Study in Accra, Ghana

About Accra

Accra is the capital of Ghana, in West Africa. Ghana's population is projected at about 34.4 million in 2026, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. Universities in Accra teach in English, so applicants from non-English-speaking countries must show their level of English.

The city and its surroundings have universities ranging from a technical university founded as a school in 1949 to young private institutions. International students come for degrees in business, computer science, engineering and nursing, and for exchange semesters.

Studying in Accra

Our directory lists three universities in and around Accra:

• Accra Technical University (ATU), listed in our directory as Accra Polytechnic, was set up in 1949 as Accra Technical School, became Accra Polytechnic in 1963 and was converted into a technical university by the Technical University Act, 2016 (Act 922). It has five faculties (engineering, built environment, applied sciences, applied arts and business) and 16 departments.
• Valley View University (VVU), at Oyibi in Accra, was founded in 1979 by the West African Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. In January 2006 it received a Presidential Charter, and it states that it was the first chartered private university in Ghana. All its programmes are accredited by the National Accreditation Board; they include nursing, banking and finance, computer science and theology.
• Ashesi University was founded in 2002 by Patrick Awuah, a former Microsoft employee, with 30 students in a house in Accra. It later moved to a permanent campus in Berekuso, outside the city. It had 1,830 students in 2026, 25% of them international, and runs exchanges with partners such as IE Business School in Spain.

At ATU, international applicants are admitted on their home-country qualifications, with equivalence set by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must prove their English, and those with limited English take a compulsory three-month English programme. The online application voucher is free for international students.

Cost of living for students

• Tuition: according to its Fact Book, Ashesi charges international students US$4,553 per term in tuition for undergraduate and graduate programmes, plus US$803 per term for housing (undergraduates) and US$160 for health insurance.
• Other universities: ATU and VVU publish their 2026-27 fee schedules as downloads on their websites.

We found no official figures for rent or local transport in Accra; ask the university's international office for a budget before applying.

Visa and residence permit

Visas are handled by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), which runs an eVisa portal and notes that a visa does not guarantee entry. After admission, a foreign student must obtain a student residence permit for the length of the studies. The application includes a letter from the school to the Comptroller-General, the admission letter, school fee receipts and a copy of the non-citizen identification card (Ghana card), which ATU also requires to complete enrolment.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Accra?

Our directory lists Accra Technical University, Valley View University at Oyibi and Ashesi University, whose campus is in Berekuso near Accra.

Are university courses in Accra taught in English?

Yes. ATU asks applicants from non-English-speaking countries for proof of English and offers a three-month English programme to those who need it.

Do I need a permit to study in Accra?

Yes. Foreign students admitted to a Ghanaian school must obtain a student residence permit from the Ghana Immigration Service for the whole length of their studies.

How much does a private university cost in Accra?

At Ashesi, international students pay US$4,553 per term in tuition, plus US$803 per term for undergraduate housing.