WASSCE Elective Subject Combinations for Medicine and Health Science Courses

Core WASSCE subjects for medicine and health sciences

Every medicine and health science applicant in Ghana needs credit passes, grade A1 to C6, in English Language, Core Mathematics and Integrated Science. University of Ghana adds a fourth compulsory core subject, Social Studies, with a minimum grade of C6 required specifically for science-track applicants, according to University of Ghana's undergraduate entry requirements . KNUST's admission rules ask for three core subjects only: English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science.

Elective subject combinations for Medicine

At University of Ghana Medical School, you need a credit pass in Chemistry plus credit passes in any two of Physics, Biology and Elective Mathematics, making Chemistry the one fixed elective across every accepted combination. The total aggregate, core plus elective grades combined, must not exceed 24 for science programmes at University of Ghana.

KNUST's BSc Human Biology (Medicine), the pre-clinical route into its MBChB and BDS programmes, asks for three elective credits in Biology, Chemistry, and either Physics or Mathematics. Competition for places runs high enough that recent placements needed an aggregate as low as 6, meaning near-top grades across every subject counted, since a lower WASSCE aggregate reflects stronger grades.

Elective combinations for other health science courses

Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science and similar allied health courses generally follow the same elective backbone as Medicine: Chemistry and Biology as fixed electives, with Physics or Elective Mathematics as the third. Exact elective combinations and aggregate cutoffs differ by university and by specific programme, so check the current admission page for each institution, including University of Cape Coast's School of Medical Sciences and University for Development Studies, before you finalise your subject choices in senior high school.

Why Chemistry and Biology dominate the electives

Health science degrees build directly on chemistry and biology content from senior high school, so admission boards weight these two subjects most heavily regardless of which specific course you target. Physics and Elective Mathematics round out the combination because they support the physiology, pharmacology and diagnostic components of most health science curricula. A student aiming for Medicine, Pharmacy or a related course benefits from taking all four science electives, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Elective Mathematics, in senior high school, even though only three count toward the final aggregate, since it keeps every combination open.

Planning your WASSCE subject choices

• Choose Chemistry and Biology as fixed electives from the start of senior high school if you plan to apply for Medicine, Pharmacy or Nursing.

• Add Physics if you want the widest range of course options, since it opens Medicine, Engineering and several science programmes at once.

• Check whether your target university lists Social Studies or another subject as compulsory core, since requirements differ between University of Ghana and KNUST.

• Confirm the current aggregate cutoff and elective combination directly on your target university's admissions page, since these shift with demand each admission cycle.