Canada ranks among the top education systems in the world, but for many international students, including Nigerians, the appeal now goes far beyond a degree; it is about what happens after the degree.
The attraction is that Canada is also closely tied to long-term migration opportunities, its post-study work pathways, particularly the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), offering international students a clear route to gain local work experience, and, eventually, permanent residency through programmes like Express Entry.
In 2023 alone, Canada issued a record 37,630 study permits to Nigerians, a 133% surge from the previous year.
By 2024, over 58,000 Nigerian students were already studying in Canada, making it the fourth-largest source country for international students.
Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the country plans to admit about 380,000 new immigrants annually to support its economy and labour market needs.
They also plan to fast-track permanent residence for 33,000 skilled temporary workers over 2026 and 2027, focusing on those already working in communities, especially in rural areas and in in-demand sectors
Methodology: In this article, affordability is defined based on postgraduate study costs, focusing on universities that offer master’s programmes with annual international tuition fees below $10,000
Here are the top 10 most affordable universities in Canada for international students.
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a leading public research university known for its strong focus on innovation and interdisciplinary studies. It is located in Burnaby, British Columbia, with campuses in Vancouver and Surrey.
For international students, postgraduate tuition at SFU is charged per term. The full-time graduate fee is approximately CAD 2,149.58 per term, while a reduced continuing fee of CAD 1,074.79 per term applies after a set number of completed terms. This means that over a typical academic year of three terms, tuition can range from roughly CAD 6,400, depending on programme duration and stage.
SFU offers a wide range of postgraduate programmes across its faculties, including Applied Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Business (Beedie School of Business), Communication, Art and Technology, Education, Environment, Health Sciences, and Science.
In terms of living expenses, the estimated monthly cost for a single person is about CAD 1,474 (excluding rent), while renting a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre averages around CAD 2,148 per month.
