If you're a full-time university student, you will usually not have to pay Council Tax while studying.

The exact outcome depends on who you live with.

If everyone in the property is a full-time student

The property is normally fully exempt from Council Tax.

This commonly applies to student houses and flats where every resident is studying full-time.

If you live in university halls, the accommodation is generally exempt automatically, so you normally do not need to arrange this yourself.

If you live with one non-student

Full-time students are effectively ignored when the council works out how many liable adults live in the property.

So if a house contains:

3 full-time students + 1 non-student

the council generally treats it as though only one liable adult lives there. That means the household can usually receive the 25% single-person discount.

The non-student is still responsible for the remaining Council Tax.

If you live with two or more non-students

There will normally be no student-related reduction to the overall Council Tax bill, because there are still at least two adults who count for Council Tax purposes.

You personally may still be disregarded as a student, but that does not necessarily reduce what the household owes.

What counts as a full-time student?

For most university students aged 20 or over, your course generally needs to:

  • last for at least one academic or calendar year
  • involve at least 24 weeks of study during the year
  • involve an average of at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience each week

A standard full-time undergraduate or Master's degree will normally satisfy these requirements.

How do you claim the exemption?

If you're renting privately, don't assume the council automatically knows you're a student.

Go to your local council's website and search for student Council Tax exemption or discount. You may need to provide:

  • your name and address
  • university details
  • course start and end dates
  • student number
  • a student-status certificate from your university

Some universities send student-status information directly to local councils, but the process varies by area.

What about the summer holidays?

If you remain enrolled on the same qualifying full-time course, you generally remain a student during normal university holidays.

However, your exemption can end when your course officially finishes. If you graduate in June but remain in your student house until August, for example, you may become liable for Council Tax for that period.

The important date is therefore your official course end date, not simply when you move out.

If a Council Tax bill arrives while everyone in your household is still a qualifying full-time student, don't simply pay it. Check your student status with the council first, as you may be entitled to a full exemption.