Can I get into university in Ghana with D7 or E8?

Can you get into university with D7 or E8? The short answer

Short answer: for a first degree, almost never. For a diploma, an HND or some health training, sometimes yes. If you are looking for universities in Ghana that accept D7, the useful list is mostly diploma and HND programmes, not degrees, and E8 opens even fewer doors.

We read the entry pages of the University of Cape Coast, the University of Ghana, KNUST, UEW, UDS, four technical universities, the public colleges of education and the Nursing and Midwifery Council on 12 October 2026. Here is what they said.

Key facts at a glance (checked 12 October 2026)

What do D7 and E8 mean in WASSCE?

WASSCE grades run from A1 at the top to F9 at the bottom. The letters tell you the level, and the numbers rank the grades. A1, B2 and B3 are the top three. C4, C5 and C6 come next. Then D7, E8 and F9.

The line that matters for admission sits between C6 and D7. UCC writes it plainly: a credit pass for WASSCE means A1 to C6. So D7 and E8 are passes, but they are not credits. F9 is a fail.

Are D7 and E8 "a pass in WASSCE"? Several institutions treat them that way. Tamale Technical University accepts "A1 to E8" for its diploma and certificate programmes, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council counts passes for nurse assistant training. Accra Technical University's grade table lists D7 as a "Pass". So yes, they are passes. But a pass is a lower level than a credit, and most degree rules ask for credits.

We could not open WAEC Ghana's own website today, so we have not copied the percentage ranges behind each grade. We rely on how the institutions define credit and pass. Our WASSCE grade calculator shows how grades add up, and our WASSCE results page tracks the results season.

What score is A1? It is the best grade of the nine. KNUST's April 2026 entry document gives A1 a value of 1 in its aggregate table, which is why six A1s would give an aggregate of 6. Lower aggregates are better.

Universities in Ghana that accept D7: the honest answer

If you are searching for universities in Ghana that accept D7 for a degree, the rules we read are firm. The first-degree route needs credits in the core subjects and the electives.

• University of Cape Coast: credit passes in six subjects, three of them in English Language, Core Mathematics and Integrated Science or Social Studies, with an overall aggregate of 36. UCC defines a credit as A1 to C6.
• University of Ghana: credit in the core subjects and in three electives, with an aggregate of 24 for regular admission. It also defines a credit as A1 to C6.
• KNUST: credit passes (A1 to C6) in six subjects. Its April 2026 document says the minimum aggregate for first degree prescribed by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission is 24.
• University of Education, Winneba: at least six credit passes (A1 to C6) with an aggregate of 36 or better for bachelor's programmes.
• UDS: this is the clearest wording. Degree applicants need at least C6 in all three core and three elective subjects, and the page advises anyone with D7, E8 or F9 in any one of those six not to apply for a degree.

See our pages on University of Ghana cut-off points, KNUST cut-off points and UCC cut-off points.

The rules, institution by institution

Here is the sortable table of what each institution says about grades. Click the institution name to open the page we read.

Rules are written per programme, and a specific course can ask for more than the general rule. Pages also change each year, so this table is a picture of 12 October 2026.

Diplomas and HNDs that accept D7

At UEW, the diploma route asks for passes (A1 to D7) in three core subjects, including English and Mathematics, and credits (A1 to C6) in three electives relevant to the programme. So D7 is allowed in the core subjects, but not in the electives.

At UDS, a diploma needs three elective credits and at least a pass (D7 or better) in English Language and Mathematics.

Kumasi Technical University asks HND applicants for six passes (A1 to D7), with at least three at C6 or better, and electives relevant to the course. Accra Technical University gives the same rule for its science and technology HND programmes. If your D7 is in a subject outside those three better grades, an HND could be open to you. Our page on technical universities lists them all with their accreditation status.

Ghana Communication Technology University lists A1 to D7 passes for its diploma and adds a credit requirement in wording that is hard to read, so read its page twice.

A diploma or HND also gives you a way back to degree level. UG, for example, lists admission for diploma holders with a final grade point average of 3.25 or better, and for HND holders with 4.00 or better, into certain programmes at level 200 or 300. Check the exact programme list on the UG page before you plan around it.

Where E8 is accepted

Tamale Technical University lists WASSCE grades of A1 to E8 in English Language, Core Mathematics and three relevant electives for its diploma and certificate programmes. That is the clearest E8 rule we found at a technical university.

UEW mature entry accepts at least E8 in six subjects, but you must be at least 25 years old by 30 September 2026, have at least five years of relevant work experience, and pass the university's General Aptitude Test and Subject Area Test.

Nurse assistant training is the third place. The Nursing and Midwifery Council's FAQ says nurse assistant programmes need a minimum of a pass in three core subjects and three electives. An older Council sheet from January 2016 listed A1 to E8 for auxiliary programmes, with an aggregate of 48. We do not know whether that aggregate still applies, so ask the training college.

Teacher training colleges in Ghana that accept D7

The 2026/2027 notice on the colleges of education admission portal covers the four-year Bachelor of Education in the public colleges. For WASSCE holders it asks for credit passes (A1 to C6) in six subjects: three core subjects, including English Language, Core Mathematics, and Integrated Science or Social Studies, and three electives relevant to the course. A D7 or E8 in those six subjects does not meet that rule.

Candidates still waiting for the 2026 WASSCE can apply as awaiting-result applicants.

Do any individual colleges accept D7? We found no college page that says so. Social media posts claim otherwise, but a claim is not a published rule. Our colleges of education admission calendar tracks the dates for the current cycle.

If you want to teach with a D7 on your results, UEW's diploma route is the one we found with a D7 allowance in the core subjects. It leads to a diploma, not a Bachelor of Education from a college.

Nursing training colleges that accept D7

Basic nursing and midwifery training is stricter than many students expect. The Council's FAQ says the basic programmes (RGN, RM, RCN and RMN) need a minimum of a credit in three core subjects, which are Mathematics, English and Integrated Science, and a credit in three electives. A D7 does not meet that rule.

The nurse assistant routes (NAC and NAP) are different. They ask for a minimum of a pass in the three core subjects and passes in the three electives. That is where D7 and E8 can fit.

The 2016 Council sheet gives an age bracket of 18 to 35 for these programmes. That sheet is old, so confirm age limits with the training college. Our nursing and midwifery programmes page lists the training institutions on our register.

Is D7 better than E8?

Yes, by one grade. D7 sits closer to the credit line and appears in more diploma and HND rules. Tamale Technical University is the exception we found, with a rule that runs from A1 to E8. Neither grade meets the credit rule for a degree, a basic nursing place or a college of education.

Other routes if you have a D7 or E8

1. Apply for the diploma or HND that accepts your grade, using the table above. Read the subject rules for the programme you want.
2. Finish the diploma, then apply to the degree route. UG describes level 200 or 300 entry for diploma and HND holders with a qualifying grade point average.
3. Write again. WAEC Ghana lists a private-candidate WASSCE on its website. We could not open that page to confirm dates, fees or rules, so check it directly.
4. Use mature entry if you are 25 or older. UEW's mature route accepts E8 with conditions.

Graphic Online reported in October 2013 that polytechnic applicants with D7 and E8 in some subjects could take a three-month access course. We found no current notice saying it still runs, so do not plan around it.

Mistakes and scams to avoid

• Do not pay anyone who says they can "push" a D7 into a degree place.
• Do not trust a social media list of "universities that accept D7" with no link to the institution's own page.
• Do check that the institution is accredited. Our register of tertiary colleges and the university register show the commission's status.

What we could not confirm

• WAEC Ghana's own grade-scale page. We could not open waecgh.org from our checking tools, so we do not print percentage ranges.
• Accra Technical University's full requirement booklet and Cape Coast Technical University's rules. We did not find a readable rule page for either.
• Whether the Nursing and Midwifery Council's 2016 aggregate for auxiliary programmes is still used.
• Individual colleges of education. We found no college page that accepts D7 or E8, but we did not read all of them.

Frequently asked questions

Is E8 a pass in WASSCE?

Yes, but it is not a credit. UCC defines a credit as A1 to C6. Tamale Technical University accepts A1 to E8 for diploma and certificate entry. Degree rules ask for credits.

Is D7 a pass in WASSCE?

Yes. Accra Technical University's grade table lists D7 as a "Pass". It is one grade above E8 and one grade below the credit line.

Which universities in Ghana accept D7?

For degrees, none we checked. For diplomas and HNDs, UEW, UDS, Kumasi Technical University and Accra Technical University mention D7.

Which universities accept E8?

We found E8 allowed at Tamale Technical University (diploma and certificate) and for UEW mature entry. The rest of the pages we read do not mention E8.

Is D7 accepted in teacher training?

Not in the 2026/2027 notice. The public colleges of education ask for credit passes (A1 to C6) in six subjects. We found no college page that accepts D7.

Can I get into a college of education with D7?

Not under the national notice, and we found no published exception.

Can I get into nursing training with D7?

Nurse assistant programmes ask for a pass, which D7 meets. Basic nursing and midwifery programmes ask for credits, which D7 does not meet.

What course can I study with D7?

Diplomas and HNDs whose rules mention D7, such as those at UEW, UDS, Kumasi Technical University and Accra Technical University.

Is D7 better than E8?

Yes, by one grade. D7 appears in more diploma and HND rules than E8.

What score is A1 in WASSCE?

A1 is the top grade. KNUST's April 2026 entry document values A1 at 1 in its aggregate table. We could not confirm the percentage range from WAEC Ghana.

Can I use my D7 to apply for a diploma and later move to a degree?

Yes. UG lists level 200 or 300 entry for diploma and HND holders with a qualifying grade point average, for the programmes it names.

Sources

• UCC, Admission of regular first degree students 2026/2027 (checked 12 October 2026)
• University of Ghana, entry requirements (checked 12 October 2026)
• University of Ghana, diploma and HND to degree (checked 12 October 2026)
• KNUST, entry requirements and guidelines, April 2026 (checked 12 October 2026)
• University of Education, Winneba, entry requirements (checked 12 October 2026)
• UDS, general entry requirements (checked 12 October 2026)
• Kumasi Technical University, admission requirements (checked 12 October 2026)
• Accra Technical University, HND entry requirements (checked 12 October 2026)
• Tamale Technical University, admission entry requirement (checked 12 October 2026)
• Ghana Communication Technology University, general admissions requirements (checked 12 October 2026)
• Colleges of Education admission notice 2026/2027 (checked 12 October 2026)
• Nursing and Midwifery Council, FAQs (checked 12 October 2026)
• Nursing and Midwifery Council, entry requirements sheet (2016) (checked 12 October 2026)
• Graphic Online, Lifeline for polytechnic applicants (press report, 3 October 2013, checked 12 October 2026)