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Sciences

General Science

General Science is the broad science track many students take at senior high school -- covering Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics together -- that opens the door to a wide range of university science, health, and engineering programs. It's less a single university degree and more the foundational path that qualifies you for many others.

SHS Track (WASSCE)
Duration

4 yrs

Avg. salary

Demand

Growing

Offered at

1 institution

Program objectives

  • 01Build strong foundational knowledge across Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.
  • 02Develop scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills.
  • 03Prepare for a wide range of university science, health, and engineering programs.
  • 04Understand practical laboratory techniques across core science subjects.

Why choose this program

Keeps the widest range of university options open

General Science graduates can pursue health sciences, engineering, pure sciences, and actuarial studies, among many other paths.

Strong foundation for competitive, high-earning fields

Many of Ghana's higher-earning career paths -- medicine, engineering, actuarial science -- require this science foundation as a starting point.

Flexible even if you're unsure what to specialize in yet

If you're genuinely undecided about your future direction, General Science keeps far more doors open than a narrower track would.

Skills you'll build

  • Foundational Biology, Chemistry, and Physics knowledge
  • Basic laboratory techniques across core sciences
  • Mathematical problem-solving
  • Scientific reasoning and analysis
  • Analytical thinking
  • Discipline (balancing four demanding subjects)
  • Time management
  • Problem-solving

Tools & software

  • Basic laboratory equipment across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

Challenges to expect

Academic

  • Balancing four genuinely demanding subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths) simultaneously requires real discipline and strong time management.

Tips from the field

  • Identify your strongest and most interesting subjects early -- did you enjoy Biology more than Physics? That can help point you toward health sciences, agriculture, or biological sciences versus engineering or actuarial paths.
  • Don't neglect any of the four core subjects, even ones you find less interesting, since many university programs have specific subject-combination requirements for admission.
  • Research the specific university programs you're interested in early, since entry requirements vary in which science combinations they expect.

Career paths

  • Pathway to Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Nursing, or Pure Sciences at university level
  • Laboratory-based careers (with further specialization)
  • Health sciences careers (with further specialization)
  • Engineering careers (with further specialization)

Where you can study this

NameLatest cutoffTuition (annual)
University of Cape CoastBEd22(2025)

FAQs

Is General Science a university degree?+

Not exactly -- it's typically the senior high school (SHS) science track that prepares you for a wide range of university science, health, and engineering degree programs.

What can I study at university after General Science?+

A very wide range, including Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, all types of Engineering, Computer Science, Biological Sciences, Actuarial Science, and more, depending on your specific subject strengths and grades.

Do I need to be strong in all four core subjects?+

It genuinely helps, since many competitive university programs have specific subject-combination and grade requirements, so consistent performance across Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Maths matters.

How do I know which university program is right for me after General Science?+

Think honestly about which subjects you enjoyed and performed best in -- strong Biology performance points toward health or biological sciences, while strong Physics and Maths points more toward engineering or actuarial paths.

Is General Science the same as taking Science at the WASSCE level?+

Yes, this refers to the science elective combination taken at the senior high school level under the WASSCE system, which then qualifies you for various university science-related programs.

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