Students of the University of Ghana have raised concerns over a sharp increase in academic fees for the 2025/2026 academic year, with charges rising by more than 25 per cent across all colleges.

Although university management has not yet publicly explained the adjustments, a provisional academic fee schedule for the 2025/26 year shows significant increases affecting both new entrants and continuing students.

At the College of Humanities, Level 100 students are expected to pay GH¢3,110, up from GH¢2,319 in the 2024/25 academic year, representing a 34 per cent increase. Continuing students at the college will pay GH¢2,253, an increase of 27 per cent from the previous GH¢1,777.

At the University of Ghana School of Law, undergraduate freshmen under the College of Humanities will pay GH¢3,226, compared to GH¢2,435 last year, a 33 per cent rise. Fees for continuing law students have also increased from GH¢1,890 to GH¢2,396. Similar adjustments have been recorded across other colleges, including Health Sciences, Basic and Applied Sciences, and Education, where fee hikes range between 25 and 35 per cent.

The increases have sparked dissatisfaction among students and parents, many of whom say the new fees were introduced without prior consultation or notice.

The fee schedule further shows a significant rise in third-party charges, which appear to have contributed substantially to the overall increase. Third-party fees have jumped from GH¢255 in the 2024/25 academic year to GH¢767 for fresh students and GH¢455 for continuing students in 2025/26.

These charges include an SRC Hostel Development Levy of GH¢300, a GH¢100 contribution towards the university’s 75th Anniversary Legacy Project, SRC welfare dues of GH¢50, and reprographic fees of GH¢5. In addition, fresh Level 100 and diploma students are required to pay GH¢312 for a Telecel data package, while continuing students have the option of subscribing to a Telecel data and airtime package at GH¢10.22 per month.

Students have called on university authorities to clearly justify the fee increases, warning that the new charges could place significant financial pressure on students and their families.