Studying in Ghana: a guide for Cameroonian students

Why Ghana?

Ghana is an English-speaking country in West Africa with well-established public universities, a stable reputation and a relatively short flight from Douala or Yaoundé. For anglophone Cameroonians it is a natural option after the GCE A Level. For francophones, it is a way to earn a degree in English without going very far, provided you prepare your English seriously.

This guide covers how to apply, the visa and residence rules, costs and the traps to avoid. We checked every official page on 22 October 2026. When we could not confirm something on an official page, we say so.

Main universities and how international applications work

Ghana’s best-known public universities include the University of Ghana in Legon (Accra), the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi and the University of Cape Coast. Each publishes its programmes and international entry requirements on its own website.

At the University of Ghana, the international programmes office states that international applicants should not buy the e-voucher used by Ghanaian applicants. Instead, they complete a separate online application form and pay a non-refundable processing fee of US$55, online or by bank transfer to the account listed on the university’s page. No application is processed without proof of payment. The university lists Cambridge A and O Levels, the International Baccalaureate, American high school credentials and WASSCE among the qualifications it recognises, with specific subject requirements for each programme.

KNUST has its own admissions portal, where international applicants choose the international option. Check the KNUST admissions pages for the current fee and deadline: some pages on its site are from earlier years, so rely on the most recent announcement.

If you hold a francophone BAC, ask the admissions office in writing how your qualification is assessed and whether you need proof of English. Do this before paying any fee.

English: the first thing to prepare

Lectures, assignments and exams are in English. A francophone student who arrives with weak English will lose time in the first semester. Start at least six months before departure: read in English every day, write short summaries, and practise speaking.

Houselewa can connect you with English tutors who teach online or at home in Cameroon, including preparation for tests such as IELTS if a university asks for one.

Entering Ghana: the free e-visa for Africans

On 2 April 2026, the Government of Ghana announced that Africans travelling to Ghana would receive their e-visas online at no charge from 25 May 2026, Africa Day. This is a free e-visa, not visa-free travel: you still apply online before you travel, through the official e-visa platform of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and your application is screened.

That e-visa is for entry. To stay for your studies, you need a student residence permit once you are in Ghana.

The student residence permit

The Ghana Immigration Service says that a foreign national admitted to a Ghanaian school is required by law to obtain a student permit for the length of their studies. Its official list of requirements includes:

• An application letter from the school addressed to the Comptroller-General of GIS.
• Two recent passport-size photographs.
• Copies of the admission letter and of school fee receipts.
• A bond, birth certificate, sworn affidavit or guarantor’s letter, where applicable.
• Your passport.
• A copy of your Non-Citizen Identification Card.

Your university’s international office normally guides new students through this process in the first weeks. Ask them about the timing and fees, and check the GIS fees page for the current amounts.

ECOWAS, CEMAC and what applies to you

Ghana belongs to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Cameroon does not: it is a member of CEMAC in Central Africa, and it is not on ECOWAS’s list of member states. So arrangements that Ghana makes for ECOWAS citizens, whether on movement, residence fees or university fees, do not automatically apply to Cameroonians. When a university or GIS lists different amounts for “ECOWAS nationals” and “other nationals”, assume you are in the second group unless told otherwise in writing.

Costs and funding

Tuition for international students is set by each university and each programme. We do not quote amounts: use the official fee schedule of the university for your year of entry, and add accommodation, health insurance, books, transport, food, your residence permit and your Non-Citizen card.

For scholarships, look at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which works through partner institutions, some of them in Africa, each with its own process. See our list of international scholarships for Cameroonian students and our guide to writing a scholarship motivation letter.

Daily life and settling in

Find housing through your university first: halls of residence or university-approved hostels are easier to manage than private rentals when you do not know the city. Open a local bank account or mobile money wallet once you have your documents, and keep copies of everything.

Your first year will also bring new study habits. Our guide on succeeding in your first year at university covers methods, budget and how to avoid dropping out.

A simple timeline

• 12 months before: choose your field and two or three universities. Read each official international admissions page and note the documents and fees.
• 9 to 6 months before: work on your English every week, gather certified copies of your results, birth certificate and passport, and ask the admissions office how your BAC or GCE is assessed.
• 6 to 3 months before: submit your applications through the official portals and keep every payment receipt.
• After your offer: apply for the free e-visa on the official Ghana Immigration Service platform, book housing through the university and plan your budget with your family.
• First weeks in Ghana: register at the university, then start your student residence permit with the help of the international office.

Avoid scams

• Apply only through the university’s own online portal, and pay fees only to the accounts it lists.
• The e-visa is applied for through the official GIS platform. Be careful with look-alike websites that charge for a visa that is free for Africans.
• Nobody can sell you a guaranteed admission or permit.
• Keep your original diplomas and passport yourself.

If anything feels rushed or unusual, email the university’s international office or call GIS before you pay.