How to Apply for University in Ghana as a Foreign Student

As a foreign student who is interested in pursuing a university programme in Ghana, you will be required to meet certain standards and also have some particulars that will enable you to travel over to Ghana to study. Although Ghana does not pose strong restrictions on foreigners and is very welcoming, the country still demands you acquire a Ghanaian student visa to enable you to study here.

In this post, I will take you through how you can apply to a Ghanaian university as a foreign student, the criteria you need to meet before applying and how you can get a Ghanaian student visa to enable you to travel to Ghana to pursue your university education.

What You Need to Know About Admission Requirements in Ghanaian Universities as a Foreign Applicant

With Ghana’s education sector developing and globalization taking root, most institutions in the country have become more liberal in their entrance standards. This means that there are no rigorous regulations as there formerly were. The method is quite simple in comparison to many other African countries, such as Nigeria and South Africa where the processes are rather difficult for foreign students.

To get admission into any Ghanaian university, you must have six credit passes in your WAEC examinations (if you live in West Africa and wrote WASSCE). This must include obligatory topics like English, Science, and Mathematics. The remaining subjects should be drawn from the programme you choose to study.

For example, if you want to study Engineering, you must acquire Chemistry and Physics courses in addition to English and Maths, this is a must. If you wish to study Medicine, you will need to have Chemistry and Biology in addition to the required disciplines. Your optional course passes for Art and Social Science programmes might include Commerce, Geography, Accountancy, and others. You can see from the information above that getting into any university in the country is relatively simple.

Can I still apply to a Ghanaian university as a foreign student if I do not have WASSCE?

Yes, you can apply to a Ghanaian university as a foreign student if you do not have WASSCE. You just have to complete high school in your country and meet the minimum entry requirement to apply to the university, you can certainly apply to a Ghanaian university with that.

Since WASSCE is just in West Africa, applicants who are travelling from other parts of Africa and elsewhere in the world are not required to have it. However, you do need to pass your high school final exam in your country and meet the minimum requirement to enter the university there. During your application process, you will be required to attach these documents and that is what will guarantee your acceptance.

General Admission Requirements for Foreign Students apply to study in Ghana

Below are the general admission requirements you need to meet when applying to study in Ghana as a foreign student.

1. You must have minimum passes in either WASSCE (West Africa), International Baccalaureate (IB), IGCSE, GCSE, the American Grades 12 and 13 examinations or any other external qualifications that meet the standard to enter the university.
2. You are required to have good grades in certain subjects based on the programme you choose to study;
   1. Required subjects for Science-related programmes: English, Maths, Biology/Agriculture and Chemistry plus one Arts subject.
   1. Required subjects for Arts-related programmes: English, Maths, Biology/Agriculture and any three Arts subjects.
   2. Required subjects for Engineering-related programmes: English, Maths, Physics and Chemistry plus one Arts subject.
3. You can be admitted to Level 100 or 200 based on the nature of your qualification compared to the Ghanaian standard. You can gain admission to level 200 if your qualification can determine you have already taken some approved courses in a recognised institution, the school’s faculty will determine that.
4. If you are applying from a non-English speaking country, you will need evidence of proficiency in English to gain admission.

What If You Don’t Meet The Requirements?

The above requirements apply to all universities in the country and meeting the prerequisites will get you an admission to study the programme of your choice. However, if you do not meet these requirements, there are a few things you can do.

Check the FAQs below;

How to Get a Ghanaian Student Visa to Study in Ghana

Below is a guide on how to get a Ghanaian student visa to study in Ghana as a foreign student

1. Visit the Ghanaian embassy in your home country (online or in person)
2. Request to get a Ghanaian student visa
3. Go through the process and acquire it

Note: Without a Ghanaian student visa, you will not be able to live in Ghana and school, it is very important you get this done to get the peace of mind you need to travel to Ghana and learn.

Fee Structure for Foreign Students Studying in Ghana

The fee structure for foreign students studying in Ghana is standard no matter the country you are applying from. All foreign students are billed in USD, if you intend to pay in Ghana as you arrive, you will have to change your currency into Ghana Cedis (GHC) to pay its equivalent in USD.

What is the average tuition fee for foreign students in Ghanaian universities?

The average tuition fee for foreign students in Ghanaian universities is $5,450 in state-owned universities and $3,215 in private universities. These fees are relative depending on the choice of programme and school.

Are there international hostels in Ghanaian universities?

Yes, there are various international hostels across almost all recognised universities in Ghana, both state-owned and private. As a foreign student, you can also choose to live in a regular hostel with Ghanaians where you get to mingle with locals to learn the Ghanaian life and culture.

Pros and Cons of living in an International hostel

Pros

1. You get to live with people you are already familiar with
2. Easy to get along with mates
3. The standard of living is mostly better

Cons

1. You miss out on diverse culture
2. You pay high hostel fees
3. You do not easily mingle with local students
4. Difficult to blend in when you go out to the local suburbs

Can I rent an apartment in Ghana as a foreign student?

Yes, you can rent an apartment in Ghana as a foreign student. This sometimes is cheaper than living in a hostel where you mostly cannot continue to stay when school is on break. Having your own apartment in Ghana or sharing it with someone can help you live through vacation periods, you can take advantage of this to find a job to make extra income or even intern for a local company which can lead to full-time work after school.

Summary

Ghana is one of the most advanced countries in West Africa known for quality tertiary education. Choosing Ghana is a sure way to get the best education you desire. Over the years, numerous people from other African countries and the world at large has travelled to Ghana to study, some stayed after school to work and others back in their home countries applying the knowledge they acquired.

If you have any questions concerning studying in Ghana as a foreign student, kindly leave a comment below or click here to ask our Learn in Ghana community for expert support.

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