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.
Brandon University is a public university located in Brandon, Manitoba, a quiet and more affordable city that appeals to international students looking to reduce both tuition and living costs compared to larger Canadian cities.
For international students, postgraduate tuition typically ranges from CAD 2,327.03 to CAD 9,261.18, depending on the programme and course load.
The university offers a focused range of postgraduate programmes across key fields. In Arts, students can pursue the Master of Arts in Rural Development as well as a Graduate Diploma in Rural Development. The Faculty of Education offers a Master of Education, while Health Studies includes a Master of Psychiatric Nursing. In the creative field, the university offers a Master of Music, and in the sciences, students can enrol in the Master of Science in Environmental and Life Sciences.
In terms of living expenses, Brandon’s location in Manitoba is about CAD 1892 per month. This amount covers essential expenses, including approximately CAD 730 for renting a single bedroom, CAD 652 for monthly food costs, and roughly CAD 75.40 for transportation.
