The University of Ghana (UG) will conduct entrance examinations for applicants seeking admission into its Health Sciences programmes for the 2026/2027 academic year from August 3 to 8, 2026, ahead of the release of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.
The move is aimed at fast-tracking the admissions process by giving the University more time to process applications and assess prospective students before the release of their final high school results.
The arrangement, which was introduced in 2025, is intended to allow the University to begin processing applications early and complete much of the selection process before applicants’ final results are released.
Speaking on the Campus Exclusive show on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the University’s Deputy Director of Academic Affairs, Mawena Abortta, explained that the entrance examination applies to applicants with recognised high school qualifications, including WASSCE and foreign qualifications such as A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB), the French Baccalaureate and the American Grade 12 system.
“We started this from last year, and it’s not only WASSCE results. We have applicants who are Ghanaians but take other foreign qualifications like A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate and American Grade 12. We are doing this to give ourselves enough time to process our applications,” she explained.
Mawena Abortta added that admission into the Health Sciences programmes is based on three criteria: high school results, performance in the entrance examination and an interview.
She said the University combines applicants’ academic results with their entrance examination scores to shortlist candidates for interviews after the release of their high school results.
“We use three criteria. It is not just the high school results. We use the high school results, the entrance exams, as well as an interview to determine those who qualify,” she said.
She emphasised that the approach is necessary because regulatory bodies, including the Medical and Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, assign admission quotas to universities each year.
According to her, the quotas require universities to select applicants who meet the necessary requirements and demonstrate the strongest qualifications for the limited spaces available.
The entrance examinations will be conducted as computer-based tests on the University’s main campus. Mawena Abortta explained that holding the examinations on campus is intended to ensure that applicants have access to reliable facilities and reduce challenges associated with internet connectivity.
She also noted that applicants who do not progress to the interview stage will be given an opportunity to revise their programme choices before admissions into other programmes are finalised.
She further assured applicants who may not qualify for Health Sciences programmes that they could still be considered for admission into other programmes, provided they meet the relevant cut-off points.
“If you don’t get a Health Sciences programme, that is not the end. As long as you meet the cut-off for other programmes, you will be considered,” she said.
The University says the early entrance examination arrangement is expected to streamline the admissions process and enable successful applicants to receive admission decisions ahead of the start of the 2026/2027 academic year.
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Story by Solace Edotom Asamoah | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
