Universities in Ghana

Universities in Ghana are tertiary institutions that award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, as well as diplomas and certificates. They are regulated by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), formed by merging the National Council for Tertiary Education and the National Accreditation Board under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023). Teaching is in English, which makes Ghana an option for students from other English-speaking African countries and for study-abroad students who want to study West African history, development, business or health on location.

Our directory lists five Ghanaian universities: the University of Ghana in Legon, the University of Cape Coast, Ashesi University, Valley View University and Accra Technical University (listed under its former name, Accra Polytechnic).

How the university sector works

Ghana has three main kinds of university:

• Public universities, such as the University of Ghana, founded on 11 August 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast and set up as a university by an Act of Parliament in 1961, and the University of Cape Coast
• Technical universities, created when the Technical University Act, 2016 (Act 922) converted Accra Polytechnic and eight other polytechnics into technical universities; Accra Technical University dates back to 1949 and has five faculties, including engineering, built environment and business
• Private universities, such as Ashesi University and Valley View University, which received a Presidential Charter in January 2006 and calls itself Ghana's first chartered private university

Larger universities are organised in colleges and schools. The University of Ghana, for example, has colleges of Basic and Applied Sciences, Education, Health Sciences and Humanities. Programmes and campuses must be accredited by GTEC, which publishes notices about learning centres and campuses it has not accredited. Check that both the institution and the programme are accredited before you apply.

Admission for international students

Each university runs its own admissions, and applications are accepted only within the window announced for each academic year. At the University of Ghana, the requirements for non-Ghanaian undergraduates depend on the qualification: the university lists separate rules for the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge O and A Levels, American high school grades and the West African WASSCE. International applicants pay a non-refundable application fee of US$55. Ashesi University reviews all applications, interviews shortlisted candidates and offers four application rounds, with classes starting in September or January.

After admission, a foreign student needs a visa to enter Ghana unless they are a national of an ECOWAS member state or another exempt African country; visas are issued by Ghana's 56 diplomatic missions abroad. According to the Ghana Immigration Service, a foreign national admitted to a Ghanaian school is required by law to obtain a student permit for the length of their studies. The application includes a letter from the school to the Comptroller-General of Immigration, the admission letter, school fee receipts and a copy of the Non-Citizen Identification card.

Costs and funding

Fees are set by each institution, and many charge international students in US dollars. Ashesi University, for example, lists tuition for international students of US$4,553 per term, plus US$803 for housing and US$160 for health insurance, while Ghanaian students pay in cedis. Ashesi states that 50% of its students receive financial aid. Public universities publish their own schedules of fees, so compare the full cost per year, including housing, health insurance and the student permit.

How to choose a university in Ghana

• Type of institution: research-oriented public universities, career-focused technical universities or smaller private universities
• Accreditation: check the institution and the programme on GTEC's lists
• Location: the University of Ghana is at Legon in Accra, Valley View University at Oyibi in the Accra area, Ashesi at Berekuso outside the city and the University of Cape Coast on the coast
• Intake dates: most universities admit once a year; Ashesi admits in September and January
• Exchange options: many universities, including Ashesi, run study-abroad and exchange programmes with partner universities

Frequently asked questions

Are universities in Ghana taught in English?

Yes. Ghanaian universities teach in English, and admission rules reflect this: the University of Ghana, for example, asks applicants with Cambridge qualifications for passes in English and Mathematics at O Level.

Do I need a student permit to study in Ghana?

Yes. The Ghana Immigration Service states that a foreign national admitted to a Ghanaian school must by law obtain a student permit to reside in the country for the length of their studies.

Who accredits universities in Ghana?

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) regulates and accredits tertiary institutions. It also publishes warnings about campuses and centres that it has not accredited.

How much does it cost to study at a university in Ghana?

It depends on the university. At Ashesi University, international students pay US$4,553 in tuition per term; public universities publish their own fee schedules for international students.