A Day in the Life of a Health Science Student at KCoHAS, Accra

What is it actually like to study health sciences at Klintaps University College of Health and Allied Sciences? Beyond the brochures and programme descriptions, what does a typical day look like for a KCoHAS student? This article takes you inside the daily experience of students across several programmes, giving prospective students and parents an honest, detailed picture of the KCoHAS learning environment.

A typical lecture day at KCoHAS starts around 8:00 AM. Students gather in the college's lecture halls on the campus in the Klagon-Lashibi area of Accra, close to the Tema Motorway. The campus atmosphere is intimate compared to large public universities — you recognise faces, faculty know your name, and the sense of community is strong. Morning lectures cover foundational and specialised subjects depending on your programme and level. A Level 200 Medical Laboratory Science student might start with Clinical Chemistry, while a Level 300 Sonography student dives into Obstetric Scanning Techniques.

Class sizes at KCoHAS are deliberately small — typically 25 to 50 students per programme per level. This is one of the college's most distinctive features. In a Clinical Chemistry lecture, the lecturer can engage individual students with questions, work through problem sets interactively, and identify students who are struggling before they fall behind. Compare this to a lecture hall of 200 students at a large university, where a struggling student can remain invisible for an entire semester.

Laboratory practicals are the heartbeat of health science education at KCoHAS, and they typically occupy afternoons two to three times per week. The college's laboratories are equipped with the instruments students will encounter in professional practice — microscopes, spectrophotometers, haematology analysers, ultrasound machines, and X-ray equipment. A Medical Laboratory Science student might spend the afternoon performing complete blood counts, preparing blood smears, and examining them under the microscope to identify cell morphologies. A Sonography student practises scanning techniques on fellow students and simulation models, learning to identify anatomical structures in real-time ultrasound images.

Clinical placements are where theory meets reality. Starting from Level 200 or Level 300 (depending on the programme), students spend designated periods at partner hospitals in the Greater Accra Region. These placements take students out of the classroom and into real healthcare environments — hospital laboratories, imaging departments, nutrition clinics, and public health offices. Under the supervision of licensed professionals, students process real patient specimens, perform real diagnostic scans, and participate in real clinical decision-making.

The clinical placement experience is transformative. A Sonography student on placement at a major hospital might spend the morning performing obstetric scans alongside a senior sonographer, seeing a range of normal pregnancies and learning to identify potential complications. A Medical Laboratory Science student might process dozens of patient samples in a single shift, running tests for malaria, HIV, hepatitis, blood grouping, and glucose levels. A Clinical Dietetics student might assess the nutritional status of patients on a hospital ward, developing meal plans for those with diabetes, kidney disease, or post-surgical recovery needs.

Outside of lectures, labs, and clinical placements, KCoHAS students engage in a vibrant campus life. The Student Representative Council (SRC) organises events throughout the academic year, including the annual Health Week celebration — a multi-day event featuring health screenings, symposia, entertainment, and community outreach. Sports activities, cultural events, and inter-departmental competitions build friendships across programmes and break up the intensity of the academic schedule.

The study culture at KCoHAS is collaborative rather than cutthroat. Because class sizes are small and students in different health science programmes share some foundational courses, inter-professional friendships form naturally. A Sonography student and a Medical Laboratory Science student studying together might discuss how imaging and laboratory results complement each other in clinical diagnosis — exactly the kind of inter-professional thinking that makes graduates more effective healthcare professionals.

Faculty accessibility is another feature students frequently mention. At a specialised college with a focused mission, faculty are more available for one-on-one consultation, mentorship, and guidance. Students do not need to navigate bureaucratic appointment systems to speak with their lecturers. Many faculty members are themselves practising health professionals — a Sonography lecturer who still scans patients at a hospital brings current clinical knowledge to the classroom, not just textbook theory.

Living in the Greater Accra area while studying at KCoHAS offers practical advantages. Students have access to a wide range of accommodation options in Klagon, Lashibi, Tema, and surrounding communities, at various price points. The college's proximity to major hospitals — Tema General Hospital, Lekma Hospital, and facilities in Accra — means clinical placement sites are conveniently accessible. The urban setting also provides access to libraries, internet cafes, bookshops, and the social amenities that make student life comfortable.

The KCoHAS experience is not without its challenges — health science programmes are demanding, clinical placements require early mornings and long hours, and the volume of material to master is significant. But students consistently report that the challenge is matched by the reward: graduating with genuine clinical competence, a recognised degree, professional licensing eligibility, and the confidence that comes from four years of rigorous, hands-on training. The small-college environment means that by graduation, faculty know your strengths, your growth areas, and your career aspirations — and they become advocates and references as you enter the job market.

Frequently Asked Questions: Is on-campus accommodation available at KCoHAS? The college assists students with finding accommodation in the surrounding communities. Off-campus housing is readily available at various price points. How far is KCoHAS from central Accra? The campus is located in the Klagon-Lashibi area, approximately 30 to 40 minutes from central Accra by road. Trotros and ride-hailing services provide convenient transportation. Do students get time for extracurricular activities? Yes — while the academic programme is intensive, students participate in sports, cultural events, community outreach, and SRC-organised activities throughout the year.