University of Cape Coast


The University of Cape Coast is a public collegiate research university located in Cape Coast, Ghana. The university was established in 1962 out of a dire need for highly qualified and skilled manpower in education. It was established to train graduate teachers for second cycle institutions such as teacher training colleges and technical institutions, a mission that the two existing public universities at the time were unequipped to fulfill. The university has since added to its functions the training of doctors and health care professionals, as well as education planners, administrators, legal professionals and agriculturalists. UCC graduates include Ministers of State, High Commissioners, CEOs, and Members of Parliament.

The campus

The university, which is five kilometers west of Cape Coast, is on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It operates on two campuses: the Southern Campus and the Northern Campus. Two of the most important historical sites in Ghana, Elmina and Cape Coast Castle, are only a few kilometers from the university.

Organisation

The University of Cape Coast is today organized into six colleges. Each college has different schools and departments under them as elaborated below;

https://cans.ucc.edu.gh/ College of Agriculture & Natural Sciences [CANS]

https://phy.ucc.edu.gh/ School of Physical Sciences

https://fef.ucc.edu.gh/ Faculty of Educational Foundations

https://soc.ucc.edu.gh/ Faculty of Social Sciences

https://sms.ucc.edu.gh School of Medical Sciences

The School of Graduate Studies of the University of Cape Coast came into being on 1 August 2008. It began as a Committee on Higher Degrees, with a mandate to advise Senate on the University’s graduate policy and recommend the award of scholarship for approval. In 1992, the Committee on Higher Degrees was transformed to a Board of Graduate Studies. This Board, a sub-committee of Academic Board was entrusted with responsibility for administering graduate education in the University, until its status was elevated to a School on 1 August 2008. The School has the mandate to co-ordinate graduate level academic programmes for all Colleges within the University. It also regulates and offers advice on graduate of university colleges affiliated to the University of Cape Coast.
To achieve its vision and mission, the School has four-fold functions:
  1. Draft regulations for all higher degrees with a view to ensuring that acceptable academic standards are maintained.
  2. Receive reports and consider recommendations pertaining to higher degrees and graduate diplomas from Departmental and Faculty Committee of Graduate Studies.
  3. Determine results of higher degrees and graduate diplomas.
  4. Make recommendations to the Academic Board for the award of higher degrees and graduate diplomas.
The University operates a two-semester system for its regular graduate . The First Semester begins from August to December and Second Semester from January to May. The University awards Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Philosophy, Master of Commerce and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the various disciplines.
M.A./M.Ed./M.Sc. programmes will normally consist of two semesters of course work followed by a project or dissertation.
The Master of Philosophy programme will normally consist of two parts. Part I shall consist of two semesters of course work for full-time students and four semesters of course work for part-time students. Part II extends over 12-months and is for research and presentation of thesis.
The Doctor of Philosophy programme is essentially by research. The duration is between 3 and 4 years for full-time students and 4 and 5 years for part-time students.

Centre for International Education

The Centre for International Education, University of Cape Coast, was established to promote, support and co-ordinate all facets of international education activities in the University. These activities include international students and staff exchanges, research collaborations and publications, and information sharing, all aimed at enhancing the international image of the University.
Over the years, the Centre had fostered links with institutions of higher learning from the USA, China, UK, Sweden, Germany, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal, among others.
The Centre offers specialized support services for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff on issues including, but not exclusive to, orientation, admission, enrollment, accommodation, pastoral care, pre-departure briefings and post-return debriefings for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff.
FUNCTIONS
----The Centre:
  1. Manages all matters and programmes relating to international education.
  2. Serves as an advisory unit to all academic departments on exchanges and collaborations.
  3. Serves as a service provider on campus to all international and visiting students, faculty members and staff.
  4. Is responsible for the development of Memorandum of Understanding or partnership agreements with institutions in and outside Ghana.
  5. Facilitates the exchange of staff, faculty and students of partner institutions and vice versa.
  6. Organizes international workshops, seminars and conferences.
The University of Cape Coast runs an international student exchange programme with participants from Europe, North America, and other African countries. International students are fully integrated into student and campus life and receive full credit on successful completion of their studies at UCC.

Halls of Residence