Studying in Ghana

What a year costs

Tuition, an example. The University of Ghana publishes a separate fee schedule for international students, with different columns for African and non-African nationals. For 2025/26 the College of Humanities lists international undergraduate fees between about USD 1,779 and USD 5,362 a year, depending on the programme and level. Other colleges publish their own schedules; science and health programmes cost more.

Living costs. No official monthly budget for students is published. Accra is the most expensive city; university halls are the cheapest housing where they take international students.

The visa and the residence permit

Visa. Students who need a visa apply for a study visa at the Ghanaian embassy or consulate in their home country, with a passport valid for at least six months and the admission letter. ECOWAS citizens do not need a visa to enter.

Residence permit. If you study for more than a trimester you must get a student residence permit from the GIS; for a single trimester or less, you can ask for an extension of stay instead. The GIS lists:

• a letter from your school to the Comptroller-General of Immigration
• two passport photos, your passport and a copy of your non-citizen identification card
• copies of your admission letter and school fee receipts
• where applicable: a bond, a birth certificate, a sworn affidavit and a guarantor's support letter

The GIS says the permit covers the length of your study; in practice universities say it is usually issued for one academic year and renewed, with penalties for renewing after it expires.

Working while you study

You may not take paid work without GIS authorisation. The University for Development Studies warns that breaking the rules can mean fines, cancellation of the permit or deportation.

After you graduate

There is no post-study visa. Changing to a work permit needs formal GIS approval, normally with an employer's application.

Language

All university teaching is in English, Ghana's official language. Twi, Ga and Ewe are widely spoken around Accra and the south.

When to apply

Each university sets its own calendar; check the dates for your programme. Apply early enough to receive the admission letter, get your visa, and register with the GIS soon after arrival.

What to watch out for

Get the non-citizen ID card. It is part of the residence permit file.

Renew on time. Renewing an expired permit costs penalties.

Pay fees to the university. Your fee receipts are part of the permit application.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change. Check the official source before you rely on any figure. No national visa or permit fee table or living-cost budget was published in a form we could verify.