If you’re a full-time student or apprentice, you may qualify for a discount or be exempt from paying Council Tax.

Full-time Students

Understanding full-time student status

If you’re a full-time student, apprentice, student nurse, or foreign language assistant, you may be eligible for a student discount on your Council Tax. 

To count as a full-time student, your course must: 

• last at least 1 year
• involve at least 21 hours of study per week

If you study for a qualification up to A level and you’re under 20, your course must: 

• last at least 3 months
• involve at least 12 hours of study per week

When a student has to pay Council Tax

You will not be eligible for a discount if you live in a household with two or more non-students or part-time students.  

You are liable to pay Council Tax for any time not covered by your student status. 

Help to understand the daily Council Tax charge 

Your course finishes on 18 May 2023, but you continue to live in your student accommodation until you graduate on 18 July 2023. You will need to pay Council Tax for the days you remain in the property after your course finishes.

How much Council Tax students pay

The discount applied to your property depends on the number of students or people not counted (disregarded). 

• you do not need to pay council tax if all housemates are full-time students (exempt)
• there’s a 50% discount if all housemates are apprentices 
• if all residents are not counted (disregarded), there’s a  50% discount, even if some of them are not students
• if all residents except for 1 are not counted (disregarded), there’s a discount of 25%

People who are not counted (disregarded) for Council Tax 

You do not pay Council Tax if you’re: 

• under 18 years old
• on certain apprentice schemes
• 18 or 19 years old and in full-time education
• a full-time student at college or university
• under 25 years old and get funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency
• a student nurse
• a foreign language assistant registered with the British Council
• severely mentally impaired
• a live-in carer for someone who is not your partner, spouse, or child under 18
• a diplomat

How to apply

Before you apply, you’ll need:

• address and postcode of the property
• names of all adults over 18 living at the property
• name of your university or college
• student number 
• course start and end date
• Student certificate for Council Tax (students at Kingston University or St Mary’s University only need a student number)

Your university or college will provide you with your student certificate for Council Tax. This is usually in your registration pack. Contact your university or college if you need a student certificate for Council Tax.  

Help with a student certificate for Council Tax  

Your student certificate for Council Tax needs to show: 

• your full name
• your date of birth (if you are under 20 and in further education)
• the course title
• if the course is either part-time or full-time 
• the weekly attendance hours 
• the start date of the course
• expected end date of the course 

Apply for a student discount on your Council Tax

Apprentices

An apprentice is someone who is:

• employed to learn a trade, business or profession
• on a programme of training leading to an accredited qualification
• receiving a salary or allowance (or both) of no more than £195 a week before tax and insurance

How to apply

Before you apply, you’ll need:

• copy of your apprenticeship agreement or a letter from your employer, this must include
  • details of the accredited qualification you are working towards
  • the start and end date of your apprenticeship
• proof of your income, for example your most recent payslip

Use our Contact Us form to apply for an apprentice discount.

Apply now for an apprentice discount on your Council Tax