In October this year, Ashesi welcomed its newest student members to the community. The 168 students who make up Ashesi’s Class of 2015, were chosen from a highly selective and diverse pool of 647 applicants. This class represents 26% of applicants and is the highest ever student intake in the university’s history.

Ashesi’s generous Financial Aid program saw $223,192 in grants being awarded to brilliant students who otherwise could not afford Ashesi’s full tuition fees (compared to $149,880 disbursed last year). 49% of financial aid recipients this year are female.

Through concerted efforts from the admissions office, 51% of the Class of 2015 are female students (a 10% increase on female enrolment from last year). Overall, 35% of the incoming class received financial aid – a 5% increase from last year.

The Class of 2015 is coming in barely two months after Ashesi opened its new campus in Berekuso. “It’s a very beautiful campus,” Rhoda Appiah ’15 remarked enthusiastically when asked about the school’s new grounds. “I’m nervous, but certainly excited to be here.”

Franklin Digber ’15, whose brother is already a senior at Ashesi, explains that for him, Ashesi represents an exciting opportunity for self-development. “That’s why we came here – to be challenged and transformed! It’s all about your own vim and determination to succeed. I know it won’t be easy, but I don’t see a need to be worried, only to be more motivated.”

For others like Kpetermeni Siakor ‘15, a Liberian who had his Senior High School education in Ghana and has been following Ashesi for years, this step represents a strong sense of achievement. “It’s incredible to have systems like the Honour Code, which I used to read about in relation to universities like Stanford, thriving here in Africa. I have always wanted an education that would aim to help me grow not only academically but also as a person. Ashesi has taken everything I ever wanted in a university, and packaged it into one – it’s a real dream come true!”