Funding is the single biggest barrier between Ghanaian students and a place abroad — but Ghana receives some of the largest scholarship allocations of any West African country, from Chevening and the Commonwealth Scholarship in the UK to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program run in partnership with Ashesi University. This guide breaks down the major fully funded and partially funded options, what each one actually covers, and what it takes to be competitive.
Overview: Major Scholarships Open to Ghanaian Students
| Scholarship | Destination | Level | Funding Type | Typical Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening | UK | Master's (1 year) | Fully funded | November |
| Commonwealth Scholarship | UK | Master's / PhD | Fully funded | October–November |
| Australia Awards | Australia | Master's / PhD | Fully funded | Varies, typically early in the year |
| Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Ashesi) | Ghana (and partner institutions) | Undergraduate | Fully funded | Around June |
| DAAD In-Country/In-Region | Germany / Sub-Saharan Africa | Master's / PhD | Fully funded | November |
| University-specific awards | UK, USA, Canada, Australia | Undergraduate–PhD | Partial to full | Varies by institution |
Chevening Scholarship (UK)
Chevening is the UK government's flagship global scholarship, funding one-year master's degrees at any UK university.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | One-year taught master's only |
| Covers | Tuition fees, monthly living stipend, return airfare, and additional grants (e.g., arrival allowance, travel grant) |
| English requirement | Chevening itself does not set an English test requirement — but you must independently meet your chosen university's English requirement (commonly IELTS UKVI 6.5, no band below 5.5) to secure the unconditional offer Chevening requires |
| Key requirement | Minimum 2 years of work experience; a clear leadership narrative and return-to-Ghana plan |
| Deadline | Typically early-to-mid November each year |
Chevening is highly competitive and selects candidates as much on leadership potential and network-building as on academics. Strong applications tie your career plan explicitly to Ghana's development priorities.
Commonwealth Scholarship (UK)
Funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Commonwealth Scholarship supports Ghanaian students pursuing master's or PhD study in the UK, with a focus on development impact.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master's and PhD |
| Covers | Full tuition, a monthly stipend, return airfare, and (for PhD) a thesis grant |
| Eligibility | Ghanaian citizen resident in Ghana; minimum upper second-class (2:1) honours degree, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification |
| Additional requirement | You must demonstrate you could not otherwise afford to study in the UK |
| Application route | Through the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat or your nominating agency, not directly to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission |
| Deadline | Online application typically closes mid-October; agency submission deadline follows in November |
Because Commonwealth Scholarships prioritise applicants working in the public sector or on development-relevant themes (health, education, governance, agriculture), tailor your proposal to a clear development outcome for Ghana.
Australia Awards Scholarships
Australia Awards is a fully funded scholarship for African professionals, including Ghanaians, to pursue postgraduate study in Australia.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master's (primarily); some PhD places |
| Covers | Full tuition, return airfare, an establishment allowance, living expense contribution, health cover, and academic support |
| Eligibility | Minimum age 25 by the intake date; at least 5 years of relevant post-graduate work experience; must be employed at time of application |
| Selection focus | Potential to contribute to inclusive development in Ghana; applications from women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged |
| Deadline | Varies by intake year — check the Australia Awards Africa portal early, as application windows open and close within a few months |
Because Australia Awards specifically targets mid-career professionals rather than recent graduates, it's a strong option if you already have several years in the workforce.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (via Ashesi University)
Since 2012, Ashesi University in Ghana has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to offer one of the continent's most established undergraduate scholarship programmes, open to economically disadvantaged students from across Africa — including Ghana.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Undergraduate (some partner institutions extend to graduate study) |
| Covers | Full tuition, accommodation, transport, a stipend, books and supplies, and a laptop |
| Eligibility | Citizen of an African country; demonstrated academic talent, financial need, and leadership potential |
| Extras | Structured enrichment in critical thinking, communication, and entrepreneurship alongside the academic programme |
| Deadline | Historically mid-June for the following academic year — confirm the current cycle on Ashesi's website, as dates shift annually |
This is one of the few major scholarships that keeps students studying in Ghana itself (at Ashesi) rather than sending them abroad — a strong option if your priority is a fully funded, internationally recognised degree without relocating.
DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) runs several programmes relevant to Ghanaian students, including in-country and in-region options that don't require relocating outside Africa, as well as full scholarships to study in Germany.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master's and PhD |
| Covers | Tuition (where applicable — many German public universities are low or no cost), monthly stipend, health insurance, and travel allowance |
| In-Country/In-Region option | For master's or PhD study at approved institutions within Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana |
| Germany-based option | Full study scholarships at German universities — plan at least a year ahead, as German-language or English-taught programme admission takes time |
| Deadline | Typically late November for in-country/in-region programmes |
University-Specific Scholarships
Beyond national and government scholarships, most UK, US, Canadian, and Australian universities offer their own partial or full scholarships for African or Ghanaian applicants, often advertised as "international excellence," "Africa," or "Commonwealth" awards on the university's own funding pages. These are usually:
- Merit-based, tied to your undergraduate GPA or entrance exam scores
- Applied for automatically alongside admission, or via a short separate form
- Partial (10–50% tuition reduction) more often than full-ride, though flagship full scholarships exist at some institutions
Always check the international scholarships page of each university you shortlist — these awards are easy to miss because they're rarely advertised outside the university's own website.
Other Scholarship Routes Worth Exploring
Beyond the major named awards above, Ghanaian students should also check:
| Route | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA) | Fully funded master's/PhD study in the US, administered in Ghana through the US Embassy's educational advising office; competitive and requires strong academic and leadership credentials |
| Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford) | Fully funded, prestigious, and Ghana-eligible through the West Africa constituency (shared with Nigeria and other West African nations, a small number of scholarships awarded per year); extremely competitive, suited to exceptional academic and leadership profiles |
| Government of Ghana scholarships and study loans | The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and the Students Loan Trust Fund periodically support students studying both locally and abroad — check current eligibility, as programmes and funding levels change year to year |
| Employer- or professional-body-sponsored study | Some Ghanaian employers (particularly in banking, telecoms, and the public sector) fund postgraduate study abroad in exchange for a return-of-service agreement |
| Faith-based and alumni foundations | Many Ghanaian secondary schools and church-affiliated organisations run smaller bursaries — often less competitive than international scholarships and worth checking through your own school or community network |
None of these should be your only funding plan, but layering a smaller local or institutional award on top of a partial university scholarship can close a funding gap that a single major scholarship application doesn't fully cover.
Building a Competitive Scholarship Application
| Element | What Selectors Look For |
|---|---|
| Academic record | Consistent performance; explain any dips clearly |
| Personal statement | Specific, not generic — ties your goals to Ghana's development needs |
| Leadership evidence | Concrete roles and outcomes, not just titles held |
| References | From people who know your work directly, not just seniority |
| English test score | Meets or exceeds the university's requirement — a below-threshold score can disqualify an otherwise strong application |
Since almost every scholarship above requires an unconditional (or near-unconditional) university offer before the funding is confirmed, your English test score is often the first hard gate you need to clear — well before the scholarship committee ever reviews your file.
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble — a strong IELTS score is a prerequisite for nearly every scholarship on this list, since funding bodies require an unconditional university offer before releasing an award. Gabble's AI-powered practice helps Ghanaian scholarship applicants reach university English requirements with confidence, well ahead of application deadlines.