The Cost of Higher Education in Ghana and the Value of Scholarships
Much like in other countries, pursuing higher education in Ghana requires a significant financial investment from students and families.
At the tertiary level, particularly graduate programs at public universities cost thousands of cedis per academic year in tuition and related fees. When accounting for living expenses, books, supplies, transport, the total can be upwards of 15,000 cedis annually.
For bachelor’s degrees, the government offers some subsidized programs to increase access, given constrained public resources. Some students also utilize student loans to help fund costs. But the picture differs for master’s studies—government support is quite limited and most financing options are private bank loans or family contributions.
Pursuing postgraduate education also carries an earnings trade-off, as individuals forgo over two years of salary to continue advanced studies. And costs only continue rising—some estimates project graduate tuition increasing over 10% in the next five years across Ghana.
Scholarship Support Closes Affordability Gaps
This reality makes scholarships invaluable for lessening the barriers to high-quality master’s degree attainment for Ghanaians. By providing full or partial funding, scholarships expand equitable access to advanced education needed to fill specialist roles.
Beyond affordability, scholarship packages confer a number of other benefits as well:
- Open career exploration – Scholarship students can pursue their academic passion without income constraints weighting decisions.
- Merit recognition – Competitive scholarships reward hard work and signal top students to employers/universities.
- Network access – Scholarship providers connect students to industry leaders offering mentoring and opportunities.
- Confidence boost – Winning financial support propels students forward by confirming others’ belief in their potential.
Given these advantages for academic and professional success, all students aiming for master’s study should dedicate focus towards pursuing scholarship opportunities, whether institutional or external awards. The time investment will be worthwhile.
Top 5 Scholarships to Fund Your Ghanaian Master’s Degree
Pursuing a master’s degree can give your career a strong boost, but also deals a financial blow without adequate funding support. Rather than taking out extensive loans, applying for scholarships helps ease the monetary burden substantially. For graduate students hoping to study in Ghana, several fully-funded and partial scholarship opportunities to target include:
Carnegie Next Generation of Academics in Africa Program
- Fully funded 2-year master’s and PhD support at University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Fields: research-based social sciences and natural/physical sciences
- Must be Ghanaian citizen with first-class undergraduate honors and research promise
Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) Scholarships
- Fully or partially covers tuition, fees, airfare, visa, insurance and stipend
- 1-2 year master’s programs at over 50 Ghanaian institutions
- Strong academic background; under 35 years old; government endorsement
Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowships
- Partial funding (up to $50k) for women in STEM master’s/PhD programs
- Must commit to teaching/research for 5 years back in Africa after graduation
- Outstanding grades and commitment to home/university community
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited Scholarship Scheme
- Full tuition and partial stipend for local master’s studies in mining/engineering
- Must be Ghanaian studying relevant field with 3.0 GPA minimum
- Work commitment with Newmont Ghana after degree completion
Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Scholarship
- Covers majority of approved fees and living costs for public university master’s
- Merit/need-based for Ghanaian students; minimum 2nd class undergrad honors
- Must gain admission first before applying for support
Taking time to research and apply for funding aligned with your academic program and professional aspirations can make a Ghanaian graduate degree much more affordable. Maximize both university-specific and external national scholarship options to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
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