Two of the most important historical sites in Ghana, Elmina and Cape Coast Castle, are a few kilometers away from its campus.

Its original mandate was therefore to train graduate teachers for second cycle institutions, teacher training colleges and technical institutions,[4] a mission that the two existing public universities at the time were unequipped to fulfill.

On 1972,[5] the college attained the status of a full and independent university, with the authority to confer its own degrees, diplomas and certificates by an Act of Parliament.

UCC graduates include Ministers of State, High Commissioners, CEOs, Members of Parliament, and Ghana's first female vice president.

On 1 October 1971, the college attained the status of a full and independent University, with the authority to confer its own degrees, diplomas and certificates by an Act of Parliament.

The university was established out of a dire need for highly qualified and skilled manpower in education.

The Faculty of Science was split into the Schools of Physical and Biological Sciences during the 2002←/2003 academic year while the Department of Business Studies was also elevated to the School of Business with effect from the 2003/2004 academic year.

The university now trains doctors and health care professionals, as well as education planners, administrators, agriculturalists, Accountants, lawyers etc.

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) graduates include Ministers of State, High Commissioners, CEO's, and Members of Parliament.

[12] Prof. R.K.G Assoku Prof. Martha Tamakloe The University of Cape Coast is today organized into six colleges.

[28] It began as a Committee on Higher Degrees, with a mandate to advise Senate on the university's graduate policy and recommend the award of scholarship for approval.

To achieve its vision and mission, the school has four-fold functions: The university operates a two-semester system for its regular graduate programmes Archived 18 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine.

[30] Over the years, the centre had fostered links with institutions of higher learning from the US, China, UK, Sweden, Germany, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal, among others.

The centre offers specialized support services for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff on issues including, but not exclusive to, orientation, admission, enrollment, accommodation, pastoral care, pre-departure briefings and post-return debriefings for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff.

The centre: The University of Cape Coast runs an international student exchange programme with participants from Europe, North America, and other African countries.