University for Development Studies

The University for Development Studies, Tamale was established in 1992 as a multi-campus institution. It is the fifth public university to be established in Ghana. This deviates from the usual practice of having universities with central campuses and administrations. It was created with the four northern regions of the country in mind. These are the Brong Ahafo Region, Northern Region, Upper East Region and the Upper West Region.

History
The University for Development Studies (UDS) is a public university located in Tamale, in the Northern Region of Ghana. It consistently ranks as one of the top four universities in the country. Established in 1992 by the Government of Ghana, its purpose is to accelerate the development of Ghana's north, and the broader nation. The legislative instrument that founded the university is PNDC Law 279, which was gazetted on May 15, 1992. UDS is the fifth public university established by the Government of Ghana. The university has two main campuses: Nyankpala and Dungu in Tamale. The university incorporates the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP) into its curriculum for first and second-year students. This program provides students with practical exposure to real-world development challenges within communities, fostering problem-solving skills. UDS students annually spend about two months residing in communities, actively engaging in hands-on experiences that contribute to a nuanced understanding of applied knowledge and the development of innovative solutions. This aspect sets UDS apart within the Ghanaian academic landscape, promoting a distinctive approach to development studies.

Tamale Campus
The campus houses the Central Administration, School of Medicine (SoM), School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), School of Nursing and Midwifery (SoNM), School of Public Health (SPH) and Faculty of Education (FoE) and Desert Research Institute (DRI).

Tamale City Campus
Tamale City Campus is a centre for the following: Graduate School, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IIR), Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), Colleges of Education Affiliation and Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BIIC).

Nyankpala Campus
The following are located at Nyankpala Campus: Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences (FoAFCS), Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment (FNRE), Faculty of Biosciences (FoB), School of Engineering (SoE), West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) and West African Centre for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT).

Tamale North Campus
The Campus is site for School of Applied Economics and Management Sciences (SAEMS).

Eastern Campus, Yendi
Eastern Campus is a site for Faculty of Communication and Cultural Studies (FCCS) and Faculty of Sustainable Development Studies (FoSDS), Centre for Culture, Heritage and African Studies (CCHAS) and Centre for Peace and Security Studies (CePSS).

Faculty of Planning and Land Management

 * Department of Community Development
 * Department of Planning and Management
 * Department of Real Estate and Land management

Faculty of Agriculture

 * Department of Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Technology
 * Department of Agricultural Extension and Farm Management
 * Department of Agronomy
 * Department of Animal Science
 * Department of Biotechnology
 * Department of Consumer Sciences & Agricultural Education
 * Department of Horticulture

Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment

 * Department of Forestry and Forest Resources Management
 * Department of Fisheries ad Aquatic Resources Management
 * Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Management
 * Department of Environment and Sustainability
 * Department of Ecotourism and Resort Management

===School of Allied Health Sciences ===

The following Programmes are offered

 * Undergraduate
 * 4-Year BSc (Community Nutrition)
 * 6-Year Doctor of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS.D) Sandwich Post-Graduate
 * MSc./MPhil in Community Health and Development (Modular)
 * 4-Year Doctor of Medical imagery Technology
 * MSc./MPhil in Public Health Nutrition (Modular)

Departments under the School
Department of Advanced Nursing Practice

Department of General Nursing

Department of Mental Health Nursing

Department of Midwifery and Women's Health

Department of Paediatric Nursing

Department of Preventive Health Nursing

Programmes offered

 * 4-Year BSc (Nursing)
 * 2-Year Top-up BSc (Nursing)
 * 4-Year BSc (Midwifery)
 * 2-Year Top-up BSc (Midwifery)
 * 3-Year Matured Regular BSc (Nursing)
 * 3-Year Matured BSc (Midwifery)
 * 4-Year Access BSc (Midwifery)
 * 3-Year Matured Sandwich BSc (Nursing)
 * 3-Year BSc (Nurse Practitioner)

Faculty of Applied Sciences

 * Department of Applied Biology
 * Department of Applied Chemistry & Biochemistry
 * Department of Applied Physics

Faculty of Mathematical Sciences

 * Department of Mathematics
 * Department of Computer Science
 * Department of Statistics

Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences


 * Department of Earth and Geological Sciences
 * Department of Environmental Science

Faculty of Integrated Development

 * Department of Economics & Entrepreneurship Development
 * Department of Environmental & Resource Studies
 * Department of Social, Political & Historical Studies
 * Department of Planning, Land Economy and Rural Development
 * Department of Communication studies
 * Department of Business Studies

===School of Medicine and Health Sciences === The first batch of students were admitted in 1996
 * Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine
 * Department of Community Nutrition
 * Department of Microbiology
 * Department of Pharmacology
 * Department of Community Health and Family Medicine
 * Department of Physiology & Surgery

=== Faculty of Education ===
 * Department of Development Education Studies
 * Department of Basic Education Studies
 * Department of Educational Foundation Studies
 * Department of social and Business Studies

Faculty of Horticulture
To be established at the University for Development Studies

Directorates

 * Directorate of Finance
 * Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance
 * Directorate of International Relations and Advancement
 * Directorate of Estates
 * Directorate of ICT
 * Directorate of Internal Audit
 * Directorate of Works and Physical Development
 * Directorate of Community Relations and Outreach Programmes (DCROP)
 * Directorate of Procurement
 * Directorate of Health Services
 * Directorate of Sports
 * Directorate of Colleges of Education Affiliation

Campuses

 * Nyankpala, Northern Region, Ghana – houses the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Physical Science and the School of Engineering.
 * Tamale City Campus is a centre for the following: Graduate School, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IIR), Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), Colleges of Education Affiliation and Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BIIC).
 * Tamale Campus, Dungu, Northern Region, Ghana – houses the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Public health  and The Faculty of Education

Third trimester field practical programme
For the Third Trimester Practical Programme (TTFPP) the whole of the third trimester is devoted to practical field work in the local communities. Students of a given year group identify a specific region, and in smaller groups live and interact with the people in the local communities during each third trimester for a period of three years. The programme began in 1993. It entails the combination of students from all the faculties: Agriculture, Integrated Development Studies; Applied Science and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

List of vice chancellors

 * Prof. R.B Bening Pioneer Vice Chancellor (1992 – 2001)
 * Prof G.W.K Mensah (Acting Vice Chancellor) (2001 – 2002)
 * Prof. John Bonaventure Kubongpwa Kaburise (April 8, 2002 – April 7, 2007)
 * Prof. Nokoe (Acting Vice Chancellor) (April 2007 – 30 June 2010)
 * Prof. Haruna Yakubu (June 1, 2010 – 2015)
 * Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye (October 1, 2015 – 2022)
 * Prof. Seidu Al-hassan (September 1, 2022 – Present)