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Tess Wilkinson is the Director of Education Services at Henley & Partners.
Across Africa, which is home to 122,500 US dollar millionaires, there’s a growing recognition among affluent families that receiving a premium education abroad is more than a personal achievement. It’s a long-term investment in their children’s security and access to opportunity that will future-proof them and future generations. In an increasingly unpredictable world where political instability, economic uncertainty, and currency volatility can disrupt even the best-laid plans, families are looking beyond borders to ensure their children have access to stable, high-quality education as well as the freedom to build careers in secure, thriving environments.
For international students from African countries, it’s no longer just about getting into a top university in one of the world’s top education destinations; it’s also about staying safe, securing long-term prospects, and protecting their freedom to travel, work, and plan for their future. Nowhere is the shift in perspective more visible than in the growing interest in investment migration programs, which enable individuals to acquire residence or citizenship rights in another country through significant financial investments.
Historically, obtaining a student visa was adequate. It got you into the country, into the classroom, and, with some luck and hard work (and a work visa), into a job. However, today’s students face mounting uncertainty regarding their ability to remain in a host country after graduation, putting at risk their career opportunities and stability. As global volatility rises, from major conflicts in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East to tightening immigration rules in the West, families increasingly view education as part of a broader strategy to ensure lasting security, enhanced mobility, and greater opportunities for their children and future generations.
The Henley Opportunity Index is a tool developed specifically to quantify the enormous impact that world-class education combined with expanded access and privileges through investment migration can have in preserving multi-generational wealth. The index guides families on tailored investment migration strategies to clear pathways for their heirs to access the world’s best schooling, most lucrative job markets, and enhanced quality of life through the privileges and flexibility of alternative residence or citizenship rights.
We are seeing a shift in African students breaking away from the traditional ‘big four’ higher education destinations — the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia — although the USA and the UK remain popular. Consider a Nigerian investor whose daughter aspires to study in a country that has strong career prospects. The UAE offers an attractive pathway to long-term residence via its residence by investment initiative, which has multiple investment categories, including real estate. The country offers well-respected universities and excellent postgraduate opportunities and is increasingly popular as a destination for African students. University fees average USD 10,000 to USD 30,000 compared to around USD 50,000 in the USA, another great drawcard.
Although there is a grace period of six months after graduation, without a relevant visa, his daughter would have to leave the Emirates. If he invests in a UAE golden visa, he can include his spouse and children in the application, and his daughter could remain in the country. As demonstrated by the Henley Opportunity Index, Nigerian students can improve their earning potential score from 25 to 78 out of 100, their top-tier employment prospects score from 20 to 84, and their total opportunity score from 21% to 67% by living and working in the UAE.
Similarly, in Europe, Portugal offers affluent African families an appealing blend of academic excellence and a clear path to citizenship, opening the doors to an entire continent of opportunities. Take the example of a Ghanaian family who opt to educate their children in Portugal. They could couple the top education the country offers with the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program, where the minimum contribution is EUR 250,000. Considering the well-defined route to citizenship that comes after a set residence period, and the extensive opportunities that arise for their children owing to their ability to live, work, and study across the European Union as Portuguese citizens, it is an investment well worth making.
The advantages gained by obtaining Portuguese residence rights is clear when comparing the significant jumps in Henley Opportunity Index scores for career advancement (from 33 to 50), employment prospects (23 to 51), and most significantly economic mobility with an astounding leap from 4 to 92, with a total opportunity score increase from 23% to 57%.
Moving from Europe to North America, Canada provides a different set of advantages — combining world-class education with significant long-term cost savings and a high quality of life for permanent residents. A South African family whose child intends to study in Canada could pair the outstanding education available in Canada with the Canada Start-Up Visa Program. Traditionally popular with African students, Canada has 11 universities in the top 250 in the QS World University Rankings. Its residents enjoy an excellent quality of life, a reasonable cost of living, a safe environment, and a wide range of job opportunities.
The average cost of a four-year bachelor’s degree is approximately CAD 240,000 for international students, but for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, further education is heavily subsidized, and the cost is roughly CAD 40,000. With the challenge of caps on student visas and visa uncertainty that currently exists, planning for their children’s education by becoming permanent residents by the time they apply to university will save CAD 200,000 per child. And given that the financial outlay for the Canada Start-Up Visa is around CAD 275,000 including all fees, the investment could soon prove to be hugely beneficial, especially if more than one child chooses Canada as a study destination.
Considering the timeline to citizenship eligibility after three years of permanent residence, with sufficient planning, the children could graduate with prestigious degrees as well as passports that would allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 81 more destinations across the globe than their South African passport, enabling them to pursue a truly global lifestyle.
The advantages gained by obtaining Canadian residence rights are compelling when comparing the significant jumps in Henley Opportunity Index scores for high livability (from 39 to 74), career advancement (39 to 74), and most significantly economic mobility with a clear leap from 15 to 73, with a total opportunity score increase from 35% to 73%.
In today’s fast-moving and often changeable world, education alone is no longer enough. The most forward-thinking African families are taking steps to pair international study with residence or citizenship rights, not only to widen access to opportunity but also to safeguard their children’s futures. Whether it’s the USA, Europe, Asia, or emerging destinations in the Middle East, the range of countries offering both premium education and attractive investment migration pathways is broader than ever. Henley & Partners Education helps families navigate these choices strategically, ensuring that wherever the next chapter unfolds, their children are prepared to thrive.
Henley & Partners assists international clients in obtaining residence and citizenship under the respective programs. Contact us to arrange an initial private consultation.
