How to Study and Work in Canada With Full Support in 2025

Canada’s world-class education, vibrant multicultural society, and welcoming immigration policies make it a top destination for Nigerian students dreaming of studying and working abroad. In 2025, with a study permit cap of 437,000, Canada continues to attract students from Nigeria and Africa, offering opportunities to work part-time (up to 24 hours/week) during studies and full-time after graduation through the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). With full support—scholarships, affordable tuition, work permits, and pathways to permanent residency—Nigerians can build a bright future. This article, written in simple language, guides Nigerians on how to study and work in Canada in 2025 with full support, covering programs, visas, costs, scholarships, and steps to succeed, aligning with your interest in accessible, rewarding opportunities.

Why Study and Work in Canada in 2025?

Canada’s education system ranks among the best globally, with universities like the University of Toronto and colleges like Humber offering cutting-edge programs in fields like building technology, business, and health sciences. The country’s safe environment, low unemployment (6.8% in 2025), and high quality of life attract over 800,000 international students annually, including thousands from Nigeria. In 2025, students can work 24 hours/week off-campus during school and full-time during breaks, earning $15-$20/hour ($360-$480/week) to offset costs. Post-graduation, the PGWP allows up to three years of work, paving the way for permanent residency via Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). For Nigerians, Canada’s English-speaking environment and demand for skilled workers align with your interest in impactful careers, per Canada.ca.

Understanding Full Support for International Students

“Full support” means accessing financial, academic, and immigration resources to study and work successfully:

Financial Support: Scholarships (e.g., Humber’s $2,000 CAD discount), affordable tuition ($15,000-$25,000 CAD/year), and part-time work income ($7,500-$12,500/year).
Academic Support: Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) provide counseling, tutoring, and co-op programs for practical experience.
Immigration Support: Study permits, work permits (no separate permit needed for off-campus work), and PGWP eligibility, with spousal work permits and free education for children.
Visa Sponsorship: Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) and streamlined processes like the Student Direct Stream (SDS) for Nigerians.

These supports, per alternativacanada.com, make Canada accessible for Nigerians seeking education and career growth.

Study Options and Popular Programs

Canada offers diverse programs at colleges and universities, ideal for Nigerians interested in fields like building technology:

Diplomas/Advanced Diplomas (1-3 years): E.g., Building Technology at Abia State University-equivalent colleges like Sault College, costing $15,000-$20,000 CAD/year. Ideal for hands-on skills.
Bachelor’s Degrees (4 years): E.g., Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia, costing $20,000-$40,000 CAD/year. Suited for leadership roles.
Master’s Degrees (1-2 years): E.g., Construction Management at McGill University, costing $18,000-$30,000 CAD/year, offering three-year PGWP eligibility.
Co-op Programs: Combine study and paid work (e.g., Humber’s Business program), earning $15-$25/hour during placements.

In 2025, 73,462 study permits are reserved for graduate students, with 316,276 for undergraduate programs, per moving2canada.com. Nigerians favor business, engineering, and health sciences, per canadavisa.com.

Work Opportunities While Studying

International students can work to support their studies, per Canada.ca:

On-Campus Work

No work permit is needed for jobs at your DLI (e.g., library assistant, cafeteria staff), with unlimited hours. Pay is $15-$18/hour ($300-$360/week for 20 hours). Nigerians can work at universities like York, per educanada.ca.

Off-Campus Work

As of November 8, 2024, students can work 24 hours/week off-campus without a work permit, earning $15-$20/hour ($360-$480/week). Jobs include retail, tutoring, or warehouse work. Requirements include full-time enrollment at a DLI and a valid study permit, per Canada.ca.

Co-op/Internship Work

Programs like building technology at Lambton College include mandatory co-op placements, requiring a co-op work permit (free with study permit). Students work full-time (40 hours/week) during co-op terms, earning $15-$25/hour ($600-$1,000/week), per stepwest.com.

These options, verified by IRCC, help Nigerians cover living costs ($10,000-$15,000 CAD/year).

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

After completing a program at a PGWP-eligible DLI (8+ months), students can apply for a PGWP, allowing work for any employer for up to three years. Key points:

Eligibility: Full-time study at a public college/university or select private colleges (pre-May 15, 2024, for some). Nigerians must apply within 180 days of graduation.
Duration: Matches program length (e.g., 1-year diploma = 1-year PGWP; 2+ years = 3-year PGWP).
Cost: $255 CAD (application + open work permit fee).
Benefits: Earn $40,000-$70,000/year in fields like construction, with PR pathways via Canadian Experience Class.

In 2025, college degree graduates face no field-of-study restrictions, per monitor.icef.com, benefiting Nigerians in business or technology programs.

Study Permit Requirements for Nigerians

To study in Canada, Nigerians need a study permit, per Canada.ca:

Letter of Acceptance: From a DLI (e.g., Sault College).
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL): Required in 2025 for most programs, allocated by provinces (e.g., Ontario: 141,000 spots).
Proof of Funds: Show $20,635 CAD (GIC for SDS) plus tuition ($15,000-$25,000 CAD) and travel ($500-$1,500 CAD).
Language: IELTS 6.0 (CLB 7) for SDS or employer-assessed English for regular stream. Nigerians’ English fluency helps.
Documents: Passport, WAEC/NECO, bank statements (4 months), medical exam ($100-$200), police clearance ($20-$50).
Application Fee: $150 CAD + $85 CAD (biometrics).

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) fast-tracks applications for Nigerians, processing in 20 days if GIC and tuition are paid, per canadavisa.com.

Financial Support and Scholarships

Canada offers affordable tuition and scholarships for Nigerians:

Tuition: $15,000-$25,000 CAD/year for colleges, $20,000-$40,000 CAD/year for universities, lower than the U.S. ($45,950 USD), per canadim.com.
Sault College: $2,000 CAD discount via Alternativa Canada, per alternativacanada.com.
Humber College: $2,000 CAD scholarship for diploma programs, per alternativacanada.com.
Lambton College: $3,000 CAD off for Sarnia campus programs, per alternativacanada.com.
McCall MacBain Scholarship (McGill): Full tuition and $27,600 CAD stipend for master’s, deadline August 20, 2025, per @Migrate_tm.
Brive Scholarships: Merit-based awards for 2025, per brive.com.

Nigerians can apply via university portals or agencies like Alternativa Canada, per alternativacanada.com.

Immigration Pathways After Studies

Studying and working in Canada opens PR pathways, per Canada.ca:

Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry): Requires one year of skilled work (e.g., via PGWP), CLB 7, and a Comprehensive Ranking System score (400-500). PR processing takes 6-12 months.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Manitoba’s PNP invites graduates with job offers, issuing 108 invitations in March 2025, per immigration.ca.
Quebec Experience Program (PEQ): For French-speaking graduates, though suspended until June 2025, per smithstonewalters.com.

PR allows Nigerians to live, work, and access healthcare, with citizenship possible after five years, per globalopp.ca.

Step-by-Step Guide for Nigerians

Follow these steps to study and work in Canada with full support in 2025:

Step 1: Choose a Program and DLI

Select a program like building technology at DLIs like Humber, Lambton, or McGill, ensuring PGWP eligibility. Check Canada.ca’s DLI list. Nigerians interested in construction can target colleges, per your building technology interest, per learnskills.ng.

Step 2: Check Scholarship Opportunities

Apply for scholarships via university portals (e.g., humber.ca) or agencies like Alternativa Canada. For McCall MacBain, apply by August 20, 2025, per @Migrate_tm. Prepare WAEC/NECO and a motivation letter, per brive.com.

Step 3: Gather Documents

Collect:

Passport (valid 6+ months).
WAEC/NECO, assessed via WES ($200-$300).
IELTS results (6.0 for SDS, $300-$400) or proof of English fluency.
Bank statements showing $20,635 CAD + tuition.
Medical exam ($100-$200), police clearance ($20-$50).
Letter of acceptance and PAL (post-acceptance).

Use Lagos WES centers, per canadavisa.com.

Step 4: Apply for a Study Permit

Apply via Canada.ca or the Canadian High Commission in Lagos (Silverbird, Abuja, or Lekki):

Submit Form IMM 1294, documents, and fees ($150 CAD + $85 CAD biometrics).
Use SDS for faster processing (20 days) with GIC ($20,635 CAD) and paid tuition.
Attend biometrics appointment.

Processing takes 2-8 weeks, per Canada.ca.

Step 5: Secure Financial Support

Confirm scholarships (e.g., Humber’s $2,000 CAD) and save $2,000-$3,000 for travel and initial costs. Open a Nigerian bank account for GIC, per alternativacanada.com.

Step 6: Arrive and Start Studying

Book flights ($500-$1,500) and arrange housing ($500-$1,500/month, often DLI-supported). Enroll full-time, attend orientation, and apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) via Service Canada to work, per taxback.com.

Step 7: Work While Studying

Find on-campus jobs (e.g., library) or off-campus roles (e.g., retail) via Job Bank (jobbank.gc.ca) or Indeed (ca.indeed.com). Work 24 hours/week, earning $360-$480/week. For co-op programs, apply for a co-op permit, per visaplace.com.

Step 8: Apply for PGWP and PR

After graduation, apply for a PGWP ($255 CAD) within 180 days, working full-time ($40,000-$70,000/year). After one year, apply for PR via Express Entry or PNPs, costing $1,600 CAD, per Canada.ca.

Challenges and Solutions

Study Permit Cap: 437,000 permits in 2025 limit spots. Apply early (January-March) to secure a PAL, per moving2canada.com.
Financial Proof: $20,635 CAD is steep. Use scholarships or family support, per canadim.com.
Scams: Fake offers on X (e.g., @AramideOyekunle’s unverified claims) mislead students. Verify via Canada.ca or @CanadaInfohub, per @CanadaInfohub.
Language: IELTS 6.0 is needed for SDS. Prepare at Lagos test centers, per canadavisa.com.
Housing Costs: Urban rents ($1,500/month) are high. Choose college residences ($500-$800/month), per idp.com.

Proactive planning and verified sources overcome these hurdles.

Costs and Financial Planning

Tuition: $15,000-$25,000 CAD/year (colleges), $20,000-$40,000 CAD/year (universities).
Living Costs: $10,000-$15,000 CAD/year (housing, food, transport).
Application Fees: Study permit ($150 CAD), biometrics ($85 CAD), ECA ($200-$300), IELTS ($300-$400).
Travel: $500-$1,500 CAD.
Earnings: $7,500-$12,500 CAD/year (part-time work, 24 hours/week).

Total initial costs: $25,000-$35,000 CAD, offset by scholarships and work, per globalopp.ca.

Benefits of Studying and Working in Canada

Affordable Education: Lower tuition than the U.S. or U.K., per canadim.com.
Work Income: $360-$480/week supports living costs, per moving2canada.com.
PR Pathway: PGWP and Express Entry lead to PR, per Canada.ca.
Quality of Life: Safe, multicultural cities like Toronto, per idp.com.
Spousal Support: Partners get open work permits, per globalopp.ca.

These benefits make Canada ideal for Nigerians.

Success Stories

Ada, a Lagos student, enrolled in Humber’s Building Technology diploma in 2025, securing a $2,000 CAD scholarship via Alternativa Canada. She worked 24 hours/week as a retail assistant ($400/week) and applied for a PGWP, now earning $50,000/year in construction, per her diligence, per brightscholarship.com.

Chike, from Enugu, studied Business at Lambton College, using a $3,000 CAD discount. His co-op placement paid $800/week, and he’s pursuing PR via Express Entry, leveraging Nigeria’s English fluency, per alternativacanada.com.

Resources for Nigerians

Canada.ca: Study permit and PGWP details.
Jobbank.gc.ca: Part-time jobs.
Alternativacanada.com: Scholarship and visa support.
Moving2canada.com: 2025 permit cap updates.
Canadian High Commission Nigeria: Visa assistance (+234 1 460 3400).
Nairaland Forums: Community tips, verified with Canada.ca.

Common Myths

Myth: You need IELTS for all programs. Fact: Regular stream accepts employer-assessed English, per Canada.ca.
Myth: Tuition is unaffordable. Fact: Scholarships and work cover costs, per idp.com.
Myth: PR is impossible. Fact: PGWP and PNPs simplify it, per immigration.ca.
Myth: Work is limited. Fact: 24 hours/week off-campus is allowed, per Canada.ca.

Final Thoughts on Studying and Working in Canada

In 2025, Canada offers Nigerians a chance to study programs like building technology at DLIs like Humber or McGill, work 24 hours/week earning $360-$480/week, and pursue PR via PGWP and Express Entry. With scholarships ($2,000-$27,600 CAD), affordable tuition ($15,000-$25,000 CAD/year), and immigration support, full support is within reach. Start now: check humber.ca for scholarships, apply via Canada.ca, or contact alternativacanada.com to launch your Canadian journey!