Universities in Accra, Ghana

Accra is the capital of Ghana, a country with a projected population of about 34.4 million in 2026, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. For international students, the Accra area combines a public technical university with private universities, and English is the language of study: universities ask applicants from non-English-speaking countries for proof of English.

The universities in this list are in Accra or in the surrounding Greater Accra area, and each has a different profile: technical and applied studies, a faith-based private university, and a private liberal arts university.

The universities

• Accra Technical University (formerly Accra Polytechnic) began in 1949 as a technical school and became Accra Technical Institute in 1957. Under the Technical University Act, 2016 (Act 922), the polytechnic was converted into a technical university. It has five faculties (Engineering, Built Environment, Applied Sciences, Applied Arts and Business) and 16 departments.
• Valley View University (VVU), in Oyibi, Accra, was established in 1979 by the West African Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. In January 2006 it received a Presidential Charter, which the university says made it the first chartered private university in Ghana. Its programmes include nursing, banking and finance, computer science and theology, and it states that all programmes are accredited by Ghana's National Accreditation Board.
• Ashesi University was established in 2002 by Patrick Awuah, who left a career at Microsoft, and started with 30 students and two majors, Computer Science and Business Administration, with a liberal arts core. Its campus is in Berekuso, outside Accra. Its fact book lists 1,830 students in 2026, 25% of them international. Ashesi has exchange partners abroad, including IE Business School in Spain.

Admission

Each university runs its own admissions. At Accra Technical University, applications are online and the application voucher is free for international students. Foreign qualifications are accepted when the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) confirms their equivalence. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must show English proficiency, and those with limited English may have to take a three-month English programme. International students are also asked to obtain a non-citizen Ghana card. GTEC is also the body for institutional accreditation and credential evaluation.

Costs

Fees differ widely between public and private universities and are published by each institution. At Ashesi, international students pay US$4,553 per term in tuition, US$803 per term for housing and US$160 for health insurance, according to its fact book.

Student permit

According to the Ghana Immigration Service, a foreign national admitted to a Ghanaian school must obtain a student permit to live in the country for the length of the studies. The application includes a letter from the school to the Comptroller-General, the admission letter and receipts for school fees. The Ghana Immigration Service also runs an eVisa portal for entry visas.

Frequently asked questions

Are universities in Accra taught in English?

Yes. Accra Technical University, for example, asks applicants from non-English-speaking countries for proof of English and may require a three-month English programme.

How much does it cost to study at a private university near Accra?

At Ashesi University, international students pay US$4,553 per term in tuition and US$803 per term for housing, according to the university's fact book.

Do I need a permit to study in Ghana?

Yes. The Ghana Immigration Service requires foreign students admitted to a Ghanaian school to obtain a student permit for the length of their studies.