CIMM — Nigeria Student Express Question Period Note – February 15 & 17, 2022

Date: February 10, 2022
Classification: Protected A
Department: IRCC

Issue:

The Nigeria Student Express (NSE) was launched in 2020 to assist Nigerian students in applying for a study permit in Canada, as the Student Direct Stream (SDS) is not currently available in Nigeria. One key difference between the two programs is the upfront proof of funds, which has led to claims that the NSE is discriminatory, however the NSE compares favourably to SDS.

Proposed Response:

• The Student Direct Stream requires that applicants purchase a Guaranteed Investment Certificate in the amount of $10,000 CAD as well as provide proof of full payment of tuition fees for the applicant’s first year of study. 
• In 2021-2022, the average cost of international undergraduate tuition fees was $33,623 per year. As such, the average financial commitment for SDS was approximately $43,623 in the first year of study.
• The Nigeria Student Express requires that the applicant provide proof, via a verifiable banking solution, that they have a bank balance of $30,000 CAD. No proof of paid tuition is required in the NSE. 
• As such, there is no discrimination in the financial requirements for NSE applicants.

Contact:

Pemi Gill
Director General, International Region

Approved by:

Nicole Giles
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations