Maple News reports a notable shift in the makeup of Canada’s international student population, reflecting broader global trends and a growing diversification across Canadian university programs. According to recent data, students from Nigeria are emerging as a key force in reshaping the country’s academic demographic.
Nigeria posted the fastest growth among international student populations in the first half of 2023. From January to June, nearly 18,000 Nigerian students were granted study permits—an impressive 44% increase compared to the total issued in all of 2022. This surge positioned Nigeria behind only India in the number of study permits granted.
Meanwhile, the overall volume of Indian students coming to Canada has slowed significantly. The number of study permit applications processed for Indian students dropped by over 40% from 146,000 in mid-2022 to fewer than 87,000 in the same period of 2023. Despite this decline, Indian nationals still represent the largest cohort of international students in Canada.
Business and management programs continue to dominate the academic preferences of incoming students. In fact, nearly half (48%) of Indian postgraduate students chose business-related fields in September 2023, a significant increase from 36% in 2016. More broadly, business programs accounted for 36% of all study permits issued through September 2023, reflecting a 15-point jump since 2016.
This growth trend is even more pronounced at the postgraduate level, where business and management saw a staggering 180% increase in enrollment since 2019. By September 2023, these programs made up 38% of all postgraduate study permits issued in Canada.
Health and general sciences are also becoming more popular, particularly at the undergraduate level. These fields experienced a 51% growth in enrollments from 2019 through September 2023, building on the momentum of a post-pandemic emphasis on healthcare resilience and scientific innovation.
The data suggests Canada’s appeal as an academic destination continues to diversify—not just in the origin of its students, but in their fields of interest. With Nigerian enrolment rising sharply and a wider distribution across academic disciplines, Canada’s higher education system is becoming more globally representative and responsive to shifting economic priorities.