Frequently asked questions

Most students are disregarded from Council Tax and do not have to pay. However some do so please take a few minutes to make sure that this applies to you.

You will be disregarded from the Council Tax Bill if you are a student (or an overseas student) on a full-time or qualifying course of education.

You are a student if you are:

- attending a university or college course which lasts for at least an academic year, takes at least 24 weeks a year and involves at least 21 hours of study per week during term-time; or

- under the age of 20, and studying for more than three months and at least 12 hours per week for any qualification up to A level, ONC or OND standard. *Correspondence courses, evening classes, or courses taken in connection with a person's job, such as on day-release, are not included.

Student nurses studying academic courses at universities or who are on Project 2000 courses, are classed as students for council tax purposes.

Foreign language assistants registered with the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges are also treated as students.

You will be disregarded if you are the spouse or dependant of a student, are not a British Citizen, and are prevented by the terms of your permission to be in the UK either from taking paid employment or from claiming benefits.

Student Nurses
You will be disregarded if you are a student nurse on a course leading to registration on any of Parts 1 to 6, or 8 of the Nursing Register. Only student nurses studying for their first inclusion on the Register are disregarded. Nurses who are already on the Register but are taking further courses are counted for Council Tax.

You have to apply for a student disregard, as you must supply your student council tax exemption certificate to the Council. This can be obtained from your educational institution.

Property fully occupied by students
If all the people in a property are students, the property will be eligible for an exemption from council tax.