Academic Affairs & Student Services

INTRODUCTION

The Academic Affairs and Student Services Directorate is the hub of academic administration within the University. The Directorate is responsible for a wide range of functions covering support services to students and academic staff from admission through to graduation and certification.

It serves as a key interface between alumni, undergraduate and postgraduate student populations, and the current nine academic Schools and Faculties. The Directorate is also responsible for overseeing all matters related to academic regulations.

The functions of the Directorate include:

Admissions
Student Service
Examinations
Graduation
Certification
Verification of Academic Records

SCHOOLS/FACULTIES

CENTRES/INSTITUTIONS

ADMISSIONS UNIT

The Admissions Unit of Central University operates under the Academic Directorate, primarily responsible for admitting both local and international students each year and maintaining their admission records.

The admission process is fair, transparent, and guided by robust procedures. The University’s admission policies are based on the following principles:

Admission is based strictly on merit, ability, and aptitude.
Offers are made without bias, patronage, or unlawful discrimination.
Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to succeed in their chosen programme.
Where quotas apply, admissions are offered based on merit and order of application.
The University reserves the right to withdraw admission if falsified documents are detected.
Admission criteria comply with standards set by relevant regulatory bodies.

Admission Timelines

Two admissions are done in each academic year, the October and February cohort admissions.

In each academic year, admission begins in May and ends in March of the following year. October admission ends in November, while the February admission ends in March, when all students have been matriculated.

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements vary from programme to programme and are advertised on the University website and in other media. The University entry requirements conform to standards set by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and various regulatory and professional bodies.

The University’s admission requirements are as follows:

West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
- An applicant must have credit passes (A1-C6) in core English, core Mathematics, and either core Integrated Science or Social Studies and three elective subjects, with an overall aggregate score of thirty-six (36) or better. In addition, candidates must satisfy the specific requirements of the relevant faculty/school. The entry is at Level 100.

Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE).
- An applicant must have credit passes (A-D) in core English, core Mathematics and either core Integrated Science or Social Studies and three elective subjects, with an overall aggregate score of twenty-four (24) or better. In addition, candidates must satisfy the specific requirements of the relevant faculty/ school. Entry is at Level 100.

General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced Levels (Entry at level 200 depends on the programme).
- An applicant must have at least credit passes in 5 subjects (including English Language and Mathematics) at the GCE Ordinary Level and at least 3 passes at the GCE Advanced Level at aggregate 12. The aggregate notwithstanding, no candidate will be admitted with more than one E.

Professional qualifications/Tertiary Diplomas (Entry at levels 200 and 300).
- The level of placement of professional certificate and tertiary-level diploma holders will depend on the assessment of their certificates or diplomas in relation to the programme desired. All professional certificate and tertiary level diploma holders must have either G.C.E. “O” Level credit passes in English Language and Mathematics or SSSCE/WASSCE credit passes in English Language and Core Mathematics to qualify for admission. The placement level of candidates will depend on the assessment of their certificates by the relevant Faculty/School or Department.

Admission through the Mature Students’ Entrance Examination.
- The candidate must be at least 25 years old by 31st December of the year preceding the examination. A certified copy of birth certificate is required. The date of issue of the birth certificate should not be less than five years from the date of the completion of the admission forms. The submission of fraudulent certificates is grounds for dismissal at any point in a student’s enrolment.
- Mature Students’ Entrance Examinations consist of a General Paper for all candidates and two papers in the area(s) of specialization desired.

Foreign applicants must have qualifications equivalent to the above to be considered for admission. Their results must also be translated into English, and they should be able to read and write in English. Applicants may also be required to pass an entrance examination/ interview.

In addition to the general admission requirements, Schools, Faculties and Departments may have special entry requirements. The academic catalogues of the Schools and Faculties must be consulted for up-to date information.

Entry requirements for Diploma programmes

To be admitted to a Diploma programme, a candidate must satisfy the following minimum requirements, besides conditions stipulated for the particular programme:

SSSCE Holders
- Passes A-D in five (5) subjects, including English and Mathematics. For areas of specialization, three (3) of the passes must be in relevant subjects.

WASSCE holders
- Six (6) passes (A1 – D7) in all subjects. At least three (3) of which should be credit passes (C6). It must be noted that certain subjects may require credit passes in other relevant subjects.

All applicants with foreign certificates and/or transcripts are to be evaluated by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for its equivalent before admission letters are issued.

EXAMINATIONS UNIT

The Examinations Unit is responsible for all examinations at the University. It ensures that examinations are conducted in accordance with the University’s examination rules and regulations as well as the scheduled examination timetable. We have two main types of examinations – the end-of-semester examinations, which take place at the end of each semester and the re-sit examinations. The re-sit examination is for students who failed their papers during the end-of-semester examinations. Re-sit examinations are held at the end of each semester, in March (for failed second-semester courses) and July (for failed first-semester courses). The Unit also conducts supplementary examinations for students who missed a paper and have the approval to rewrite.

All examinations are conducted under the University’s laid-down procedures and regulations. Any examinations conducted outside the University’s examination conditions will be null and void, and the perpetrators will be sanctioned. It also prepares both the teaching and examination timetables and helps with the organization of mid-semester examinations for the various Schools/Faculties.

The Unit is also responsible for compiling all examination offences and later submits them to the Pro VC through the Examinations Committee. Students are advised not to indulge in any examination malpractices, as the offenders will be held liable for their actions.

STUDENT SERVICES

The Student Services Unit offers a range of support services to students and academic staff from admission through to graduation. The Unit ensures that the University’s regulations and policies are followed by all students. The Unit is also responsible for student complaints resolution and the provision of support services, including requests relating to change of programme, campus, and session, deferments, etc.

It also issues the following academic documents upon request by students and alumni through the Clearinghub (online: secure.theclearinghub.com):

Change of Programme

A request for a change of programme can only be considered when it is submitted during the long vacation of the first or second year of study. A change of programme form must be completed and duly signed by the Heads of the old and new departments and, in the case of interfaculty transfers, the Dean of Faculty/School. Approved change of programme forms shall be submitted to the Director, Academic and Student Services.

Change of programme from one Department to another will require the student to take all the courses mounted in the academic year for the new programme. Previous courses taken will not be accounted for in the new programme. This applies especially in the case of an inter-faculty or inter-school change. Students are to note that, where necessary, a change of programme may require the student to start afresh from Level 100 or 200, depending on the level of entry.

Change of Session

Any change from one session to another may be requested by completing the relevant form. The form can be obtained from the Academic and Student Services Directorate. A student who wishes to change session should do so at the beginning of the semester, within the first three weeks. In all cases, a request for a change of session can be considered only when there is a vacancy. All changes of session must be authorized by the Dean of the appropriate Faculty/School and approved by the Director, Academic and Student Services.

Deferment of programme

Students who intend to take a temporary break from their studies must adhere to the University’s official deferment procedures. A request will only be considered valid once it has been formally submitted and approved through the designated channels.

A student seeking to defer his/her programme must complete the official deferment form and submit it to the Dean of the Faculty/School, clearly stating the reason for the request. Approval must be duly granted before the student leaves the University. Deferment may be granted for up to two academic years only, within the entire duration of the programme.

Where an application for deferment is granted, deferment shall be for one academic year, i.e. deferment shall not be allowed for one semester only.

d. A student who breaks his/her studies for more than four continuous semesters shall be deemed to have lost his/her studentship and would be required to reapply to start the programme. Previously acquired grades or credits cannot be applied in this case.

Semesters spent on deferment count towards the maximum allowable timeframe for completing a programme of study.

Newly admitted students who need to defer their programmes are required to write to the Director of Academic Affairs at academicdirector@central.edu.gh before the approved matriculation date, for consideration. They should have paid the academic fees due for their first semester.

For assistance with the process, please contact the Admissions Office:
📧 admissions@central.edu.gh
📞 0307020540/0555095090

Reinstatement

To resume studies after a period of approved deferment, students must:

Submit a reinstatement letter to the Academic Affairs and Students Services Directorate for reinstatement at the start of the registration period of the due academic year.
Settle all outstanding fees before resumption.
Undertake course registration within the stipulated period per the academic calendar.

Please Note:

Applications for deferment must be submitted before the end of course registration for the semester in which the deferment begins.
Only requests received by Academic Affairs and Students’ Services Directorate are recognized by the University.
Failure to follow the approved procedure may result in the student being deemed to have abandoned their studies. Such students will be required to withdraw from the University.

Re-entry into the University

A student who wishes to re-enter the university after a break of more than 2 years shall reapply for admission into the University. Such a student, if readmitted, must start at the level at which they entered the first time.

Registration of Students

Every student attending classes at the University must register and pay tuition fees and other levies. Registration is the systematic process that reserves a seat in particular classes for eligible students. It is accomplished by selecting all core and elective courses prescribed for the semester and completing a registration schedule in the student’s department, or in the Student Information Portal (self-registration).

All students are expected to register with their school/faculty and department by the end of the fourth week of each semester’s reopening. A student who is not officially registered for a university course may not attend the course. A student who does not register properly may have challenges with the proper allocation of any subsequent grade to his/her academic records. No student may register after the stated period, unless he or she obtains the consent of the Pro-Vice Chancellor.

There is a financial penalty for late registration after the registration deadline.

Registration is contingent upon payment of the required minimum fee. For the 2026/2027 academic year, students must pay at least 50% of the semester’s fee before they can register. Full details are provided in the official schedule of fees.

TYPES/PERIODS OF REGISTRATION

There are two (2) main registration types/periods within the academic year; these are:

REGULAR REGISTRATION:
- Regular registration takes place at the beginning of each semester, for both the first and second semesters.

RE-SIT REGISTRATION:
- The re-sit registration window opens twice during each academic year, in the first and second semesters of an academic year. The first-semester re-sit registration period is designated for students who need to re-sit a trailed second-semester course, while the second-semester re-sit registration period is intended for students re-sitting a trailed first-semester course.

REGISTRATION RULES:

A student who is not officially registered for a university course may not attend the course.
A student who fails to register for a semester will be automatically deferred. Deferment is for one academic year.
Fresh students must pay their fees in full before receiving index numbers.
Medical examination is mandatory for first-year students.
A student will be charged an administrative fee for late registration.

GRADUATION, CERTIFICATION, AND VERIFICATION UNIT

The Unit is responsible for overseeing the graduation and certification of all students who have fulfilled the graduation requirements, been cleared by their respective Schools or Faculties, reviewed by the Compliance and Quality Assurance Directorate, and approved by the Academic Board for the award of a degree.

This Unit is also responsible for handling all verification requests from alumni and institutions that require authentication of students’ and alumni’s certificates and transcripts.

All verification requests must be submitted via verification@central.edu.gh. Students and alumni who apply for transcripts and wish the University to send them directly to requesting organizations should also email the verification address, providing the receipt details after completing the required payment.

For assistance with the process, please contact the Verifications Office:
📧 verification@central.edu.gh

CAMPUSES

Central University has three campuses, namely:

Kumasi Campus
Miotso Campus
Christ Temple Campus

OFFICE LOCATIONS

Academic Directorate

Block F, Administration Enclave

Miotso Campus

Email: academicaffairs@central.edu.gh

Contact: 0203640058

Students’ Service Miotso Campus

Room SC106

Central Plaza

Email: studentservice@central.edu.gh

Contact: 0273755039

Students’ Service Christ Temple Campus

Block B Second Floor

Email: studentservice@central.edu.gh

Contact: 0540954697