For many Ghanaian university students today, the lecture hall is just one of several “workspaces” in a daily routine marked by exhaustion, anxiety, and a constant search for money. From selling thrift clothes on Instagram to braiding hair in hostel corridors or running food delivery errands between lectures, the modern-day tertiary student is not just learning to pass — they are learning to survive.
The New Normal: Studying by Day, Hustling by Night
In an interview with Ghana Weekend, 22-year-old Amina, a level 300 Sociology student at the University of Ghana, describes her daily schedule as “military.”
“I wake up at 5:30 a.m. to prepare for my 7 a.m. class. After lectures, I rush to the hostel to braid a client’s hair. Sometimes I have two or three girls booked in a day. Then I try to finish my assignments at night, if I’m not too tired to think.”
Amina is just one of thousands who juggle full academic loads with side hustles to keep up with the rising cost of living. The hustle isn’t a lifestyle choice — it’s a necessity.
Some students in public universities now engage in some form of income-generating activity. With university fees rising and hostel rents doubling in the past five years, many are now both students and providers — for themselves and, in some cases, their families.
Financial Pressures: Paying to Learn and Learning to Pay
Kobby, a final-year student at UniMAC-IJ and a freelance graphic designer, admits that things have gotten harder.
“I used to rely on support from home, but now my parents are also struggling. I pay my own hostel fees, buy my own data, and still have to look presentable. My freelance gigs help, but clients delay payments all the time.”
For many like Kobby, the idea of a “sponsor-free” education is a badge of honour, but it comes at a cost. Mental health takes a hit. Rest becomes a luxury. Nutrition is compromised. “Sometimes I survive on gari for days, just so I can buy Wi-Fi bundles for online submissions,” he adds.
The Mental and Physical Burnout
Dr. Judith Ampofo, a clinical psychologist with Anthon Memorial Hospital, says the signs of burnout are becoming more common among young people in tertiary institutions.
“We’re seeing more cases of anxiety, insomnia, and even depression directly linked to academic pressure and financial stress. These students are carrying too much — and in silence.”
Indeed, students hustle through sickness, hunger, and fatigue, all to avoid falling behind academically or financially. For female students in particular, the added burden of societal expectations and gender-based challenges can compound the struggle.
“You’re judged for working too hard, but also judged for asking for help,” says Ama, a hair braider and Nutrition student. “It feels like you’re constantly trying to prove you deserve to be here.”
No Scholarships, No Safety Nets
The reality is stark: there are not enough scholarships to go around, and student loan disbursement delays have left many stranded mid-semester. For some, taking a semester off to regroup isn’t even an option — because the fees will still pile up.
Even the few government support schemes, like the Ghana Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), come with bureaucracy that discourages application.
“The process is too long. You need guarantors, national IDs, and even after that, it takes weeks or months to get anything,” says Richmond, a second-year Economics student.
The Danger of Silence
Despite their strength and resourcefulness, the dominant narrative in public discourse often brands young people as “lazy” or “entitled.” But this is a deeply flawed and dangerous stereotype.
What the stories of Amina, Kobby, Ama, and thousands of others reveal is not laziness — but a daily grind marked by sacrifice and self-discipline. These students don’t just show up for class — they show up for life.
A System Demanding Change
The current system — one that forces students to choose between health and performance — is unsustainable. Universities need to invest more in mental health services, financial aid, and flexible academic structures. Policymakers must look at tertiary education not just as a pathway to degrees but as a battleground of survival.
Parents and guardians, too, must be reminded that the cost of education today goes beyond fees. It includes food, transportation, rent, books, and data. It includes understanding.
More Than Just Resilient
There is no doubt that Ghanaian students are resilient. They juggle, they multitask, they innovate. But resilience should not be a requirement for education. No student should have to choose between rest and graduation. No student should lose sleep over food and school fees in the same breath.
Behind every smiling graduate photo is a story of pain, pressure, and perseverance. And it’s time those stories are not just celebrated, but supported.
As a student and a “hustler” who balances good grades with meeting targets at work, this is how I feel:
“I’m doing this for my future. I just hope I make it through without losing myself in the process.”
