At the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) we believe that learning is a lifelong pursuit, that education should be available to the widest possible community, and that no student should be denied access to a university education by age, social background or inability to pay. We have enhanced the flexibility of our diploma and undergraduate degree programmes to make participation attractive to everyone in our local communities. Our degree-level classes are run in the evenings to accommodate students with daytime commitments, particularly those who live locally in and around the Greater Accra Region though we have private hostel facilities that accommodate students coming from outside Greater Accra and the country.

The University of Professional Studies Evening School Programme is a specifically designed programme which takes students through a number of Business modules to Diploma and Degree programmes. It is flexible: it enables students to study and achieve some level of specialization in areas of particular interest to them, and to progress at their preferred pace. It also offers a supportive environment in which mature students can fulfill their academic and intellectual potential.
WHO CAN ENROLL? IS IT YOU? – WE HOPE SO . . .

The Evening School Programmes are designed for those thinking about returning to study later in life and those who are so busy and hitherto will not get the opportunity to enroll as a regular student. It is for people who have daytime commitments, or perhaps a health condition, which means that part-time study, is the only viable option. It is a programme for adults who have some recent experience of study or who are working in a demanding professional environment where organizational and/or technical skills have been tested. It is for adults who feel they have missed out on higher education but are confident that they can succeed in degree-level studies. It is for mature learners who feel they would work best in a supportive environment, with dedicated staff, alongside other committed students.

Philosophy of the Evening School

The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), in the quest to become a Centre of academic excellence, has introduced new programmes and varied sessions (morning, evening and weekend) to meet contemporary socio-economic and human resource challenges. This posturing was consequential to it receiving the Presidential Charter in September, 2008 to award degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The Evening School was created in January 2010 to address the peculiar challenges associated with working and acquiring tertiary education concurrently. In this regard, the Evening School is an avenue for potential candidates of the University’s programmes who cannot make time for regular hours of lectures to take advantage of this window of opportunity to enhance their skills. This decentralization is also to enhance effective management of the University.

Objectives

The objectives of the Evening School are to:

Offer the existing academic programmes to prospective applicants (particularly workers) who do not find the lecture hours of the morning session convenient.
Create the needed conducive environment for adult learning.
Make UPSA academic programmes more accessible to a good number of people who normally would not have had the opportunity to enhance their personal skills.

The Evening Degree at a Glance

Study for a Diploma or Bachelor of Science (General) Degree in 1 – 4 years
Combine a range of modules and build up your degree programme
Credit can be given for recent previous learning
Take classes on evenings
Academic year begins in August
Flexible to changes in your circumstances
Supportive study environment

Evening School Programmes

The Evening School of the University Professional Studies, Accra covers all the four mainstream Undergraduate Programmes as well as four Diploma Programmes. These are:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing Programme
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Programme
Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance Programme
Bachelor of Business in Administration Programme
Diploma in Accounting
Diploma in Marketing
Diploma in Public Relations Management
Diploma in Management

When – And When – Do The Classes Run?

Classes for the Evening School programme take place on Mondays to Fridays from 4:00pm to 9:20pm. Students come to classes according to their time-table schedules. Classes take place either in the teaching rooms in the new Lecture Block Complex (LBC), the AB and the NH buildings, or within the Departments or academic Schools where the lecturers and tutors are based. In this way, students have easy access to all the facilities they need to complete their academic studies successfully. The time-table is there to guide each and everyone.

Information About Teaching and Assessment

Teaching methods vary from module to module but all include lectures and small discussion groups.
There will be a reading list for each module which will be sent out before the start of teaching; in most cases one or more textbooks will need to be bought.
Assessment for modules is largely based on essays, reports, presentations and other exercises prepared in the student’s own time. There may also be tests to be taken during regular class hours.

What Do I Need to Get In?

The normal requirements for entry to undergraduate degree programmes here at University of Professional Studies, Accra are considerably relaxed for the Evening Degree. Applicants must, however, demonstrate that they are capable of profiting from, and succeeding in, a demanding academic environment. This can probably best be demonstrated by having succeeded in recent certificated courses, but ‘life skills’ and personal experience are also important, in which case we would be looking for evidence of the following:

An awareness of what is involved in following a programme of study at this level – and being committed to following it through.
Experience of the discipline, routine, organization and time management involved in following a formal course of study, or through the demands of a job.
Skills such as; knowing how to engage in formal discussion; being able to produce sustained pieces of written text in response to set questions; word-processing/web competence; the ability to develop and share opinions with others.

Qualifications

Entry qualifications offered by successful applicants’ could include:

Higher National Diplomas (HND) in a related area. Advanced (A)-Levels.
An approved Access to Higher Education Course.
HND
SSSCE / WASSCE certificates
Professional qualifications awarded by, for example, nursing, accountancy, banking or other bodies.

English Language Proficiency

If your first language is not English, you will be required to offer evidence of competence in English, e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency, Cambridge Advanced.
I have a disability . . .

The University very much welcomes applications from students with physical disability. Within the University, there is a medical unit in place to assist students professionally. They can be contacted at any stage of the application process for information, advice or support. Applicants are encouraged to make known their needs as early on in the application process as possible. This allows the medical unit enough time to work towards having support put in place from day one.

The University Today

Founded fifty (50) years ago, the University of Professional Studies, Accra is the first Professional University in Ghana which provides both academic and professional business education. It has gained a reputation as the oldest Professional Accountancy and Management tuition provider in Ghana with many of its products in key leadership positions in Ghana and elsewhere.

The University is now one of Ghana’s most research-intensive seats of learning. It is one of the top-rated universities in Ghana for research, teaching of professional courses such as Banking and Finance, Marketing, Accounting and Administration; and student satisfaction. Its international reputation for delivering high quality teaching and research and student satisfaction make it one of the most sought-after destinations for prospective students from Ghana and overseas. It has a staff of over 200 and maintains one of the strongest records in Ghana for teaching quality, good degrees and student support. The University also provides an invigorating intellectual climate in which staffs have close contacts with each other and with colleagues in other Ghanaian and overseas universities and research establishments.
What makes the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) special?

Consistently high teaching quality within a strong research environment.
Excellent retention rates.
Diverse forms of teaching: web support and small group interaction.
Flexible modular degree structures.
Compact and friendly
A Ghanaian university with a cosmopolitan atmosphere that easily accommodates international students as well.
High reputation for an excellent student experience.

What makes the University of Professional Studies, Accra Evening Degree special?

You can study for either a Diploma or Bachelor degree, with a broad range of modules/subjects on offer each year.
Credit can be given for recent, previous learning.
We promote flexible learning
We offer a supportive environment where students can achieve their academic potential.
The Evening Degree goes from strength to strength; there are over 2015 students on the programme.

As an Evening Degree student…

You can use all University and student facilities, including the University Library, the Sports Centre, and the Students Union and join student societies, vote in and stand for student elections.

You will be allocated a personal university computer account number to access your email and to the University network for online information and learning materials through the moodle learning platform.

You can speak – in confidence- with staff from Student Services and the Evening School Secretariat about any welfare matter: financial hardship, and finance advice, personal relationships, disability and long-term medical support and advice, emotional and spiritual issues.

The University Library

The University of Professional Studies, Accra Library has a central role to play in your academic studies. All new Evening Degree students are taken through an orientation tour of the Library as part of their Study Essentials programme, to meet some of our Library staff, and learn about the library resources. Expert and helpful staffs are around to help you find information to support your learning and to ensure that you make the best use of the wide variety of print and electronic information resources and services on offer. Training is available in Information Finding skills for individuals or group basis throughout your time at the University. The Library is open for over 100 hours per week throughout the semester, including weekends. The Library holds over 100,000 books, a collection of e-book, more than 11,000 print and electronic journals, academic databases and an extensive collection of DVDs. A separate large cluster of networked computers can be used to access the Library web pages and the many online databases and electronic information resources subscribed to by the Library.

Student Services Unit And The Chaplaincy Board

The University offers a caring and supportive environment for its Evening Degree students through regular personal contact with academic tutors, the office of the Dean of the Evening School, and Student Services Unit. All areas of students’ welfare are covered by the Student Services team of advisers and counselors who can be contacted on issues such as personal relationships, financial hardship, disability and long-term medical conditions, and general welfare issues.

The Chaplaincy Board acts as a patron for all faith base, cultural and environmental groups in the University. The Chaplaincy Board works closely with Student Services Unit and plays an important role in students’ welfare through support and encouragement as well as meeting students to discuss their emotional, spiritual and academic issues. Confidentiality is the hallmark of the Chaplaincy Board.

How to Apply

Application Forms can be obtained from Ecobank and Access Bank. For further information about the application, please contact:

Helen Arkorful (Mrs.)
Dean of the Evening School
University of Professional Studies, Accra
Ghana

Or

The Academic Director
University of Professional Studies, Accra
P. O. Box LG149, Legon

Ghana

Tel: +233 (0302) 500722, 500723

Fax: +233-0302-501174

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Contacts

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