Higher Education in Ghana: Academic Evaluation of WASSCE, Degrees and Transcripts

Higher education in Ghana covers public and private universities, technical universities, colleges of education and specialized institutes, and every one of their credentials can be evaluated for use in the U.S. This guide is for anyone who studied in Ghana, from a WASSCE graduate applying to a U.S. college to a professional with a master's degree or PhD who needs an evaluation for a job or a visa, and for the attorneys who help them. It explains how each Ghanaian credential is usually evaluated, how grades convert, which documents you need, and how to order online. A standard MotaWord evaluation costs $65 and is delivered in 72 hours.

Ghana's Education System and the WASSCE

Ghana's 6-3-3-4 Education Structure

Ghana's school system has four stages:

- Primary school: six years, after kindergarten.

- Junior High School (JHS): three years, ending with the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). BECE results, graded 1 (highest) to 9, decide placement in Senior High School.

- Senior High School (SHS): three years, ending with the WASSCE. SHS 3, the final year, is roughly the same stage as 12th grade in the U.S.

- Tertiary education: usually four years for a bachelor's degree.

The WASSCE Examination in Ghana

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) sets the WASSCE in Ghana and in four other countries. Students take four core subjects, English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies, plus three or four electives in a program such as General Science, General Arts, Business, Visual Arts or Technical studies. School candidates sit the exam at the end of SHS 3, and private candidates can sit it later to improve grades. Students in Sierra Leone sit the same WASSCE, set by the West African Examinations Council. See how WASSCE results and degrees from Sierra Leone are evaluated.

Grades run from A1 (excellent) to F9 (fail), with A1 to C6 counted as credit passes. Ghanaian universities add up the grades of the best core and elective subjects into an aggregate, and a lower aggregate is better. Questions about the 2025 or 2026 WASSCE grading system come up often; whatever the year, the evaluator works from the grade key printed on your certificate or results slip. Read our guide to WAEC and WASSCE evaluation for U.S. education.

Older Credentials: SSSCE, O Level and A Level

Before the WASSCE, Ghanaian students sat the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), and before that the GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level. Many people ask what the A Level equivalent in Ghana is today. Ghana no longer runs a separate sixth form, so the WASSCE now closes secondary school. Older A Level results, however, still matter in an evaluation: students who held A Levels often entered university with advanced standing, and evaluators may treat A Level passes as study beyond U.S. high school.

Higher Education in Ghana

Tertiary Education Pathways

- Universities: public universities such as the University of Ghana, KNUST and the University of Cape Coast, plus many private universities, award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.

- Technical universities: most former polytechnics became technical universities in 2016. They award Higher National Diplomas (HND) and bachelor of technology degrees.

- Colleges of education: train teachers. For many years they awarded a three-year Diploma in Basic Education; newer students earn a four-year Bachelor of Education through an affiliated university.

- Nursing, health and specialized institutes: award diplomas and certificates in nursing, midwifery, allied health and other fields.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) regulates and accredits tertiary institutions and their programs. It was created by merging the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and the National Council for Tertiary Education. Evaluators check that your institution and program were accredited when you studied, so a degree or PhD from Ghana is evaluated more smoothly when GTEC or the former NAB recognized the program. Private colleges often award degrees through an affiliation with a public university, and the certificate usually names that university.

Nigeria has a very similar mix of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with its own regulators. See how Nigerian credentials compare to U.S. standards.

How Degrees From Ghana Are Evaluated in the U.S.

Bachelor's Degrees From Ghana

A bachelor's degree in Ghana is usually a four-year program, and evaluators usually compare a completed four-year degree from an accredited institution to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Watch for advanced standing: students who held A Levels, an HND or a diploma sometimes entered in the second or third year and finished in fewer years. Send proof of that earlier study with your bachelor certificate and transcript, because the evaluator needs it to assess the whole program.

HND, Diplomas and Certificates

On their own, the HND and other post-secondary diplomas are usually evaluated as less than a U.S. bachelor's degree. Programs of two years or more are often compared to U.S. associate level study, and one-year programs to a year of undergraduate coursework. The exact result depends on the program, and a later top-up degree is evaluated together with the diploma.

Master's Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and the PhD

Master's degrees from Ghana usually take one to two years and are generally compared to U.S. master's degrees. A Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate, often one year, is usually treated as graduate coursework rather than a full master's degree. A PhD from an accredited Ghanaian university is usually compared to a U.S. doctorate.

Medicine, Dentistry and Law

Medical and dental degrees such as the MB ChB and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery take about six years, and at some schools students earn a BSc in Medical Science along the way. Evaluators often compare them to first professional degrees in medicine (M.D.) or dentistry (D.D.S.). U.S. practice still requires separate licensing. The LL.B. is followed by professional training at the Ghana School of Law, and evaluators often compare the LL.B. to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

Liberia, another WASSCE country, has a different university history and different document challenges. See how Liberian credentials are evaluated for U.S. education and employment.

Why You Need an Evaluation and Which Type to Order

You usually need an evaluation for U.S. university and college admissions, credit transfer, jobs, H-1B and green card petitions, professional licensing or military enlistment. Learn how academic evaluation for U.S. college admissions works for Ghanaian students. Evaluations follow the USCIS Policy Manual standard: credible, logical and well documented. No evaluator controls an officer's decision.

- General (document-by-document) evaluation: states the U.S. equivalent of each credential. It is usually enough for jobs and immigration.

- Course-by-course evaluation: lists every course or WASSCE subject, converts each grade to a U.S. letter grade and calculates a GPA. Universities and licensing boards usually ask for it.

Ghanaian universities report a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and a class of degree (First Class, Second Class Upper, Second Class Lower, Third Class or Pass). Scales differ between institutions, so a course-by-course report converts each grade rather than the class alone. If you are new to how U.S. credits, majors and GPAs work, explore this U.S. education guide for foreign students to navigate academic paths with confidence.

Documents You Need

- WASSCE or SSSCE results: every certificate or results slip you want counted, plus any O Level or A Level results.

- Degree or diploma certificate: your bachelor certificate, HND, diploma, master's or PhD certificate.

- Academic transcript: a full transcript with every course, grade and credit hour.

- Proof of advanced standing: if you entered university in the second or third year.

- Name change proof: if your name differs between documents.

Ghanaian records are issued in English, so most applicants do not need a translation. If a diploma from another country is not in English, learn what diploma translation involves before you order. Certified translation can be added to an evaluation order at the quote stage, where the system detects non-English documents.

Before you upload, use our document checklist for credential evaluations. Missing pages and unclear scans can slow an evaluation down. Check out this guide on the top 10 mistakes to avoid in academic evaluations for helpful insights.

If you are unsure about what you need, ask our team of experts for guidance on live chat. Our team is on live chat 24/7, whatever your time zone.

How MotaWord Evaluates Your Ghanaian Credentials

1. Upload: upload scans or phone photos of your certificates and transcripts and choose a general or course-by-course evaluation. You see the price and delivery time before you pay.

2. Document check: our evaluation team checks that the documents are complete and readable, and contacts you if anything is missing.

3. Evaluation: an evaluator compares each Ghanaian credential with U.S. education and prepares the report.

4. Download: your MotaWord client dashboard is created automatically, where you follow the order, download the report and invoices, and talk to us via live chat.

A standard evaluation costs $65 and is delivered in 72 hours. Same-day delivery costs $115 when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday. A course-by-course evaluation costs $120, or $200 for same-day delivery. Live chat is available 24/7 for support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the A Level equivalent in Ghana?

Ghana no longer offers A Levels; the WASSCE at the end of Senior High School now closes secondary education. Older GCE A Level results are still evaluated, often as study beyond U.S. high school.

Is the WASSCE from Ghana equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma?

Usually yes. U.S. evaluators commonly describe a WASSCE certificate with passes in the core subjects as comparable to completion of high school. The evaluation report decides the exact wording.

Is a bachelor certificate in Ghana equal to a U.S. bachelor's degree?

A four-year bachelor's degree from a GTEC-accredited institution is usually compared to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Shorter programs with advanced standing are assessed with the earlier study.

How do I know if my PhD from Ghana is accredited?

Check that your university and doctoral program were accredited by GTEC, or by the National Accreditation Board before GTEC was formed. Evaluators check accreditation as part of the evaluation.

Is an HND from Ghana equivalent to a degree?

On its own, an HND is usually evaluated as less than a U.S. bachelor's degree, often comparable to associate level study. A top-up bachelor's degree after the HND changes the result.

How long does an evaluation of Ghanaian credentials take?

A standard MotaWord evaluation is delivered in 72 hours for $65. Same-day delivery costs $115 when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday.

Get Your Ghanaian Credentials Evaluated

From your WASSCE certificate to your doctorate, every record from higher education in Ghana can be put into U.S. terms. Get your Ghanaian degree evaluated with MotaWord academic evaluation services.

Mark Rogers - Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord

Written and reviewed by Mark Rogers, Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord, drawing on the team's experience with Ghanaian WASSCE results and university credentials. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified and a corporate member of the ATA and ITI, providing academic evaluations and certified translations in 120+ languages. Every evaluation report explains how each credential compares to U.S. education, and certified translation can be added at the quote stage when your documents are not in English. See our academic evaluation for U.S. employment →