Study abroad in Ghana: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not apply there, so you need private travel health insurance with repatriation cover. According to the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), German citizens need a visa that must be applied for before entry. The DAAD lists a monthly scholarship rate of 825 euros for students in Ghana as a guideline.
Study abroad in Ghana at a glance
| Point | Information (status October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC does not apply. Private travel health insurance with repatriation cover is advisable | European Commission, Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | Required for German citizens, to be applied for before entry. Fee for a tourist visa 260 US dollars. The office gives no rule for study | Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition fees | No verified amount. They depend on the exchange agreement of your home university | Host university |
| Living costs | 825 euros per month as a DAAD guideline rate (list without date) | DAAD, scholarship rates |
| Study grant abroad (Auslands-BAföG) | Possible. Responsible office according to the DSW assignment: Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg | Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW), leaflet January 2026 |
All information is general and not individual advice. The official pages linked here are authoritative.
How is health insurance arranged in Ghana?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
Ghana is not part of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland. The EHIC therefore does not apply there. According to the European Commission, the card covers the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. We have not found a social security agreement with Ghana that covers health insurance, so we name none.
Outside the area covered by the card, you must arrange treatment in Ghana yourself. Ask your health insurer in writing before you leave which services it covers abroad. The guide on health insurance during a study abroad semester explains the basics: Health insurance during a study abroad semester (in German).
According to the Federal Foreign Office, a yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for entry for everyone aged nine months or older. It recommends vaccinations against hepatitis A and poliomyelitis, and up-to-date standard vaccinations, especially against measles.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office strongly advises travel health insurance with repatriation cover, and in addition medical evacuation insurance. Check whether the policy covers repatriation and treatment that can wait until your return. Background is in our guide travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and work and travel (in German). Privately insured students will find the basics in our guide PKV for students in non-EU countries (in German).
Do you need a visa for Ghana?
Yes. According to the Federal Foreign Office, German citizens need a visa for entry, which must be applied for before entry. For holders of non-African passports, the fee for a tourist visa for a single entry is 260 US dollars. If you want to stay longer than the visa’s validity, an extension is required, according to the office.
The office accepts a passport, a provisional passport and a children’s passport. An identity card is not accepted. The documents must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
Whether and which visa you need for study in Ghana is decided by the authorities of the country. We do not repeat a rule of our own, because we have not found an official statement that covers study. The travel and security advice of the Federal Foreign Office for Ghana (in German) lists the entry rules for German citizens. The Ghanaian embassy in Germany gives binding information.
Keep these documents ready for entry:
- Passport or provisional passport valid for at least six months from entry
- Visa, applied for before entry
- International vaccination certificate for yellow fever
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is a partial travel warning for Ghana (page status 23 October 2026). It warns against travel to the border areas with Burkina Faso and Togo in the regions Upper West, Upper East and North East, and to the towns of Bawku, Garu, Zebilla, Tempane, Nalerigu and Walewale and their surroundings. Travel to the northern border areas with Côte d’Ivoire in the regions Savannah and Bono is advised against. Since April 2026, fatal attacks linked to the Bawku conflict have taken place again in the north and north-east. In large cities, especially Accra, robberies, theft and armed attacks on drivers are a considerable risk.
What does a study abroad semester in Ghana cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees your host university charges depends on the exchange agreement with your home university. We do not name a general amount, because we have no official figure that we could verify. Ask both your home university and the host university before you accept a place.
Living costs
The DAAD scholarship rates list a monthly rate of 825 euros for students in Ghana. This is a guideline, not a budget. The list carries no date. We have not found a verified figure for accommodation and food on site, so ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
The Erasmus+ programme guide of the European Commission lists Ghana among the partner countries of region 9 (Sub-Saharan Africa). These countries take part in certain measures only under specific criteria. Whether your exchange runs under Erasmus+ and what funding you receive is decided by your university. More in our guide Erasmus and planning a study abroad semester (in German).
Study grant abroad (Auslands-BAföG) is possible for part of a degree abroad. For Ghana, the Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW) assigns the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg, Office for Training Support, according to its leaflet of January 2026. Outside the EU, the BAföG foreign supplement regulation allows a supplement if purchasing power abroad is lower. The Federal Foreign Office sets the percentage, and the regulation names no euro amount. Details are in our guide Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).
Worked example: For a stay of five months at the DAAD guideline of 825 euros a month, living costs come to 4,125 euros. Add 260 US dollars for a tourist visa, if you apply for one for entry. Flights, travel health insurance, tuition fees of the host university and the semester fee of your home university are not included, because we have no verified amounts for them. The total is a guide, not a promise.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer in writing which services apply in Ghana before you sign the learning agreement.
- Take out travel health insurance with repatriation cover and medical evacuation cover, and check the contract.
- Ask your host university whether you need a visa for study. The Federal Foreign Office gives no rule for study.
- Apply for the visa in good time before entry and budget for the 260 US dollar fee for a tourist visa.
- Get vaccinated against yellow fever. The certificate is compulsory for entry.
- Check further vaccinations named by the Federal Foreign Office: hepatitis A, poliomyelitis and up-to-date standard vaccinations.
- If you want Auslands-BAföG, apply to the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg about six months before departure.
- Read the travel and security advice of the Federal Foreign Office shortly before you leave and watch for changes.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Ghana?
No. According to the European Commission, the card applies in the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For Ghana you need private travel health insurance with repatriation cover.
Do I need a visa for Ghana?
Yes, according to the Federal Foreign Office. It must be applied for before entry, and for holders of non-African passports the tourist visa fee for a single entry is 260 US dollars. For study, the office gives no rule.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Ghana?
That depends on the exchange agreement of your home university. We do not name an amount, because we have no verified figure. Ask your university before you accept the place.
What does living cost in Ghana?
The DAAD scholarship rates list 825 euros a month for students in Ghana as a guideline. It is not a budget, and the list carries no date. Ask your host university for its figures for exchange students.
Is there a travel warning for Ghana?
Yes, a partial travel warning applies. It covers the northern border areas and the north-east, including the town of Bawku. According to the Federal Foreign Office, no warning covers the whole country.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Ghana?
According to the DSW assignment, the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg, Office for Training Support. The leaflet is dated January 2026.
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, Ghana: travel and security advice (page status 23 October 2026)
- European Commission, FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- DAAD, scholarship rates for students and graduates (no date)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme Guide Part A, eligible countries (no date)
- Deutsches Studierendenwerk, leaflet Auslands-BAföG (status January 2026)
- BAföG foreign supplement regulation, gesetze-im-internet.de (no date)
Sources retrieved on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related articles
- Health insurance during a study abroad semester (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German)
- Study abroad in Egypt (in German)
- Study abroad in Morocco (in German)
- All countries for your study abroad semester (in German)
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
