Nigerian students’ vital contribution to the Canadian educator sector is evident from their increasing numbers. The statistics clearly show that in 2019, Canada’s government issued more than 3,000 student visas to Nigerian students. This number was twice in 2021, and in 2022, it doubled again.
Overall, Nigerian students have rapidly contributed to the student population growth in Canada.
Nigerian students’ vital contribution to the Canadian educator sector
Apply Board observed a few prominent mobility trends for Nigerian students in Canada, and these are the following insights:
- Nigerians received more study permits from Canada than any other nation outside India in the first half of 2023. This means nearly 18,000 total.
- In terms of study licenses issued, Nigerians accounted for 44% of all international students in Canada between January and June 2023. As a result, they account for the fastest population growth in Canada.
- Over the first half of 2023, the percentage of Nigerians with approved study permits increased to under 40%. Compared to 2020, such approval rates are more than twice as high.
- In comparison to the average, the distribution of Nigerian students in Canada is more uniform. More than five percent of the study permits granted to Nigerians between January and June of 2023 were Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick residents.
Processing of Nigerian Study Permits
Except for China and India, Nigerian applications for student visas were processed by Canada more frequently in 2017 than in any other country. Nevertheless, less than 20% of the students possessed approved study permits. Furthermore, very few had permission to travel to Canada for their studies.
In 2023, approval rates have almost doubled. Nigerian students are likely to make up Canada’s second-largest inbound student cohort after submitting over 43,000 applications for study permits in the first half of 2023.
The acceptance rates of Nigerian students in Canada are a major determining factor. Insufficient funds were the primary reason for denial in 74% of Nigerian study visa applications denied in 2021 and 2022, according to ApplyBoard.
The Canadian government faced criticism the previous year due to poor approval rates for African students seeking student visas. As a result, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration conducted a study. Its findings included suggestions for enhancing the equity and openness of the procedure for approving study permits. Approval rates for African nations have increased after the outbreak.
Places where most Nigerian students seek to study in Canada
More Nigerian students received study licenses in eight of ten provinces in the first half of 2023 than in the entire year of 2022. With over twice as many study permits granted in 2022, Nova Scotia has experienced the most significant surge. Following Ontario and British Columbia, this was the third most.
Despite being popular study locations, Nigerians were significantly underrepresented in Ontario and British Columbia than other regions.
In the first half of 2023, study permits for Nigerians were granted in almost 63% of the cases in Ontario, British Columbia, the prairie provinces, and Atlantic Canada. Contrary to the fact, out of all students, around 84% selected those two provinces as their destination.
The significance of Nigerian students in Canada’s education sector
In the first half of 2023, over 6,500 study licenses were granted to Nigerian students in Canada, setting a record for the entire year.
ApplyBoard states the Nigerian student population is crucial for sustaining the international education sector in other provinces. This benefits Canada due to the growing trend of international students centralizing to study at Ontario universities and colleges.
In addition, the UK recently declared that it would not allow the majority of foreign students to enter the nation with dependents. This presents Canada with a chance to gain a significant recruiting advantage. Also, it will enable them to keep accepting record numbers of Nigerian students.
The status of Nigerian PRs in Canada
Nigeria came in at number four among the other countries of origin for new Canadian PRs in 2022, after China, India, and Afghanistan. Specifically, 22,085 new permanent residents entered Canada in 2022, accounting for more than 5% of the country’s overall permanent resident population. The ability to use the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) following the completion of an educational program and the chance to acquire permanent residence in Canada are two of the key advantages of studying abroad in Canada.
Following graduation from a Canadian DLI, PGWPs are the primary pathway for overseas students seeking employment in Canada. For a maximum of three years, holders of the PGWP open work permit can work for any employer in Canada.
Prospective PRs can benefit greatly from the work experience obtained through a PGWP because several Canadian permanent residency pathways directly reward individuals with Canadian work experience. According to data from Statistics Canada, nearly three-quarters of all PGWP holders gained permanent residence within five years of obtaining their PGWP.
If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our MakeHomeCanada experts at 1-800-979-0509, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].
