Study in Germany from Ghana: no tuition, but the blocked account comes first
Public universities in 15 of Germany's 16 states charge no tuition to anyone, Ghanaians included. The cost that stops families is the blocked account: €11,904 must be paid in before the visa, which is GH₵155,077 at today's rate. You get it back at €992 a month once you arrive.
Last checked 26 October 2026. Rates read 26 Oct 2026. Planning figures, not offers.
What a year costs, in cedis
Tuition plus living costs at today's rate, €1 = GH₵13.03. Every university sets its own fee, so read these as planning bands.
| Level | Per year | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | GH₵285,350 to GH₵415,623 | Tuition €10,000 to €20,000 plus living €11,904 |
| Master's | GH₵285,350 to GH₵415,623 | Tuition €10,000 to €20,000 plus living €11,904 |
| Funds the visa asks for | about GH₵285,350 | €11,904 for living plus the first year's undergraduate tuition |
Show the data behind Figure 1
| Level | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | GH₵285,350 | GH₵415,623 |
| Master's | GH₵285,350 | GH₵415,623 |
Source: SchoolRegistry Pathways catalogue, rates read 26 Oct 2026.
What the cedi has done to a EUR bill
A bill in EUR is a cedi bill underneath. In 2012 one EUR cost GH₵2.34. In 2021 it cost GH₵6.87, and today it costs GH₵13.03, which is 1.9 times the 2021 price. A first-year bill of 10,000 EUR that needed GH₵68,700 in 2021 needs GH₵130,273 now. The dearest year on record here was 2024, at GH₵15.35; today's rate is 15% below that.
Show the data behind Figure 2
| Year | GHS per EUR |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2.34 |
| 2013 | 2.63 |
| 2014 | 3.85 |
| 2015 | 4.12 |
| 2016 | 4.33 |
| 2017 | 4.91 |
| 2018 | 5.42 |
| 2019 | 5.84 |
| 2020 | 6.39 |
| 2021 | 6.87 |
| 2022 | 8.71 |
| 2023 | 11.92 |
| 2024 | 15.35 |
| 2025 | 14.19 |
| Today | 13.03 |
Source: World Bank, official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average), Ghana and United Kingdom; today's rate from the Pathways catalogue.
- English
- IELTS 6.0 to 6.5; German not required for English-taught programmes
- Intakes
- October, April
- After graduation
- 18-month job-seeker residence after graduation.
- Bringing family
- Possible with additional funds.
Does WASSCE get you in directly?
Most German universities do not treat the WASSCE alone as direct entry for a degree. Applicants usually need a foundation course (a Studienkolleg) or a year or more of university study first. Check the rule for your own certificate on the university's admissions page or the anabin database before you plan the year around it.
What the semester contribution buys
At public universities you pay a semester contribution of about €150 to €350, roughly GH₵1,954 to GH₵4,560, which usually includes a local transport pass. Baden-Württemberg is the exception and charges non-EU students €1,500 a semester.
Private universities and the English-taught degrees
Most English-taught bachelor's places sit at private universities, which usually charge €9,000 to €16,000 a year, about GH₵117,246 to GH₵208,437. If your budget does not reach that, ask about German-taught public programmes and the language year that comes with them.
Working during and after your degree
You may work 140 full days or 280 half days a year without a separate permit. After graduating you can stay 18 months to look for work and take any job while you search.
The visa and government fees, read from the official pages, are on our Germany fees page.
We do not promise admission or a visa, to anyone.
What we do is put the right file in front of the right university and tell you honestly what the visa asks for before you spend. The visa decision belongs to the government. Pathways is free to your family: our partner schools pay us when a student we place enrols.
Keep going
Questions Ghanaian families ask about Germany
- Is it true that German universities are free for Ghanaians?
- Public universities in 15 of 16 states charge no tuition, and the rule is the same for Ghanaian and German students. You still pay a semester contribution of about €150 to €350, and Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 a semester.
- How much is the German blocked account in cedis?
- €11,904, which is GH₵155,077 at today's rate. It is your own money, paid out to you at €992 a month after you arrive.
- Can I work in Germany after my degree?
- Yes. You get an 18-month permit to look for a job, and may take any work while you look.
Source: German Federal Foreign Office and uni-assist application handling fees, 2026.