Tertiary Institutions in the Upper East Region of Ghana: History, Programs, Locations, and How to Apply
The Upper East Region of Ghana is home to some of the country’s most respected tertiary institutions, offering diverse academic and professional programs that cater to the growing demand for quality higher education. From teacher training colleges and technical universities to nursing and midwifery institutions, this region has become a hub for nurturing skilled professionals in education, healthcare, technology, agriculture, and the applied sciences. Whether you’re seeking to become a teacher, nurse, engineer, or IT specialist, the institutions in this region provide the foundation for academic growth and career advancement. In this article, we explore the history, special programs, locations, and admission processes of eight top tertiary schools in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
St. John Bosco’s College of Education (Navrongo) 🎓
History & Profile:
Founded in January 1946 by the Catholic mission, this public teacher-training college began with just 10 male students in a Certificate ‘B’ program. It now offers a four-year B.Ed. across multiple specializations including ICT, Mathematics, Agriculture, Visual Arts, Home Economics, Science, and Technical Vocational Skills (en.wikipedia.org).
Location:
Situated in Navrongo, Kassena-Nankana East District, Upper East Region.
Special Programs:
Bachelor of Education degrees in areas like ICT, Agriculture Science, and Technical Vocational Skills.
Admissions:
Admissions open annually (e.g., 2024/2025 cycle). Interested applicants should purchase a voucher, apply online via the college’s portal, upload required documents, and await interview invitations (bosco.edu.gh, nmtczuarungu.edu.gh).
C. K. Tedam University of Technology & Applied Sciences (Navrongo Campus)
History & Profile:
Formerly the University for Development Studies (UDS) Navrongo Campus, it has since been elevated to a full university (CKT‑UTAS), anchored in research and dedicated to technology, applied sciences, and professional development (cktutas.edu.gh).
Location:
Navrongo, Kassena-Nankana District, Upper East Region.
Special Programs:
Offers a broad spectrum of programs including Cyber‐Security, Software Engineering, Public Health, Nursing & Midwifery, Applied Sciences, Mathematics, IT, Biomedical Sciences, and more (cktutas.edu.gh).
Admissions:
Their Admissions Portal is open for the 2025/26 cycle. Applicants must check requirements, buy application forms as listed on the site, apply online, and submit transcripts and credentials (cktutas.edu.gh).
Bolgatanga Technical University
History & Profile:
Established in 1999 as a Polytechnic, it began teaching in 2003 at Bukere and moved to Sumbrungu in 2007. Converted to a Technical University in April 2020, it now offers over 35 programs across bachelor’s, HND, MSc, and diploma levels (bolgatu.edu.gh).
Location:
Sumbrungu campus on the Bolgatanga–Navrongo highway, also has a Bukere campus for evening and part-time study.
Special Programs:
Strong in ecological agriculture (its niche), engineering, applied sciences, business, built environment, and agriculture—with MSc degrees forthcoming in Ecological Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering (bolgatu.edu.gh).
Admissions:
Prospective students should visit the official BTU website or contact the admissions office for updates on entry requirements and procedures.
Nurses’ Training College, Bolgatanga
History & Profile:
Dating back to the 1950s, it originally trained enrolled and auxiliary nurses and midwives. Later it split into separate nursing and midwifery colleges (bolgatu.edu.gh, ntcbolga.com).
Location:
Bolgatanga, Upper East Region.
Special Programs:
Diploma in Nursing (3-year course) along with foundational courses for healthcare professionals (reddit.com, ntcbolga.com).
Admissions:
Forms are typically available at regional post offices. Candidates are admitted based on academic credentials and interviews.
Bolgatanga Midwifery Training College
History & Profile:
With its roots in the 1950s, the school offered nurse training and introduced straight midwifery training in 1974. Registered Midwifery diploma began in 2003; State Registered Nursing post-basic midwifery launched in 1993 (ntcbolga.com, mtcbolga.edu.gh).
Location:
Near Manufacto Studios, Bolgatanga.
Special Programs:
Continuing Registered Midwifery (RM) and Post‑Basic Midwifery programmes (mtcbolga.edu.gh).
Admissions:
Students apply via the college, often submitting credentials and undergoing interviews. Contact info is available on its website.
Zuarungu Nursing & Midwifery Training College
History & Profile:
Founded in November 2006 for Health Assistant training. It attained college status in 2013, introduced Registered General Nursing (2014), and added Post‑NAC/NAP Midwifery in 2019 (nmtczuarungu.edu.gh).
Location:
Zuarungu, Upper East Region.
Special Programs:
Offers three core programs: Registered General Nursing (Diploma), Nurse Assistant Clinical (Certificate), and Post‑NAC/NAP Midwifery (Diploma) (nmtczuarungu.edu.gh).
Admissions:
Purchase a GH¢200 voucher from ADB or GCB, apply online via the Ministry of Health portal (healthtraining.gov.gh), fill in and attach required documents, print the summary, then attend a competitive interview (nmtczuarungu.edu.gh).
Regentropfen College of Applied Sciences (ReCAS) – Now Regentropfen University College
History & Profile:
Established in 2010 in Kansoe, Bongo District, with institutional accreditation granted in March 2016. It grew from offering library services to full accredited education (regentropfen.edu.gh).
Location:
Kansoe, Bongo District, Upper East Region.
Special Programs:
B.Sc. & Diplomas in Nursing, Public Health Nursing, Accounting, Computer Science, Agriculture for Social Change, Education, Business Administration.
Admissions:
Applicants can apply online or download forms, pay the fee via ADB, CBG, or NIB (Bolgatanga branches), upload documents with proof of payment, or post them along with pay-in-slip to the Registrar (regentropfen.edu.gh, regentropfen.edu.gh).
Gbewaa College of Education (Pusiga)
History & Profile:
Originally Government Training College Pusiga (1953), upgraded and became co‑educational in 1976. It transitioned through Certificate ‘B’, Certificate ‘A’, and now offers Diploma in Basic Education since 2004 (en.wikipedia.org).
Location:
Pusiga‑Bawku, Pusiga District, Upper East Region.
Special Programs:
Diploma in Basic Education, with past certificate programs and distance education offerings (en.wikipedia.org).
Admissions:
The college admits roughly 560 diploma students annually. Applicants should follow announcements on the public colleges portal or university affiliation.
How to Get Admission Across These Colleges:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify your program of interest – B.Ed., Engineering, Agriculture, Nursing, Midwifery, etc. |
| 2 | Verify entry requirements – Percentile, prerequisite subjects, and prior certifications. |
| 3 | Purchase application vouchers/forms – From banks (GCB, ADB) or college admissions offices. |
| 4 | Apply online or via form – Some use MoH or MoE portals; others require direct form submission. |
| 5 | Send required documents – Include certificates, transcripts, photos. |
| 6 | Pay application and acceptance fees – Bank payments with proof submission. |
| 7 | Attend interviews (for selected): Especially colleges like Zuarungu conduct competitive interviews. |
| 8 | Await admission decision – Check portal listings or college notice boards. |
Why These Colleges Stand Out
- Teacher Training & Education Excellence: St. John Bosco’s and Gbewaa Colleges are key sources of certified educators in the Northern Zone.
- Technical & Applied Science Focus: BTU and CKT‑UTAS offer industry-relevant programs and are hubs for ecological agriculture, engineering, IT, cyber-security, and more.
- Healthcare Workforce Development: Bolgatanga and Zuarungu Colleges train nurses and midwives in demand-driven curricula.
- Emerging Private Sector Innovation: Regentropfen University College fills gaps with diverse diplomas and B.Sc. degrees in Nursing, IT, Agriculture, and Business.
