Government-sponsored Ghanaian PhD students in the United Kingdom are facing possible deportation and academic withdrawal due to unpaid tuition fees and stipends, some of which have been in arrears for up to 48 months.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 9, the executives of the Ghanaian PhD cohort in the UK said at least ten students have already been excluded or withdrawn from their universities, with others at risk of deportation by the UK Home Office.
“About 10 of our members are currently excluded or withdrawn from their studies due to non-payment of tuition fees and are awaiting potential notification from the Home Office for their deportation,” the statement read.
The affected students, who are beneficiaries of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS), revealed that the arrears have made it difficult for them to survive in the UK. Some have reportedly been evicted from their homes, while others face legal action over unpaid rent.
According to the group, several members have gone months and, in some cases, years without receiving their monthly stipends, which range between £1,023 and £1,200. “Some of our members are owed as much as 48 months in stipends,” they lamented.
Currently, about 110 Ghanaian PhD students are enrolled in various UK universities under GSS sponsorship. However, the group said the crisis extends beyond unpaid tuition, as 36 students are also in urgent need of renewal letters required to continue their research or re-enroll for the new academic year.
The scholars noted that unpaid fees have led to serious academic and immigration consequences. Some have completed their studies but are unable to graduate or receive certificates, while others who travelled to Ghana for data collection have been denied re-entry to the UK due to their universities’ unpaid balances.
While acknowledging that the GSS has made some recent payments, the students described them as “woefully inadequate,” noting that at least 30 students have received no payment toward their 2024/25 tuition fees. They estimate that around £400,000 will be needed to sustain their studies for the 2025/26 academic year.
The group attributed the crisis to administrative lapses within the GSS and past management inefficiencies but insisted that students should not bear the consequences of public officials’ failures.
Despite their frustrations, the scholars commended ongoing government efforts to reform the scholarship system for greater transparency and fairness.
They have appealed to Ghana’s new UK High Commissioner and President John Dramani Mahama to urgently intervene and help resolve the issue.
“We are therefore appealing to the UK High Commissioner and President John Dramani Mahama to, as a matter of urgency and priority, assist in securing an immediate resolution and redress to the issues,” the statement concluded.