University College London (UCL) for Ghanaian Students
QS #9 ranked University College London (UCL) (Russell Group) is located in London, United Kingdom. Ghanaian students require a Foundation Year before starting an undergraduate programme. Undergraduate tuition is £32,000–£57,300/year, with a minimum IELTS of 6.5. For Masters entry, a minimum GPA of 2.8/4 (2:1) and IELTS 7 is required, with tuition from £33,000–£50,000/year. 4 scholarships are tracked for Ghanaian students, including UCL Global Master's Scholarship and Chevening Scholarship.
Entry Requirements by Level
Academic Requirements
Foundation Year required via UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate (UPC) — UCL's own centre (£28,000/year). WASSCE accepted as O-level equivalent. Medicine/Dentistry deadline mid-October via UCAS. IELTS shown is UCL Level 1 (minimum) — many popular courses require Level 2 (7.0/6.5) or higher. UPC architecture stream £29,500. Fees shown are 2026/27.
English Language
IELTS: 6.5+ overall, 6+ per component. TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic also accepted — contact admissions for equivalencies.
Fees & Deadline
Annual tuition: £32,000–£57,300. Application deadline: Mid-January (UCAS equal consideration).
Academic Requirements
Minimum GPA: 2.8/4 (2:1 UK equivalent). Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required. IELTS shown is UCL Level 2 (most common PG requirement); some programmes accept Level 1 (6.5/6.0). Fees shown are typical 2026/27 range for taught masters.
English Language
IELTS: 7+ overall, 6.5+ per component. TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic also accepted — contact admissions for equivalencies.
Fees & Deadline
Annual tuition: £33,000–£50,000. Application deadline: Late June for visa-requiring applicants; popular programmes close much earlier. Decision time: 4–10 weeks.
Academic Requirements
Minimum GPA: 2.8/4 (2:1 minimum; Masters usually expected). Master's degree required (or Bachelor's with First Class Honours for some programmes). Fully funded positions available. Research proposal and supervisor contact required before applying.
Specific Requirements
Research proposal required. Identify and contact a potential supervisor before applying. References from two academic supervisors.
Deadline
Early January for funded positions (UCL-RES)
Documents Required
Available Scholarships
UCL Global Master's Scholarship
by University College London · Masters
Learn more →Chevening Scholarship
by UK Government (FCDO) · Masters
Learn more →Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission + UCL · Masters
Learn more →UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship
by University College London · Undergraduate
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
Does UCL accept WASSCE?
No — UCL does not accept WASSCE for direct undergraduate entry. Ghanaian students have two main routes: UCL's own Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate (UPC) foundation year (£28,000, requires B2 overall and B2 in relevant WASSCE subjects), or completing 2 years of a bachelor's degree at a UCL-recognised Ghanaian university with an Upper Second average first.
Can Ghanaian students apply to UCL Masters directly?
Yes, with one important detail: UCL's equivalency for Ghana requires an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a Ghanaian PUBLIC university — such as the University of Ghana (Legon), KNUST or UCC. That's roughly 2.8+/4.0 GPA. Graduates of private universities should contact UCL admissions to check recognition before applying. IELTS is typically 7.0 overall with 6.5 per component.
Is Ghana eligible for GREAT Scholarships at UCL?
Not in the 2026 cycle — UCL's GREAT Scholarships were limited to Nigeria and Pakistan this year (the country list changes annually, so check for your cycle). Ghanaian students remain eligible for Chevening (fully funded), the UCL Global Master's Scholarship (£15,000), and Commonwealth Shared Scholarships on 7 UCL programmes.
How much does it cost to study at UCL as a Ghanaian student?
For 2026/27, undergraduate international fees range from about £32,000 to £57,300 (Medicine) per year, and taught masters £33,000–£50,000. London living costs add roughly £1,600–£2,200/month. The UK student visa requires proof of £1,334/month maintenance for London on top of tuition.
Tips for Applying to UCL
UCL is a top-10 world university and a serious step up in competitiveness. For Ghanaian undergraduates the path runs through the UPC foundation year (£28,000) since WASSCE is not accepted directly. For Masters, note UCL's specific requirement: your degree must come from a Ghanaian public university — Legon, KNUST and UCC graduates with a 2:1 are well positioned, and the scholarship options (Chevening, Global Master's, Commonwealth Shared) are strong.
Official source: University College London (UCL) ↗Plan Your United Kingdom Student Visa
Check visa requirements, documents and costs for Ghanaian passport holders applying to United Kingdom.
Cost of Living in London
Shared private rental from £650; UCL halls ~£320/week self-catered
Student Travelcard zones 1–2 ~£120/month; Bloomsbury campus is walkable from many areas
Usually included in university halls