I'm Ghanian, what documents are required for student visa?

You don't need to buy a flight ticket for student visa application. Besides the admission letter, the JW201 or JW202 is also required. For more than 6 months study in China, the physical examination record is also required.

Thank you Bob. Are the requirements for the X and F visas different? I plan on staying seven months in China. Four months at a Shanghai uni for a semester and 3 months at a Beijing university. Can I apply for an X visa? How will the different JW202s affect my visa status? i.e can I apply with one for the entire period? Thank you.

Yes, the requirements for X visa and F visa are different, for X visa, the physical examinintation record is also required besides the admission letter and JW201 or JW202.

Four months at a Shanghai uni for a semester and 3 months at a Beijing university. Do you study the two semesters continuousely without exiting China? If you first study Four months at a Shanghai uni, then return home, enter China again for 3 months at a Beijing university, you need to apply for two F visas.

JW202 is for private and inter-institutional students, you need to provide the bank statement to prove you can support your study in China.

thank you very much for responding to my earlier question, now how do i start with the physical examination records?

You need to contact China embassy in your country to see what's the designated hospitals for physical examination. The hospitals will then handle it for you. Here is the form of Physical Examination Record for Foreigners for your reference: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/pdf/physical.pdf