It will mark a return to the system scrapped by the government in 2012, after which the grace period was dropped entitling international graduates with a post-study work visa for just four months.

According to UK daily The Guardian, the measure was tabled by former universities minister Conservative Jo Johnson in response to a drop in international student enrolments at UK universities. It would reportedly have no limit on numbers and would enable graduates to apply for jobs regardless of skills or subject studied.

The article cited the government as saying that part of the aim was to recruit skilled graduates with maths, engineering and technology backgrounds.

The move provides further reassurances for the Luxembourgers currently studying in the UK or who plan to study in the UK in future, whose situations may be made precarious by Britain's departure from the European Union.