Ghana government scholarships: what they fund
Yes, but not usually for a first degree in the USA. For an undergraduate, the Ghana Scholarships Authority runs two routes: local tertiary scholarships for study in Ghana, and bilateral awards from other governments, such as Hungary and Morocco, where you study in that country. GETFund's foreign scholarships are for postgraduate study. If you want a US degree, the university's own aid is your main route.
Can a Ghana government scholarship pay for a US degree?
Not usually for a first degree. The Ghana Scholarships Authority's undergraduate awards are for study in Ghana or in a partner country such as Hungary or Morocco. GETFund's foreign scholarships are for postgraduate study.
So if your goal is an American undergraduate degree, plan around the universities' own aid. Use the government routes as a separate option, with their own deadlines, rather than as a way to pay for a US place.
Who runs government scholarships in Ghana?
The Ghana Scholarships Authority runs most of them, and GETFund funds some directly. The Authority was set up by the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025 (Act 1149). It replaced the Scholarships Secretariat, and it regulates how every government scholarship is awarded.
You will still see the old name, "Scholarships Secretariat" or "SCHOLSEC", on forms, social media accounts and news reports. It is the same body. Its calls appear at scholarships.gov.gh, and applications go through its portal.
Which government scholarships can an undergraduate apply for?
Two kinds, and they lead to very different places:
| Route | Where you study | Who it is for | How you are chosen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local tertiary scholarship | A tertiary institution in Ghana | Ghanaians with admission to an accredited institution, with places kept for students in financial need | Online aptitude test, then an interview at your district assembly |
| Bilateral award | The partner country, such as Hungary or Morocco | Recent WASSCE candidates who meet that call's grades and age limit | National examination or shortlisting, then nomination to the partner country |
GETFund's foreign scholarship, the one most people mean by "government scholarship to study abroad", is the third route. It is for a Master's or PhD, and it asks for a first degree and an admission letter. It is not open to you straight from SHS.
How do the bilateral awards work?
Another government offers scholarships to Ghanaian students. The Authority advertises them, selects candidates and nominates them to the partner country. You then apply to that country's programme as well. Hungary's Stipendium Hungaricum is the best-known example.
For Hungary, recent calls asked undergraduate candidates for three things:
- Recent WASSCE results, with an aggregate between 6 and 15.
- An age of 23 or under.
- Ghanaian citizenship and residence in Ghana.
You apply online on the Stipendium Hungaricum portal and register with the Authority, which runs a national examination. In February 2026, 3,810 candidates sat it, across undergraduate, Master's and PhD categories, with WAEC supporting the marking. The award covers tuition and supports your accommodation.
Morocco's recent call asked for an aggregate of 6 or 7 for Medicine and Pharmacy, and 15 or better for other programmes, with the same age limit of 23. Successful undergraduates spend a year learning French before their degree begins.
Other governments make offers in some years and not others. Read the Authority's opportunities page each month from about October, because each call has its own short window.
How does the local tertiary scholarship work?
It pays towards a degree at a tertiary institution in Ghana, and you apply after you have admission. The application has three stages:
- Create an account on the Authority's portal and choose the district assembly where you will be interviewed.
- Sit an online aptitude test.
- Attend an interview at that district assembly, with your original documents. A district committee reviews your application, including your family's financial need.
For 2025/26, the Authority said 2,000 of its 5,000 local awards would go to brilliant but needy students. This route is worth knowing even if you are aiming abroad. If no funded foreign place comes through, a funded place at home keeps your plans moving.
What do I sign if I accept one?
A promise to come back and serve Ghana. Section 31 of Act 1149 requires beneficiaries who study abroad to return and serve after their programme, subject to the terms of their award. In 2026, Ghana's missions began asking sponsored students abroad to swear an oath affirming this.
The bond has teeth. A beneficiary who refuses to return can be required to refund the whole scholarship, with interest at the Bank of Ghana rate. If that is not paid, the Authority can recover it as a civil debt at twice the amount.
How do I tell a real call from a fake one?
Check that it appears on scholarships.gov.gh or the GETFund portal. Real calls never charge a fee to apply or to "secure" an award, and the Authority says it awards on merit, not on connections.
Fake adverts often copy a real programme's name, then ask you to pay an agent, send money by mobile money or apply through a WhatsApp number. If a call is not on the official site, treat it as false until the Authority confirms it.
Should I apply for a government scholarship as well as US universities?
Yes, if you would genuinely take the place. A bilateral award in Hungary or Morocco is a fully funded degree, and it does not stop you applying to US universities in the same year.
What matters is the order of decisions. US universities usually announce results in March or April. Bilateral results can come before or after. Work out in advance which offer you would take if both arrive, and talk it through with your family before you sit the national examination.
Our guide to scholarships for Ghanaian students sets these routes beside Mastercard, Ashinaga and the universities' own aid.
What should I do first?
Bookmark scholarships.gov.gh and check its opportunities page once a month. At the same time, build your US list around universities that meet full need, because that is where a US first degree is funded.
If you are weighing a government award against a US plan and want a second opinion, you can book a call with us.
Questions people ask
Does the Ghana government give scholarships for undergraduate study abroad?
Yes, mainly through bilateral awards. Another government, such as Hungary or Morocco, offers places, and the Ghana Scholarships Authority selects and nominates Ghanaian candidates. You study in that country, not wherever you choose.
Can a Ghana government scholarship pay for a US university?
Not usually for a first degree. The Authority's published undergraduate calls are for study in Ghana or in a partner country. For a US undergraduate degree, the university's own need-based aid is the route that funds most Ghanaian students.
Is the GETFund foreign scholarship for undergraduates?
No. GETFund's foreign scholarship calls are for postgraduate study, such as a Master's, and ask for a first degree and an admission letter.
Do I have to come back to Ghana after a government scholarship?
Usually, yes. Under section 31 of Act 1149, a beneficiary who studies abroad must return and serve Ghana, subject to the terms of the award. A beneficiary who refuses can be asked to repay the scholarship with interest.
What WASSCE results do I need for the Hungary scholarship?
Recent calls asked for an aggregate between 6 and 15 in the most recent WASSCE, and an age of 23 or under. Candidates then sit a national examination. Check the current call, because the terms can change.