University of Ghana
Ghana's oldest university, on the Legon hill in Accra, with a residential hall system and strong research institutes.
- Students
- 73,155
- 63,646 undergraduates
- International
- 1%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 46.5:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- GHS 50,898
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1948
About UG
The University of Ghana was founded by ordinance on 11 August 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast and gained degree-awarding status in 1961. Its main campus at Legon, on the west side of the Legon Hills north-east of central Accra, is known for the Great Hall and its clock tower. The university also has a City Campus and the Korle-Bu campus for health sciences.
UG is organised into four colleges: Basic and Applied Sciences, Education, Health Sciences and Humanities. A School of Graduate Studies and an Office of International Programmes sit alongside them. The university reports 63,646 undergraduates, 9,509 graduate students and 667 international students. It is home to research centres including the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens and the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement.
Admission for Ghanaian students is competitive and based on WASSCE aggregates: the 2026/2027 cut-off for Medicine was aggregate 7 and for Law 6, where lower is better. International students apply directly and pay fees in US dollars, which are lower for African nationals than for non-African nationals. UG suits students who want Ghana's flagship university, a traditional residential hall culture and access to West African research.
Integri Procedamus
“Proceed with Integrity” — university motto
Why students choose UG
Ghana's flagship university: the 2026/2027 cut-offs of aggregate 6 for Law and 7 for Medicine and Computer Science show how competitive places are.
Research institutes such as the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and WACCBIP give students access to major West African health research.
Traditional residential halls, including Legon, Akuafo, Commonwealth, Volta and Mensah Sarbah, several with their own mottoes.
The International Programmes Office lists 146 university partnerships in 43 countries, with study-abroad and exchange routes.
Admissions
2026/2027 academic year (latest published); 2027/2028 dates not yet announced
Selectivity
UG does not publish an acceptance rate. Ghanaian applicants are ranked by WASSCE aggregate (lower is better, maximum 24 for regular admission). 2026/2027 first-choice cut-offs included 6 for Law, 7 for Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, 9 for Dental Surgery and Actuarial Science, and 24 for Bachelor of Arts in the College of Education.
Typical entry requirements
| WASSCE (Ghanaian and West African applicants) | Credits (A1-C6) in English, Core Mathematics and relevant core and elective subjects, total aggregate of 24 or better for regular admission; competitive programmes need far lower aggregates, e.g. 7 for Medicine and Computer Science, 6 for Law (2026/2027 cut-offs) |
|---|---|
| Cambridge A Levels | Three relevant A Level subjects plus at least five O Level passes including English and Mathematics; e.g. Medicine requires Chemistry and two of Physics, Biology and Mathematics |
| IB Diploma | Programme-specific HL grades plus grade 4 in English and Mathematics SL; e.g. grade 6 in three HL subjects for Law, grade 5 in three HL subjects for Business Administration, grade 5 in HL Chemistry for Medicine |
| American high school diploma | Accepted for selected programmes; check the programme list on the international requirements page |
| English language | Teaching is in English. No minimum TOEFL or IELTS score is published for undergraduate entry; the university runs a one-year English Proficiency certificate programme (USD 1,779 in 2025-26) for international students who need it. |
Deadlines
- Ghanaian applicants with a foreign background (2026/2027) Non-binding Passed21 August 2026
Opened 16 April 2026.
- Ghanaian undergraduates, most programmes (2026/2027) Non-binding Passed8 September 2026
Selected College of Health Sciences programmes closed on 24 July 2026 and required an entrance examination held 3 to 8 August 2026.
- International undergraduate applicants (2026/2027) Non-bindingTo be determined (opened 16 April 2026)
UG's deadlines page lists the international undergraduate window as opening 16 April 2026 with the closing date to be determined.
These are the 2026/2027 dates. Applications for 2027/2028 entry are expected to open around April 2027; check the admissions deadlines page.
How to apply
Apply online through the University of Ghana admissions portal. International and Ghanaian-abroad undergraduate applicants pay a non-refundable US$55 application fee by bank transfer to the university's Ecobank account or by card, then upload the payment receipt with their certificates or result slips in PDF. Ghanaian applicants apply in the April to September window. Health-science applicants must also register for the entrance examination.
What admissions looks for
- Strong WASSCE aggregates, or equivalent A Level or IB results, in the subjects your programme requires.
- The right subject combinations, such as Chemistry for Medicine or Elective Mathematics at B3 or better for Computer Science and Engineering.
- For health programmes, a good performance in the computer-based entrance examination.
- For first-choice-only programmes (Medicine, Law, Computer Science and others), making them your first choice.
Tips for applying to UG
- 1 Put Medicine, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, Nursing, Law, Business Administration or Computer Science first: UG treats these as first-choice-only programmes.
- 2 If you choose a health science programme first, make your second and third choices science programmes too.
- 3 International applicants: pay the US$55 fee first and upload the receipt, because applications are not processed without proof of payment.
- 4 Check whether you pay the African or non-African rate: in 2025-26 a Bachelor of Arts cost USD 4,354 for African nationals and USD 5,158 for others.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in GHS
UG's Student Financial Aid Office supports needy but academically strong Ghanaian students. Financial aid is for Ghanaian students; the admissions pages list no need-based aid for international undergraduates. Students must pay at least 50% of academic fees before first-semester registration and 100% before the second semester.
- US$55, non-refundable
- Application fee (international and Ghanaian-abroad undergraduates)
- At least 50% of academic fees before first-semester registration; 100% before second semester
- Fee payment rule
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Aggregate 7 cut-off for 2026/2027 plus a computer-based entrance exam; taught with the College of Health Sciences at Korle-Bu.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
The most competitive programme in the 2026/2027 cut-offs, at aggregate 6.
BSc Computer Science
Aggregate 7 (8) cut-off for 2026/2027 and a B3 or better in Elective Mathematics.
BSc Biomedical Engineering
One of UG's Engineering Sciences options, with a cut-off of aggregate 7 for first-choice applicants in 2026/2027.
BSc Actuarial Science
Cut-off of aggregate 9 in 2026/2027, requiring strong Elective Mathematics.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Ghana's veterinary degree at UG, requiring Biology and Chemistry plus Physics or Mathematics.
Research
- The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research is one of the university's best-known research institutes.
- The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) and the West African Genetic Medicine Centre are based at UG.
- Priority research areas include malaria, climate change adaptation, food production and processing, and development policy and poverty monitoring.
Schools & faculties
- College of Basic and Applied Sciences
- College of Education
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Humanities
- Medical School
- University of Ghana Business School
- School of Law
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Nursing
- School of Graduate Studies
Student life
Student life at Legon revolves around the traditional halls, among them Legon, Akuafo, Commonwealth, Volta and Mensah Sarbah Halls, several of which have their own mottoes. Other housing includes the University of Ghana Enterprises (UGEL) hostels and Korle-Bu facilities for health students. The main campus has the Balme Library, established in 1948, and the Great Hall. International students come from more than 70 countries, and the International Programmes Office supports study-abroad and exchange students.
- Five traditional halls on the main campus, including Legon Hall and Commonwealth Hall.
- The Great Hall and its clock tower are the campus landmark.
- International students from more than 70 countries.
- 146 partner universities in 43 countries through the International Programmes Office.
Housing. Students can live in traditional halls (rent of GHS 3,000 a year for Ghanaian students in 2025-26, or USD 1,020 a year for international students in a 4-in-1 room; meals are not included), UGEL hostels or Korle-Bu residences, and must pay residential fees in full before each semester's registration.
Location
The main campus is at Legon, on the west side of the Legon Hills north-east of central Accra, Ghana's capital. The City Campus and the Korle-Bu campus, where health sciences students study and live, are elsewhere in Accra.
Nearest airport: Kotoka International Airport (ACC), Accra
Notable alumni
- JA John Atta MillsPresident of Ghana (2009-2012); LLB and professional law certificate (1967)
- JM John MahamaPresident of Ghana; BA in history (1981) and postgraduate diploma in communication studies (1986)
- NA Nana Akufo-AddoPresident of Ghana (2017-2025); BSc in economics (1967)
- AA Ama Ata AidooNovelist and playwright; BA in English, where she wrote her first play, The Dilemma of a Ghost
- KA Kofi AwoonorPoet and diplomat; graduated in 1960 and wrote his first poetry collection, Rediscovery, while a student
- KB Kwesi BotchweyFormer Finance Minister of Ghana; LLB
Frequently asked questions
How much does the University of Ghana cost for international students?
In 2025-26, first-year undergraduate fees ranged from USD 4,354 (Humanities BA, African nationals) to USD 13,972 (Medicine year 1, non-African nationals). Science costs USD 4,908 for African and USD 5,820 for non-African nationals.
What aggregate do I need for Medicine at the University of Ghana?
The 2026/2027 first-choice cut-off for MBChB was aggregate 7, and applicants also had to sit a computer-based entrance examination.
What is the University of Ghana application fee for international students?
US$55, non-refundable, paid by bank transfer or card. Upload the receipt with your certificates on the application portal.
When is the University of Ghana application deadline?
For 2026/2027, most Ghanaian undergraduate applications closed on 8 September 2026 and selected health programmes on 24 July 2026. The international window opened on 16 April 2026 with the closing date to be determined.
Does the University of Ghana accept A Levels and the IB?
Yes. A Level applicants need three relevant A Levels and five O Level passes including English and Mathematics. IB requirements are set by programme, e.g. grade 6 in three HL subjects for Law.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Ghana: Overview (profile and statistics)
- University of Ghana Admissions: International
- University of Ghana Admissions: International undergraduate requirements
- University of Ghana Admissions: How to apply (international)
- University of Ghana Admissions: Undergraduate overview
- University of Ghana Admissions: Undergraduate entry requirements
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