A report issued by Britain’s Department of Business, Innovation, and Skills looking at the international competitiveness of Britain's postgraduate education concludes that while the new points-based visa system implemented last year “should make it easier for legitimate postgraduates to study in the UK,” there are concerns that long processing delays will “damage the reputation of the UK,” the Financial Times reported.

Adrian Smith, director-general of science and research at the Department of Business, expressed concerns that the visa system may prevent “‘high-calibre’ overseas students from coming to study at British universities.” Smith noted reports from universities saying “that the [visa] framework has so far been slow and unwieldy.”