Ghana Updates Entry Requirements for Mature Students

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has revised the policy governing the entry requirements for mature students seeking admission into tertiary institutions across the country.

Heads of tertiary institutions and the general public have been duly informed of the changes, which GTEC says are aimed at ensuring transparency, fairness, and consistent academic standards.

According to a letter dated December 8, 2025, signed by the Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the revised policy is effective immediately. Programmes failing to adhere to the new guidelines risk accreditation withdrawal or other sanctions under the Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1023).

A key update is a cap on mature student admissions, limiting intakes to 5 per cent of the total annual student population. Applicants must also be at least 25 years old and demonstrate a minimum of five years of relevant work experience.

The policy further stipulates that applicants must meet minimum grade requirements in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) or the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). They are also required to pass entrance examinations in English, Mathematics, and an aptitude test.

However, applicants who possess recognised credit passes in English and Mathematics from WASSCE or equivalent nationally recognised high-school level examinations (for international applicants) are exempt from sitting for the entrance exams.

“The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) hereby notifies all Heads of tertiary education institutions in Ghana and the general public of its revised policy on mature students’ entry requirements into tertiary education institutions in the country,” the statement read.

For institutions operating under mentorship programs, GTEC has mandated that entrance examinations be moderated by, and scripts vetted by, their respective mentor institutions. “For institutions under mentorship, the entrance examinations must be moderated by the Mentor Institution and marked scripts must be vetted by the Mentor Institution,” the statement clarified.

These revisions are expected to streamline the admission process for mature students and maintain the quality of tertiary education in Ghana.

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