Ghana’s law faculties admit two groups: senior high school leavers into a four-year LLB, and first-degree holders into a shorter post-first-degree LLB, usually after a faculty entrance examination and interview. The route after the LLB changed in 2026: under the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170), graduates take a one-year Pre-Bar Course, then Law Practice Training and the National Bar Examination before call to the Bar, and the old Ghana School of Law entrance examination has been abolished[1].
Updated October 2026
Which law schools in Ghana offer the LLB, and what does each require?
Each row comes from the faculty’s own admissions page. Where a cell says to ask admissions, the school does not publish that detail.
| School | Routes and years | School leaver requirement | First-degree requirement | Extra screening and published fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Ghana School of Law | LLB for senior high school leavers; Post-First Degree (PFD) LLB for graduates | Selection is based on WASSCE performance; no aggregate is published | Minimum of a Second Class (Lower Division) degree in any discipline from a GTEC-accredited university | All candidates must pass an entrance examination and an interview; tuition is not published, so ask admissions[2] |
| University of Cape Coast (UCC) Faculty of Law | LLB for post-WASSCE applicants and for first-degree holders | Aggregate 6 to 7: direct admission without interview; aggregate 8 to 12: selection interview, both subject to places | Second Class Lower or better first degree in any field, or a postgraduate qualification; employees need an employer release letter | Graduate entrance examination and interview fee GH₵1,000; post-WASSCE interview fee GH₵750[3] |
| UPSA Law School (University of Professional Studies, Accra) | Four-year full-time day LLB; three-year evening LLB for first-degree holders | WASSCE credits (A1 to C6) in English, Mathematics and Integrated Science or Social Studies plus any three electives; SSSCE, GCE A Level, GCSE and American High School Grade 12 (final grade point 3.0 or better) are also accepted | First degree with a minimum of Second Class Lower, plus WASSCE, SSSCE or GBCE credit passes in three core and three elective subjects (or GCE O and A Level equivalents) | Graduate route: entrance examination with a non-refundable fee of GH¢1,000, then a selection interview[4] |
| KNUST Faculty of Law | Four-year full-time; three-year full-time and four-year part-time for graduates | WASSCE credits in English, Mathematics and Integrated Science plus three General Arts, Science or Business electives, aggregate 20 or better; mature candidates aged 25 and above with five O Level credits including English and Mathematics | First degree in a discipline other than law | Shortlisted graduate applicants take a competitive examination and an interview; fees are not published, so ask admissions[5] |
| GIMPA Law School | Four-year day LLB for senior high school graduates; three-year evening LLB for graduates | Credit passes in three core and three elective WASSCE subjects; no aggregate is published | Second Class (Lower Division) degree in any discipline, or a chartered qualification such as ACCA, ICA, ICSA, CIPS or CIMA | Graduate route: entrance examination and qualifying interview[6] |
| Wisconsin International University College (Accra and Kumasi) | Three-year and four-year LLB in regular, evening and weekend modes | Six WASSCE credits (A1 to C6) in English, Mathematics and Integrated Science or Social Studies plus three electives, aggregate no more than 36 | Applicants with a first degree are placed at Level 200 | Tuition GHS 5,035.00 per semester for Ghanaian freshers and GHS 4,935.00 for continuing Ghanaian students[7] |
| Lancaster University Ghana | LLB taught over three years | No WASSCE-only route is listed on the LLB page; it lists A Level (ABB or 128 tariff points), International Baccalaureate (27 points), US diploma (2.8 GPA plus AP grades 3, 3, 3) and HND routes | First degree from any recognised university | No entrance examination or fee figure is published on the LLB page[8] |
There is no single national cut-off for school leavers. Among the faculties that publish a WASSCE aggregate, UCC is the most demanding at 6 to 12, KNUST asks for 20 or better and Wisconsin accepts no more than 36[3,5,7]. Published money figures are few: UCC and UPSA publish their screening fees, and Wisconsin publishes its tuition.
Other law faculties also run the LLB. Before you pay any application fee, check the GTEC list of accredited institutions, because the Pre-Bar Course after the LLB is open to graduates of GTEC-accredited institutions[9].
What grades are needed for law school in Ghana?
Faculties that publish WASSCE rules ask for credit passes (A1 to C6) in three core subjects and three electives, and the aggregate decides how competitive you are. UCC admits aggregate 6 to 7 directly and interviews applicants with 8 to 12[3]. The University of Ghana selects on WASSCE performance without publishing a cut-off[2]. Use our WASSCE grading system guide to work out your aggregate.
Overseas school qualifications are accepted in places. UPSA accepts American High School Grade 12 with a final grade point of at least 3.0, and Lancaster lists A Level, International Baccalaureate and US diploma routes[4,8]. KNUST also admits mature candidates aged 25 and above with credits in at least five O Levels, including English Language and Mathematics[5].
Can you study law in Ghana with a first degree?
Yes, and it is the shorter route: three years instead of four at UPSA, KNUST (full-time) and GIMPA[4,5,6]. The UPSA and GIMPA graduate programmes run in the evening, and UPSA holds lectures on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Your first degree does not need to be in law. KNUST admits Category Two candidates as first degree holders in a discipline other than law, and Category Three candidates are also admitted as first degree holders in a non-law subject. The difference is the timetable: Category Two reads three years full-time and Category Three four years part-time[5].
Class of degree matters. The University of Ghana, UCC, UPSA and GIMPA all set a Second Class (Lower Division) minimum for graduate entry, and UPSA also asks for senior high school credit passes[2,3,4,6]. GIMPA also accepts a professional chartered qualification such as ACCA or CIMA.
Do all law faculties run an entrance examination and interview?
For graduate applicants, yes: UCC, UPSA, KNUST and GIMPA all set an entrance examination and an interview for the post-first-degree route[3,4,5,6]. The University of Ghana says all candidates must pass an entrance examination and an interview[2]. For school leavers elsewhere it varies: UCC interviews post-WASSCE applicants with aggregate 8 to 12 and admits 6 to 7 without interview.
This faculty test only gets you onto the LLB. It is separate from professional training after the LLB, which no longer has a Ghana School of Law entrance examination (see below).
How much does it cost to study law in Ghana?
Of the faculties compared here, only Wisconsin publishes LLB tuition on its programme page. It charges Ghanaian law students GHS 5,035.00 per semester as freshers and GHS 4,935.00 per semester as continuing students. Foreign students pay $3,687.00 per semester as freshers and $3,632.00 as continuing students[7].
Those are tuition figures only, so add levies, books and living costs, and ask the school which semesters each rate covers.
Screening costs come on top. UPSA charges a non-refundable GH¢1,000 entrance examination fee for its graduate route[4]. UCC charges GH₵1,000 for its graduate entrance examination and interview and GH₵750 for its post-WASSCE interview[3]. After the LLB, the Ghana School of Law set a recommended fee of GHS 14,943.00 for its 2026/2027 Pre-Bar Course, plus a non-refundable GHS 550.00 application fee[9]. For funding options, see our guide to scholarships and student loans in Ghana.
How many years do lawyers go to school in Ghana?
Qualification has two stages: the LLB at a university, then professional training under the Legal Education Act, 2026. The Ghana School of Law describes the Pre-Bar Course followed by Law Practice Training as a two-year pathway to the Bar for 2026 LLB graduates[1].
| Stage | Who it is for | Stated requirement | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLB, four years | Senior high school leavers | WASSCE credits in three core and three elective subjects, with the aggregate each faculty sets | LLB degree |
| LLB, three years | First-degree holders | Usually a Second Class Lower first degree, plus an entrance examination and interview | The same LLB by the graduate route |
| Pre-Bar Course, one academic year | LLB graduates from GTEC-accredited institutions, including earlier graduates | Corporate and Commercial Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family Law, and Interpretation of Deeds and Statutes | Attestation of eligibility to apply for Law Practice Training[9] |
| Law Practice Training (LPT) | Pre-Bar completers | Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Law of Evidence, Conveyancing and Drafting, Advocacy and Legal Ethics, and Law Practice Management and Legal Accounting, at a CLET-accredited institution[1] | Eligibility for the National Bar Examination |
| National Bar Examination | LPT completers | Pass the examination | Call to the Bar[9] |
The study load at the University of Ghana gives a sense of the work: a student carries a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 18 credits per semester and needs a minimum of 120 credits to graduate[2].
How do you get to the Bar after the LLB?
The rules changed in 2026. President Mahama signed the Legal Education Bill into law on 11 May 2026, ending the Ghana School of Law’s exclusive authority over professional legal education[10]. The Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170) establishes a Council for Legal Education and Training (CLET) and moves professional training to accredited law faculties[1].
The Independent Examinations Committee (IEC) entrance examination for the Ghana School of Law has been abolished. Interim directives issued on 16 June 2026 state that admission into the new professional training framework may not depend on any entrance examination conducted by the IEC[1]. Some older pages still describe the entrance examination, so rely on dated notices.
The first step is the one-year Pre-Bar Course. You can take it at your own university, at another GTEC-accredited law faculty or at the Ghana School of Law, and each institution decides admission under its own rules. Faculties were told to prepare to apply for CLET accreditation when the portal opens in October 2026, so that accredited faculties can run Law Practice Training by the 2027/2028 academic year[1].
The Ghana School of Law’s first Pre-Bar intake starts in September 2026, and applications for it are closed[9]. Watch the Ghana School of Law Pre-Bar Course page and your own faculty’s notices for the next intake.
What is the route for foreign law degrees and lawyers trained abroad?
| Applicant type | Stated requirement | Course entered |
|---|---|---|
| Ghanaian nationals with an LLB from a common law jurisdiction | Must meet the core subject requirements; a gap in Ghana Legal System or Constitutional Law may have to be taken at the Ghana School of Law, at GHS 1,500.00 per course | Pre-Bar Course, then Law Practice Training[9] |
| Lawyers already qualified abroad: Ghanaian citizens qualified in jurisdictions analogous to Ghana, and non-Ghanaian lawyers from countries with reciprocal arrangements | Prior study of Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, Immovable Property, Equity and Succession, Company Law and Commercial Law, plus one elective | Post-Call Law Course at the Ghana School of Law[11] |
For the Ghana School of Law’s 2026/2027 Pre-Bar application, applicants needed a certified true copy of the LLB certificate, a signed and stamped final transcript showing the class of degree, valid national identification, a passport photograph, and a gazette or statutory declaration where names differ[9].
Which university in Ghana is best for law?
There is no official ranking of Ghana’s law faculties, so choose on fit against four questions.
- School leaver or graduate? School leavers take the four-year LLB and first degree holders the three-year route.
- Can you study in the day? If not, look at evening and weekend modes at Wisconsin in Accra and Kumasi, the UPSA and GIMPA evening programmes, or the KNUST part-time stream.
- Does your aggregate fit? Compare your result with each published threshold before paying an application fee.
- Is the faculty GTEC-accredited? The Pre-Bar Course is open to LLB graduates from GTEC-accredited institutions[9].
What happened in the 2026 cycle, and what should you expect for 2027?
The 2026 intake dates have passed, but they show the shape of a normal cycle. The University of Ghana closed online applications and supporting documents at 23:59 GMT on Sunday, May 31, 2026. It held its entrance examination on Saturday, 13th June 2026 and selection interviews from Monday, 6th to Friday, 10th July 2026[2].
UPSA ran its entrance examination on Saturday, 23 May 2026, with selection interviews from 8 to 12 June 2026[4]. UCC held its graduate entrance examination and interview on 24 and 25 June 2026 and post-WASSCE interviews from 29 June to 3 July 2026, and did not consider applications received after 15 June 2026[3].
So plan for applications closing between late May and mid-June, faculty examinations from late May to late June, and interviews in June or July. Confirm every 2027 date on the institution’s own page before you pay.
Try this today
- Write down your qualification: WASSCE, SSSCE or GBCE results, a first degree with its class, or a foreign law degree.
- Shortlist two faculties whose published requirement you already meet from the comparison table above.
- Gather certified certificates and transcripts, your correct WASSCE index number and, if you are employed, the employer release letter UCC asks graduate applicants for[3].
- Email or call both admissions offices for this cycle’s fees and dates. Our Education and Training directory lists institutions and contacts.
- If you are in your final LLB year, ask your faculty whether it will run the Pre-Bar Course or send students to the Ghana School of Law.
Comparing faculties beyond law? See how university cut-off points in Ghana work by programme.
Where to check and apply
Apply through each institution’s own portal: University of Ghana, UCC, UPSA, KNUST, GIMPA, Wisconsin and Lancaster University Ghana. For the Pre-Bar stage, follow your own faculty’s notices and the Ghana School of Law. Requirements and dates change each academic year, so verify before every application.
Frequently asked questions
Which courses does the Pre-Bar Course cover?
Four core courses: Corporate and Commercial Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family Law, and Interpretation of Deeds and Statutes[9]. The Ghana School of Law allows no exemptions, even if you took Company Law or ADR during your LLB. Some foreign-trained graduates may also have to take Ghana Legal System or Constitutional Law.
Is there still an entrance examination for the Ghana School of Law?
No. The interim directives of 16 June 2026 state that the IEC entrance examination regime has been abolished under Act 1170[1]. Faculty entrance examinations for the LLB itself still run, so a graduate applicant may still sit one to get onto the LLB.
How much does the Ghana School of Law Pre-Bar Course cost?
The recommended fee for 2026/2027 is GHS 14,943.00, paid 50% by 31 July 2026 and 25% each by 29 January and 30 April 2027[9]. The application fee was GHS 550.00, and the school says application, examination and registration fees may be added.
Can I study law in Ghana if I am older and did not write WASSCE?
Yes, there is a mature route. KNUST admits mature candidates aged 25 and above with credits in at least five O Levels, including English Language and Mathematics[5]. If you already hold a first degree in any discipline, the graduate LLB at UPSA, GIMPA, UCC or the University of Ghana does not use your WASSCE aggregate, although UPSA still asks for school certificate credit passes. Confirm each school’s own mature policy.
Can I enter professional training with a foreign law degree?
Ghanaian nationals with an LLB from a common law jurisdiction are eligible for the Pre-Bar Course if they meet the core subject requirements. A gap in Ghana Legal System or Constitutional Law may have to be made up at the Ghana School of Law[9].
What happens after the Pre-Bar Course?
Completion gives an attestation that you may apply for Law Practice Training at the Ghana School of Law or any CLET-accredited institution. Progression is not automatic, so you must apply[9]. After Law Practice Training comes the National Bar Examination and call to the Bar. Lawyers already qualified in other common law jurisdictions follow a separate route, the Post-Call Law Course[11].
What do I need for a Master of Laws (LLM) in Ghana?
Entry is set by each university. KNUST prefers a minimum of Second Class (Upper Division) honours in the LLB for its Master of Laws, or a Second Class Lower LLB with at least two years of professional experience[5]. The University of Ghana set Friday, 14 August 2026 as the deadline for online applications to its Master programme[2], so watch for the equivalent 2027 date.
Sources
- Ghana School of Law – Transitional Arrangements under the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170) (16 Jun 2026)
- University of Ghana School of Law – Requirements and Deadlines (2026 intake)
- University of Cape Coast – Admission of Bachelor of Laws Programme 2026/2027 (published 8 May 2026)
- UPSA – Bachelor of Laws (LLB), 2026/2027 (8 May 2026)
- KNUST Faculty of Law – Admission Requirements
- GIMPA Law School – LL.B programmes
- Wisconsin International University College – Faculty of Law (updated 7 Oct 2026)
- Lancaster University Ghana – Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (updated 16 Mar 2026)
- Ghana School of Law – Pre-Bar Course (FAQs updated 27 Jul 2026)
- The Presidency, Republic of Ghana – President Mahama signs three bills into law (11 May 2026)
- Ghana School of Law – Entry Requirements
