Entry Requirements

Mature Students’ Entry Requirements for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana

9th December 2025

Ferdinand | EducationGhana | December 09 | Mature Students’ Entry Requirements for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has introduced new regulations for mature student admissions, limiting enrolment to 5 per cent of annual intake and establishing stricter eligibility and assessment procedures across tertiary institutions.

GTEC Introduces New Framework for Mature Student Admissions

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has issued a revised policy governing mature students’ entry into tertiary education institutions. The new framework takes immediate effect and applies to all public, private, chartered, and mentored institutions across the country.In a circular signed by the Director-General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, GTEC explained that the changes are intended to protect academic quality and provide a uniform standard for assessing applicants.The updated rules place clear limits on admissions and outline the qualifications required to enter diploma, higher national diploma, undergraduate, and professional programmes.

Cap on Admissions and New Eligibility Conditions

A central feature of the policy is a cap restricting mature student admissions to five percent of the institution’s total annual intake. According to GTEC, this measure is designed to prevent abuse of the mature entry pathway, which has become a common alternative for applicants who do not satisfy traditional admission requirements.To qualify as a mature applicant, individuals must:

Be at least 25 years old.
Provide verifiable proof of age.
Show evidence of a minimum of five years of relevant work experience.
Meet minimum SSSCE or WASSCE grade thresholds.

Applicants must also sit for entrance examinations in English Language, Mathematics, and an aptitude test, unless they present recognised credit passes in English and Mathematics from WASSCE or another nationally accepted high-school examination.

Requirements for Chartered and Mentored Institutions

The revised policy draws a clear distinction between chartered institutions and those operating under mentorship.For chartered universities, the institutions must independently conduct entrance examinations for mature applicants. For mentored institutions, the mentor university is required to:

Moderate the entrance examination questions.
Vet all marked scripts.
Ensure the examination process meets the academic standards of the mentor institution.

GTEC noted that any programme admitting mature applicants without conforming to these rules may face sanctions, including the withdrawal of accreditation under the Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1023).

Ensuring Fairness and Quality in Admissions

GTEC stated that the purpose of the revised policy is to strengthen fairness in admissions and promote transparency in how mature students are accepted. The Commission indicated that a uniform standard is essential to prevent institutions from lowering academic requirements to boost enrolment figures.The new guidelines are expected to influence admissions during the 2026–2027 academic cycle and may alter the structure of weekend, distance, and flexible learning programmes that traditionally record high numbers of mature applicants.

Implications for Prospective Students and Institutions

With the revised standards now in force, tertiary institutions are expected to provide clear public information on their mature entry procedures and ensure compliance with the national framework. Prospective applicants are advised to prepare adequately for the entrance examinations and obtain proper documentation to support their applications.GTEC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the quality of tertiary education, insisting that mature entry should remain a legitimate but well-regulated pathway for working adults seeking to advance their education.

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Prospective students can also check out the Admission Deadlines for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana as well as their Entry Requirements before Applying.

They can also check the institutions’ cut off pointsandHow to Applyto the various Tertiary Institutions in Ghana as well as the institutions’ Fees Schedulesfor any particular Semester or Year.

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