Fashion Schools and Programs in Ghana

Fashion Studies in Ghana

Fashion in Ghana is studied mainly at technical universities, the former polytechnics, where the courses combine design with textile science and garment production. The qualifications are the Higher National Diploma (HND), the Bachelor of Technology (BTech) and, at postgraduate level, the Master of Technology (MTech). Teaching is in English and practical: studios, workshops and placements in industry take up much of the timetable.

SpainExchange lists 1 school in Ghana with fashion programmes: Accra Technical University (ATU), in Accra, which appears in our directory under its former name, Accra Polytechnic.

How fashion studies are organised

Ghana's polytechnics gained tertiary status in the early 1990s and awarded the HND through the National Board for Professional and Technical Examinations (NABPTEX). The Technical University Act of 2016 converted Accra Polytechnic and eight other polytechnics into technical universities. Since then, the degree route in applied subjects such as fashion has been the BTech.

At ATU, fashion belongs to the Department of Fashion Design and Textiles, in the Faculty of Applied Arts. The department offers:

• Four-year Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Fashion Design and Textiles
• Two-year BTech top-up in Fashion Design and Textiles, for HND holders
• Master of Technology (MTech) in Fashion Production and Management
• Advanced Fashion, a non-tertiary programme

The four-year BTech covers fashion and textile design and illustration, and textile and garment manufacture. First-year courses include drawing and illustration, fundamentals of design, pattern technology and textile science. Later years add draping, digital fashion and textile illustration, weaving, knitting and embroidery, accessories and production management. In the third year, students choose between two elective groups, one centred on garments and one on textiles. Workplace-based learning and an industrial attachment are part of the programme.

The department teaches through competency-based training, which it describes as more practical in orientation. Continuous assessment and mid-semester work count for 40% of the marks in the MTech and end-of-semester examinations for 60%.

Accra Technical University

ATU was established in 1949 as a technical school, became Accra Technical Institute in 1957 and was renamed Accra Polytechnic in 1963. It began to offer Bachelor of Technology programmes in 2007 and became a technical university in 2016. The university has five faculties and 16 departments. Its campus is in the central business district of Accra, about 4 km by road from Kotoka International Airport.

The fashion department has a design studio, textile and garment laboratories and computer labs. According to the department, its teaching staff consists of 14 full-time and six part-time lecturers, with instructors and technicians in support.

Admission and language

For the four-year BTech, applicants with the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) need grade C6 or better in three core subjects (English language, core mathematics, and integrated science or social studies) and in three elective subjects. Mature applicants must be at least 25 years old and pass an entrance examination. Holders of a three-year HND in Fashion Design and Textiles with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 may be admitted to level 200 after an interview. The MTech requires a BA, BSc or BTech in fashion or textiles from an accredited institution.

International applicants can be admitted with qualifications from their home country. The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) determines the equivalence. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must show proof of English proficiency, and those with limited English take a mandatory three-month English proficiency programme at the university. All applications are made online, the application voucher is free for international students, and admitted students must obtain a non-citizen Ghana card to regularise their admission.

ATU publishes its schedule of fees for each academic year as a document on its website. No amounts are given here because they change every year.

Recognition of the qualification

ATU's qualifications are awarded under the Technical University Act and, in the case of the HND, through NABPTEX. Students who intend to use a Ghanaian BTech in another country, for further study or for work, should ask the recognition authority of that country how it treats the degree.

Careers

The department lists a wide range of roles for its BTech graduates. Examples are clothing designer, textile designer, fashion illustrator, pattern maker and grader, fashion or textile merchandiser, costume designer, CAD/CAM technician, production supervisor and fashion or textile entrepreneur. The MTech is aimed at management roles in garment manufacturing, such as production manager, quality assurance officer, line supervisor and merchandising officer.

Frequently asked questions

Which degrees in fashion can be studied in Ghana?

At Accra Technical University, fashion is offered as a four-year Bachelor of Technology in Fashion Design and Textiles, a two-year top-up for HND holders and a Master of Technology in Fashion Production and Management.

Is fashion taught in English in Ghana?

Yes. Accra Technical University asks applicants from non-English-speaking countries for proof of English proficiency. Those with limited English follow a mandatory three-month English programme.

Can international students apply to Accra Technical University?

Yes. International applicants are admitted on the basis of qualifications from their home country, once the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has determined the equivalence. Applications are made online.