No-Fees-Stress: SLTF advances fee deposits to secure first-year admissions

Newly admitted first-year students in public universities and public technical universities who face fee-payment deadlines can now access bridge financing from the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) to secure their admissions.

The intervention, announced by the SLTF on Monday, October 5, forms part of the government’s No Academic Fees Policy and is aimed at ensuring that eligible students do not lose their admission because of delays in the processing of their fee support.

Under the arrangement, the Fund will, upon application by an eligible student, advance the required fee deposit directly to the student’s tertiary institution. The amount will subsequently be reconciled against the student’s approved academic fee support under the policy.

The SLTF explained that the arrangement became necessary as institutions begin the 2026/2027 academic year and require newly admitted students to meet fee-payment deadlines to confirm their admissions.

“This financing brings the academic fee support forward to ensure that no eligible first-year student loses their admission because of fee-payment deadlines,” the Fund said.

The SLTF said the initiative is consistent with its No-Fees-Stress agenda, which seeks to prevent financial difficulties from becoming a barrier to access to tertiary education.

It urged newly admitted students who require immediate assistance to apply through the No-Fees-Stress portal.

“In keeping with the No-Fees-Stress agenda of ensuring that financial circumstances do not impede access to tertiary education, the Fund will, upon application by an eligible student, advance the required fee deposit directly to the tertiary institution to secure the student’s admission,” it stated.

The No Academic Fees Policy is a government initiative designed to remove academic fee-related barriers for eligible students in public tertiary institutions.

The SLTF said it has been working with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Vice-Chancellors Ghana, Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities and tertiary institutions to facilitate implementation of the policy.

The Fund also acknowledged institutions that have extended fee-payment deadlines to support the smooth implementation of the initiative.

All newly admitted first-year students requiring immediate financial assistance have therefore been encouraged to apply promptly so they can secure their admissions and begin the 2026/2027 academic year without financial pressure.