Study in the UK from Ghana: what it costs in cedis and what the visa asks you to hold
Before a UK Student visa the Home Office wants living money sitting in an account for 28 days in a row: £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, for up to nine months. At today's rate that is GH₵163,797 to GH₵213,873, on top of unpaid tuition. The London and outside-London figures rise on 30 November 2026.
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₵15.54. Every university sets its own fee, so read these as planning bands.
| Level | Per year | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | GH₵404,092 to GH₵575,054 | Tuition £14,000 to £25,000 plus living £12,000 |
| Master's | GH₵404,092 to GH₵575,054 | Tuition £14,000 to £25,000 plus living £12,000 |
| Funds the visa asks for | about GH₵424,297 | £13,300 for living plus the first year's undergraduate tuition |
Show the data behind Figure 1
| Level | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | GH₵404,092 | GH₵575,054 |
| Master's | GH₵404,092 | GH₵575,054 |
Source: SchoolRegistry Pathways catalogue, rates read 26 Oct 2026.
- English
- IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 (UKVI) or a university-approved test
- Intakes
- September, January (many master's)
- After graduation
- Graduate visa: 18 months after a degree for most, longer for a doctorate.
- Bringing family
- Barred for undergraduate and taught master's students since January 2024.
The cedi has moved more than the rule
The UK's own figure rose from £12,006 to £13,761 for nine months in London between 2021 and now, about 15%. The cedi moved far more. A pound averaged GH₵7.99 in 2021, GH₵18.13 in 2024 and costs GH₵15.54 today. A Ghanaian family that had to show nine months of London living costs in 2021 needed about GH₵0.10 million. The same rule today needs GH₵0.21 million.
Of that rise, roughly 83% is the exchange rate and the rest is the UK raising its figure. The cedi has recovered about 14% from its 2024 average, which helps, but the Home Office converts your balance at the rate on the day you apply, so a family holding cedis should keep a buffer rather than aim for the exact figure.
Where a Ghanaian applicant lodges the visa
UK visa services in Ghana run through VFS Global. Press coverage reported a UK visa application centre in Accra from 22 October 2024 and a premium centre in Kumasi from 26 June 2025, so applicants outside the capital no longer have to travel to Accra to give biometrics. Centres and services change, so check the VFS Global page for Ghana before you book.
Three things that apply to a Ghanaian file
Ghana is not on the Home Office list of countries that get the lighter funds route. A Ghanaian applicant must show the money properly: a bank account you control (or a parent's, with their written consent), the balance held for 28 days in a row, and the latest statement dated within 31 days of the application.
Ghana is on the UK's list of countries where a tuberculosis test is needed for a stay of more than six months. The test comes from an approved clinic, so book it before you apply, not after.
UK Visas and Immigration advised applicants in August and September 2026 that a cover letter may be needed to explain large or unexplained deposits and gaps since your last study. That reached the Ghanaian press, and it matters where a relative abroad sends money close to the application. We have this from news reports of the UKVI notice, not from the GOV.UK money page, so confirm the current wording before you rely on it.
If part of the money comes from relatives abroad
Many Ghanaian families fund a UK degree partly from relatives overseas. The rule does not forbid it, but the money has to be yours (or your parent's) and in the account for the full 28 days. A transfer in the last fortnight can leave you short on day one of the period, and it is the kind of deposit a caseworker asks about. Keep the transfer receipts and a short note on who sent what and why.
For the full picture, with the year-by-year cost in cedis and a step-by-step plan for the 28 days, read the UK proof of funds guide.
The visa and government fees, read from the official pages, are on our United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom
- How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa from Ghana?
- Outstanding tuition from your CAS, plus £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 a month in London, for up to nine months. That is GH₵163,797 or GH₵213,873 at today's rate, before tuition. From 30 November 2026 the monthly figures are £1,203 and £1,570.
- How long must the money stay in the account?
- 28 days in a row. The 28 days are counted back from the closing balance on your most recent statement, and that statement must be dated within 31 days of your application.
- Where do I give my fingerprints in Ghana?
- At a VFS Global UK visa application centre. Press reports describe a centre in Accra and a premium centre in Kumasi. Confirm locations and booking on the VFS Global page for Ghana.
- Can I hold the money in cedis?
- Yes. The Home Office converts foreign-currency balances into pounds at the OANDA rate for the date you apply, so keep a margin above the requirement.
Source: GOV.UK and World Bank, 2026.