate courses.

Best fit: students heading for public administration, finance, law, management, journalism or film and TV production.

ESAE publishes its registration fees on its admissions page (read October 2026):

• Application file fee: 16,500 FCFA

• Registration, Licence years 1 to 3: 50,000 FCFA

• Registration, Master: 70,000 FCFA

Tuition is paid on top of registration, in full or in parts, depending on the payment plan you agree with the school. ESAE does not publish tuition online. Contact the Beninfo247 Care Line on WhatsApp for the latest verified tuition, accommodation, admission fees and payment options before applying or paying.

1. Pre-register online on ESAE's website. This step is compulsory.

2. File review. ESAE's admissions committee checks your results and previous certificates.

3. Interview (Master only). Master's candidates are invited to discuss their motivation and career plan.

4. Results. ESAE publishes the list; admitted students then complete administrative registration.

Prefer help? Use our ESAE admission application form and we will guide you.

• Birth certificate (secured copy or certified copy)

• Certified copy of your baccalauréat certificate, pass attestation or result slip. Nigerian applicants: bring your WAEC or NECO result and ask how ESAE treats it.

• Transcripts from previous years, if you have already studied at university

• Your Licence (bachelor's) certificate, for Master applicants

• A detailed CV (Licence and Master)

• Receipts for registration fees and tuition

• National ID card or passport

• Four recent passport photographs

On 3 January 2024, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education suspended the accreditation of degree certificates from universities in Benin Republic and Togo, after an investigation into certificate racketeering. You can read the report and the list of affected universities at TheNigeriaLawyer.

• It is temporary. The resolution process is ongoing. Beninfo247 understands that the government has agreed to resolve it and that the remaining step is the Ministry of Education's public statement allowing graduates to proceed. On 11 March 2026, a House of Representatives committee recommended that the blanket invalidation be rescinded and replaced with case-by-case verification (report).

• It only affects NYSC. Until it is resolved, graduates of Benin and Togo universities cannot be mobilised for NYSC. After it is resolved, they can continue.

• Licences are not revoked and courses have not stopped. The suspension is a Nigerian decision about certificate evaluation. It is not a Benin decision. The school continues to operate and teach.

Our advice: you can study now, and plan to serve once the Ministry confirms. For the full explanation, read NYSC and Nigerian recognition for Benin Republic degrees.

Is ESAE University accredited? ESAE is recognised by Benin's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Le Grand Frère directory lists its Licence programmes as state-approved. It is on Beninfo247's top 10 private universities in Cotonou.

How much is the ESAE registration fee? 50,000 FCFA a year for Licence years 1 to 3 and 70,000 FCFA for a Master, plus a 16,500 FCFA application file fee. Tuition is separate.

Where is ESAE located? In Gbèdjromèdé, Cotonou, on the third street after the "16 ampoules" junction towards Jéricho.

Can I serve NYSC after ESAE? Not at the moment. Nigeria's NYSC mobilisation of Benin and Togo graduates is suspended until the Ministry of Education resolves it. It is expected to be resolved, and graduates can then continue.

Does ESAE teach in English? ESAE's website and programme names are in French. Ask the school to confirm in writing that the programme you want is taught in English.

Last reviewed by Beninfo247: October 2026.