The British government may be about to bring in a significant change to its immigration policy by taking international students out of the net migration figures, according to a media report in the U.K.

The Times said that Prime Minister Theresa May, who has stuck to the policy despite pressure including from within her own cabinet to change her stance on this, was ready to soften her opposition. An amendment to a piece of legislation on higher education, introduced by members of the House of Lords and due to be considered by the House of Commons next week proposes such a change. The newspaper suggested Mrs. May might be willing to accept changes to ensure the smooth passage of the bill itself, which involves a major shake up of Britain’s higher education system.

The move would be strongly welcomed by India, which has raised concerns in the past about British policy towards international students.

“We would welcome any move that helps mobility between the two countries,” Deputy High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik told this paper.

Pressure has been building on Mrs May to change her policy on international students, as a number of senior members of her party - including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - have pressed for change.

Some campaigners for the change have argued that while Britain does not cap international student numbers, keeping them within net migration figures means students are included in the wider immigration debate, and add to the impression that Britain was not welcoming to foreign students.

“I hope it will turn the page on this very unhappy period in our history where people thought we were a very closed and unwelcoming nation,” Lord Hannay one of the Lords behind the amendment to the legislation told The Hindu in January, before the legislation went through the House. The amendment says no student “shall be treated for public policy purposes as an economic migrant to the U.K., for the duration of their students at such an establishment.”

Research published by Universities UK last week found a widespread belief across the British public about the positive impact of international students both on the economy and the local community they lived in. Just 26% thought they should count as immigrants in government policy. ““International students generate nearly £26 billion for the UK economy and support over 200,000 British jobs,” said Alistair Jarvis, deputy chief executive of Universities UK. “We need a new immigration policy that encourages international students to choose to study in the UK coupled with a more welcoming message from Government.”

A spokesperson for the Home Office said that government policy remained unchanged.