GETFund scholarship in Ghana: who qualifies and how to apply

Is the GETFund scholarship open for 2026?

Yes. On 2 October 2026 the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) announced that applications for its Undergraduate and Postgraduate Local Scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year would open on Monday 5 October 2026 and close on Friday 27 November 2026. We read the announcement on GETFund's own website on 12 October 2026.

This is the only GETFund call with 2026/27 dates that we found. Older material on the same website still describes earlier calls, and we say which below.

Key facts at a glance (checked 12 October 2026)

GETFund scholarship 2026: the dates on one timeline

The chart shows every scholarship window with a published date that we found on the GETFund and Scholarships Authority websites. The red line is 12 October 2026.

The second row is a foreign scholarship notice from the Ghana Scholarships Authority, covered below. The Authority also lists a joint Algeria and Ghana award with a 21 September 2026 deadline. That date has passed, so we left it off the chart, although the Authority's page still labels it open.

Who qualifies for the GETFund scholarship?

The announcement of 2 October 2026 says that full details on eligibility, application requirements and the process are on the portal, and it tells applicants to read them before they begin. The portal asks you to create an account before it shows the detail, and we did not create an account, so we cannot quote the 2026/27 undergraduate rules.

What we can say comes from three official places.

The announcement itself sets two groups. The undergraduate scholarship is open to people pursuing Diploma, HND and Degree programmes. The postgraduate scholarship is for people pursuing Master's and PhD programmes.

GETFund's programme overview page says the scheme goes beyond the old "brilliant but needy" test. It still supports brilliant but needy applicants at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It also lists priority areas, among them science, technology, engineering and mathematics programmes, and the education of women and girls. The page has no date on it.

GETFund's "how to apply" page lists conditions. This page is still built around the 2024/25 postgraduate foreign call, so treat it as a guide to GETFund's habits, not the 2026/27 rulebook. Its conditions include being a Ghanaian, holding admission, and holding a first degree of at least second class for Master's applicants. Its answers on the same page say:

• Every Ghanaian citizen who meets the prerequisites can apply.
• You need a valid admission letter from a local university. You cannot apply before you have been accepted.
• Local universities must be accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to run the postgraduate courses you want.
• You may apply to other government agencies, but you cannot hold two or more government scholarships at the same time.
• If your programme runs for more than one year, you can apply in a later year, but support starts from the year you applied.

What does the GETFund scholarship cover?

We did not find any amount or any fixed award figure on GETFund's website for the 2026/27 local call, so we do not give one. Here is what the two relevant pages say, and they do not match exactly.

The programme overview says the support includes tuition fees, accommodation and scholastic materials. The "how to apply" page lists the local scholarship coverage as tuition fees only, and says foreign awards typically cover tuition, accommodation and sometimes a stipend. Because the pages differ, your award letter is what counts. Ask GETFund through the contact details on its website if you need to know before you apply.

The how-to-apply page also says deferment is not allowed, so the award must be used in the academic year given.

How to apply for the GETFund scholarship, step by step

Follow this order and save your work as you go.

1. Open scholarships.getfund.gov.gh. Type the address yourself or follow it from GETFund's own website, getfund.gov.gh.
2. Choose Sign up. The registration screen has four steps and starts with your email address and a password. The password must have at least 8 characters, a number, a symbol, and both upper and lower case letters.
3. Verify your account. GETFund's guide lists "verify account" as the second step.
4. Fill in the application form and upload your documents. The announcement says to upload scanned copies of the relevant supporting documents for vetting and shortlisting.
5. Review the summary, then submit.
6. Wait for GETFund to contact you. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted after vetting and shortlisting.

GETFund's page says you can save your progress and finish before the deadline, but you cannot change anything after you submit. Messages come by email and SMS, so use an email address and phone number you check every day.

Which documents should I prepare?

For 2026/27 the announcement does not list documents. It says to prepare scanned copies in advance and submit well before the closing date. The documents that GETFund's how-to-apply page lists for the earlier postgraduate call give you a sensible starting set:

• Admission letter from an accredited university
• Fee schedule
• Previous academic certificates and transcript, where applicable
• Project or research proposal of not more than five pages, for Master's and PhD applicants
• Curriculum vitae and academic referees
• Ghana Card and National Service certificate, where applicable

Check the portal list for your own category.

What gets an application rejected?

GETFund's how-to-apply page names disqualifying factors. They come from the earlier call, but they show what vetting looks at:

• Poor academic performance
• Missing documents, especially the admission letter and financial details
• Unclear or unreadable uploads
• Not finishing before the deadline
• False or misleading information
• Multiple applications by one applicant, which the page calls instant disqualification
• Being a past GETFund beneficiary applying in the same category

Apply once, scan clearly, and do not wait for the last day.

The Ghana Scholarships Authority, the new name for the Scholarships Secretariat

A lot of people search for the "scholarship secretariat Ghana". The government scholarships office that people knew as the Scholarships Secretariat now appears as the Ghana Scholarships Authority. Its website, scholarships.gov.gh, says it dates from 1960 and cites the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025. The table shows how the schemes split. The Authority and GETFund are separate bodies with separate portals.

The Authority's portal lists GETFund among its scholarship partners. We found no statement that you apply to one to reach the other, so treat them as two doors.

The Authority describes four programme routes: national merit scholarships, local tertiary support, foreign scholarships and district access. For the local tertiary scholarship, its page says the following.

• You must be a Ghanaian citizen with a valid Ghana Card or national ID.
• You must have admission to an accredited tertiary institution in Ghana. That includes accredited public and private universities, technical universities, colleges of education and nursing and midwifery training institutions.
• You must show academic merit and financial need, and need is checked through district-level vetting.
• You must not be receiving another government scholarship when you apply.

The application is at apply.scholarships.gov.gh. You register with an email and phone number, fill in the form, upload documents and, if invited, attend a district interview with original documents. The Authority says support can be full or partial. Its FAQ says local applications usually open between August and December, and its application page says to check the portal for the current window. We could not find a published 2026/27 local tertiary opening or closing date, so we do not give one.

The Authority also lists foreign notices. One, dated 28 September 2026, covers scholarships in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a deadline of 28 October 2026. If you want to study abroad, our guide to studying abroad is a place to start.

Which students can use the GETFund scholarship?

Nursing, midwifery and teacher training students will find their institutions listed by the Authority as eligible for its local scholarship. GETFund's 2 October announcement names only Diploma, HND, Degree, Master's and PhD levels. It does not say which institution types it accepts, and we could not confirm that colleges of education or nursing colleges qualify for the GETFund call specifically. Our pages on colleges of education admissions and nursing and midwifery programmes show the admission side.

HND students at technical universities fall under the HND level named in the announcement.

If you are still hunting for admission before you can apply, see which universities are still taking applications and our university admission calendar.

Scams to avoid

Scholarship season brings fake links and fake agents. The official bodies say the following.

• On its application portal, the Ghana Scholarships Authority says its service is free and that no individual, group or third party has been engaged to assist any applicant. Its website tells applicants to ignore agents, unofficial payment requests and social media accounts that promise guaranteed placement.
• GETFund's 2 October notice says applications sent through any other channel than the official portal will not be processed.
• The Ghanaian Times reported on 27 May 2025 that GETFund said its registration is free, that it charges no fees at any stage and that nobody is authorised to collect money for awards.
• Graphic Online reported in 2021 that GETFund called a social media claim about postgraduate local scholarships a hoax. The lesson is to check the date and the source of any post you see.

If someone asks for money, a share of your award, your password or an OTP, stop. Only trust the two portals named in this guide.

What we could not confirm

• The 2026/27 undergraduate eligibility rules. They sit behind the GETFund portal login, and we did not register.
• Any award amount. GETFund's announcement and pages give none.
• Whether there is a GETFund foreign scholarship call for 2026/27. The only call on the site is for 2024/25.
• A 2026/27 opening and closing date for the Authority's local tertiary scholarship.
• When GETFund will contact shortlisted applicants. The announcement gives no date.

We will add each to the update log once an official page confirms it. See how we check facts on our how we verify page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the GETFund scholarship open for 2026?

Yes. GETFund's announcement of 2 October 2026 says undergraduate and postgraduate local scholarship applications for 2026/27 open on 5 October 2026 and close on 27 November 2026. We checked it on 12 October 2026.

What are the requirements for the GETFund scholarship?

GETFund says full details are on its portal. The pages we can read say you must be Ghanaian, hold a valid admission letter from an accredited local institution and not hold another government scholarship at the same time. Master's applicants for the earlier call needed a first degree of at least second class. Read the portal list for your category.

How do I apply for the GETFund scholarship?

Create an account on scholarships.getfund.gov.gh, verify it, fill in the form, upload your scanned documents, review and submit. GETFund says other channels will not be processed.

What is the GETFund scholarship portal address?

The portal is scholarships.getfund.gov.gh. GETFund's own website is getfund.gov.gh. Type it yourself instead of following a social media link.

What is the GETFund scholarship deadline?

Friday 27 November 2026 for the undergraduate and postgraduate local scholarships. Submit well before then.

Can I apply for the GETFund postgraduate scholarship?

Yes, if you are pursuing a Master's or PhD and you meet the portal rules. GETFund's earlier guidance asked Master's and PhD applicants for a research proposal of up to five pages, so have one ready in case the portal asks.

What is the Scholarship Secretariat in Ghana?

It was the government body that handled public scholarships. It now calls itself the Ghana Scholarships Authority and runs apply.scholarships.gov.gh. It is separate from GETFund. We found no 2026/27 local tertiary dates on its site.

Do I have to pay to apply?

No. The Scholarships Authority says its service is free and no third party is engaged to help applicants. The Ghanaian Times reported the same for GETFund in 2025.

Can I edit my application after I submit it?

GETFund's how-to-apply page says no. Once submitted, changes cannot be made, so check everything first. You can save your progress and come back before you submit.

Sources

• GETFund, Opens applications for 2026/27 undergraduate and postgraduate local scholarships (2 October 2026, checked 12 October 2026)
• GETFund, How to apply (checked 12 October 2026)
• GETFund, Scholarship programme overview (checked 12 October 2026)
• GETFund Scholarship Application Portal (checked 12 October 2026)
• Ghana Scholarships Authority, home (checked 12 October 2026)
• Ghana Scholarships Authority, local tertiary scholarships (checked 12 October 2026)
• Ghana Scholarships Authority, FAQ (checked 12 October 2026)
• Ghana Scholarships Authority, opportunities (checked 12 October 2026)
• Ghana Scholarships Authority, application portal (checked 12 October 2026)
• Ghanaian Times, GETFund warns public against scammers (press report, 27 May 2025, checked 12 October 2026)
• Graphic Online, GETFund: postgraduate local scholarships is a hoax (press report, 18 September 2021, checked 12 October 2026)