If you live in university halls or live in non-university accommodation where everyone in the household is a full-time student, you won't have to pay Council Tax. You'll need to provide your local authority with proof that everyone who lives in the household are full-time students.

Students who are exempt from paying Council Tax are disregarded for Council Tax purposes for the period beginning with the first day of the full-time course until they have completed the course, withdrew, or been dismissed from it. 

A full-time student is someone who:

• attends a course at a prescribed educational establishment or institution
• is undertaking a full-time course of education:
  • which lasts at least one academic year
  • requires attendance for at least 24 weeks in each academic year
  • normally requires an average of 21 hours a week study, tuition or work experience or a combination of such during periods of attendance

If you study full-time but live with an adult who is not a full-time student, your household will be issued with a Council Tax bill. If you prove you are a full-time student, a 25% discount should be applied to the bill.

As a full-time student, you are not legally responsible or liable for the bill. You may want to discuss how the bill will be paid with the person you live with.

If you study full-time and live with other people who are not full-time students, your household will be issued with a Council Tax bill. You won't be eligible for a discount. As a full-time student, you are not legally responsible or liable for the bill, but you may want to discuss how the bill will be paid with the people you live with.

Taking time out of your studies

If you take time out of your studies for personal reasons such as illness, you will remain exempt from Council Tax as long as you remain registered as a student with the University.

If you're studying a full-time undergraduate course on a part-time basis, you will still be exempt from Council Tax.

If you need help with this, contact the Student Advice Centre.

Full-time, fully registered students are exempt from Council Tax. Once you have submitted for your programme of study and are ‘Under Examination’, you will no longer be eligible for a Council Tax exemption certificate. Students are not classed as full-time and fully registered while ‘Under Examination’.

International students are treated like UK students when it comes to liability for Council Tax.

Spouses of non-EEA international students will have the student's exemption extended to include them if:

• they are non-British and non-EEA citizens
• the terms of their visa exclude them from working or claiming benefits

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has more information.

If your household is required to pay Council Tax, you can decide in your household who will contribute to the bill. If you are a full-time student, you are not legally responsible or liable for the bill.

Applying for an exemption or discount

If you think that you are exempt from paying Council Tax, you will need to submit:

• a Student Discount/Exemption application form to your local council
• a Council Tax Exemption Certificate which provides details about you and your course

Apply online:

• if you live in Newcastle
• if you live in Gateshead
• if you live in North Tyneside
• if you live in South Tyneside
• if you live in Northumberland
• if you live in Sunderland

You can print a council tax exemption certificate yourself from S3P, the Student Self-Service Portal. If you are unable to print the certificate yourself, you can get one from:

• HASS and SAGE students: Student Services, Level 2, King's Gate
• Medical students: Medical Faculty Student Office
• Dental students: Dental School Office

Or email student-registration@ncl.ac.uk.

Whenever your personal circumstances change, you need to let your Council Tax department know. Your Council Tax account may need to be updated, depending on the nature of the change, or may need to be closed down if you move house.