Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is a public university in Kumasi, Ghana. It began as the Kumasi College of Technology, which opened on 22 January 1952, and became a full university on 22 August 1961.[1] It is organised in six colleges.[2] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is in the 1201–1400 band.[3]
International students pay in US dollars. In the provisional 2026/27 schedule, a first-year undergraduate in the humanities and social sciences pays US$4,430 in total, while first-year engineering students pay US$6,280.[4] International applicants pay a non-refundable application fee of US$100.[5] Teaching is in English; applicants from non-English-speaking countries must show at least a one-year English proficiency certificate.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST)[1] |
| Location | Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana[6] |
| Type | Public university[6] |
| Founded | Kumasi College of Technology, established by government ordinance on 6 October 1951, opened 22 January 1952; full university since 22 August 1961[1] |
| Name history | Renamed University of Science and Technology in 1966; the original name was restored in 1998 by Act 559[1] |
| Colleges | Science; Engineering; Art and Built Environment; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Health Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences[2] |
| Students | 85,000+ in 2023 (Wikipedia; the university’s own pages give no total)[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 1201–1400 band[3] |
| THE World University Rankings 2027 | 1201–1400 band (previous year 1201–1500)[7] |
| Fees 2026/27, international undergraduate freshers (provisional) | From US$4,430 (humanities and social sciences) to US$7,563 (medicine and dental surgery), including other charges[4] |
| Application fee, international applicants | US$100, non-refundable[5] |
| Length of first degrees | Most four years[5] |
| Language of teaching | English[5] |
| Official website | knust.edu.gh |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About KNUST
KNUST began as the Kumasi College of Technology, set up by government ordinance on 6 October 1951 and officially opened on 22 January 1952. It became a full university on 22 August 1961 and was named Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.[1] After the 1966 coup it was renamed University of Science and Technology; Act 559 restored the name in 1998.[1]
The university has six colleges: Science, Engineering, Art and Built Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences.[2] Wikipedia reports more than 85,000 students in 2023; the university’s own pages we read give no enrolment total.[6]
How is KNUST ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, KNUST is in the 1201–1400 band.[3] In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, released on 30 September 2026, it is in the 1201–1400 band as well, up from 1201–1500 a year earlier.[7]
Bands group many institutions together and say little about differences inside a band. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. See also the Ghana ranking table.
What can you study at KNUST?
The undergraduate entry-requirements document (April 2026) groups programmes in the six colleges and names faculties and schools such as the Faculties of Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Built Environment, Art, Educational Studies, Social Sciences, Law, Biosciences and Physical and Computational Sciences, and the KNUST School of Business.[5] Most first-degree programmes last four years.[5]
The 2026/27 international fee schedules show the breadth: humanities and social sciences, business and law, art and architecture, agriculture, sciences, engineering, health sciences, veterinary medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, herbal medicine and medicine.[4] For the current programme list, use the colleges page and the entry-requirements PDF.[2]
How much does KNUST cost for international students?
KNUST publishes separate fee schedules for international undergraduates and postgraduates, for new (fresher) and continuing students.[8] All amounts are in US dollars. The undergraduate schedule is marked 2026/2027 and provisional; it splits the fee into A (tuition), B1 (other charges) and B2 (additional charges).[4]
| Undergraduate freshers 2026/27 (examples) | Tuition (A) | Other charges (B1) | Additional (B2) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities and social sciences (e.g. Economics, English, Geography) | US$2,975 | US$1,454.55 | none | US$4,430 |
| Business Administration, Hospitality, Law (LL.B.) | US$4,675 | US$1,454.55 | none | US$6,130 |
| Biological sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics | US$3,485 | US$1,454.55 | US$103.11 | US$5,043 |
| Engineering (e.g. Civil, Electrical, Mechanical) | US$4,675 | US$1,454.55 | US$150.36 | US$6,280 |
| Medicine, Dental Surgery | US$5,950 | US$1,454.55 | US$158.76 | US$7,563 |
Totals are rounded to whole dollars in the schedule.[4] The same schedule lists a recommended personal allowance and bank details for payment.[4]
Postgraduate
The postgraduate international schedule has tuition (A), other charges (B) and thesis and oral examination (C). For master’s degrees the totals include, for example, US$6,986 for humanities and social sciences, US$7,451 for business programmes and the LL.M., US$6,221 for sciences and US$7,411 for engineering.[9] Note that the PDF we read is headed “2025/2026 academic year (provisional)” although it is listed on the 2026/2027 fees page, so confirm the current figures with the International Programmes Office.[9]
How do you apply to KNUST?
All applicants, Ghanaian or international, apply through the KNUST admissions portal: register with a valid email address, buy an e-voucher by Mastercard, Visa or mobile money, then complete the online application. International applicants pay a non-refundable application processing fee of US$100.[5] The international students page adds that foreign applicants generate an e-voucher on the portal, and that incomplete applications are not processed.[10]
You need your examination results, birth certificate, Ghana Card or passport and a passport photograph. Accepted results include WASSCE/SSSCE, Cambridge GCE/IGCSE Ordinary and Advanced Level, the International Baccalaureate, American High School Grade 12 and other international high school results.[5] Cut-off points and subject requirements per programme are in the entry-requirements PDF.[5] We give no deadlines because they change every year and differ for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance programmes. Contact the International Programmes Office for help.[10]
Which English level do you need?
Teaching is in English. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must provide a minimum of one year’s English Proficiency Certificate with their application.[5] The pages we read do not name IELTS or TOEFL or minimum scores for KNUST.[5][10]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are KNUST fees for international students?
In the provisional 2026/27 undergraduate schedule, first-year totals range from US$4,430 (humanities and social sciences) to US$7,563 (medicine and dental surgery), including other charges.[4] Postgraduate master’s totals in the schedule we read include US$6,986 (humanities and social sciences) and US$9,811 (MPH programmes).[9]
How is KNUST ranked?
How much is the KNUST application fee for international applicants?
US$100, non-refundable, according to the April 2026 entry-requirements document.[5]
Do I need an English test to study at KNUST?
Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must provide a minimum of one year’s English proficiency certificate.[5] The pages we read name no test or score.
Is KNUST the same as the University of Science and Technology?
It is the same institution. It was renamed University of Science and Technology after the 1966 coup, and Act 559 restored the name Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 1998.[1]
More about studying in Ghana
- Ghana: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Ghana
Sources
[1] KNUST: University history (page without a date)
[2] KNUST: Colleges (page without a date)
[3] xuanxiao.org: QS World University Rankings 2027 table (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (aggregator, edition 2027 published 18 Jun 2026)
[4] KNUST: Fees for the 2026/2027 academic year, undergraduates, international (freshers) (PDF) (provisional; file uploaded Sep 2026)
[5] KNUST: Entry requirements and guidelines for selecting an undergraduate programme (PDF) (published by the Registrar’s Office, April 2026)
[6] Wikipedia: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (type, location and student count)
[7] YEN.com.gh: Times Higher Education 2027: UCC lands sixth straight top spot in Ghana as UG rises 114 places (article of 1 Oct 2026; THE edition released 30 Sep 2026)
[8] KNUST: Fees schedule 2026/2027 academic year (page without a date; PDFs uploaded 2026-05 to 2026-10)
[9] KNUST: Fees for postgraduates, international (freshers) (PDF) (provisional; file uploaded Sep 2026, headed 2025/2026)
[10] KNUST: International students (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.