Do students pay Council Tax?

For full-time students in households where everyone is a student.

Applies to: England, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Households where everyone is a full-time student don't pay Council Tax. If you get a bill, apply for an exemption.

In England, to count as full-time, your course must last at least a year with 21+ hours of study a week.
Under-20s studying up to A level need a course of at least 3 months and 12+ hours a week.
If a non-student lives with you, there's a bill, but you may get a discount.

Different in Wales and Scotland

Wales: your course must involve 21+ hours of study a week in term time and last at least 24 weeks per academic year.
Scotland: if you're 20 or over, you must be in higher education, or study 21+ hours a week on a course lasting at least 24 weeks a year.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

All-student homes exempt
1 year, 21 hours a week
Apply if billed

The rules for a full-time student

To be a full-time student for Council Tax in England, your course must:

Student	Course length	Study time
Most students	At least 1 year	At least 21 hours a week
Under 20, studying up to A level or equivalent	At least 3 months	At least 12 hours a week

In Wales, a higher education course must involve at least 21 hours of study a week in term time and last at least 24 weeks per academic year. The under 20 rule is the same.

Full-time college or university students are "disregarded", which means they are not counted as adults for Council Tax. People aged 18 or 19 in full-time education, and student nurses, are also not counted.

Who is exempt and who still pays

Household	What happens
Everyone is a full-time student	No Council Tax. Apply for an exemption if you get a bill
Students plus one non-student adult	The non-student gets a bill, but may get 25% off
Students plus two or more non-student adults	Full bill, unless another discount applies

Special cases

Living with a student partner. If you work and your partner studies full time, you are treated as the only adult, so you can get 25% off.
A student at home with parents. The student is not counted, so the parents' bill does not go up because of them. A single parent living with a student child can get 25% off.
Apprentices. Some apprentices are also not counted. Their employer must confirm they earn no more than £195 a week and that the training leads to a recognised qualification.
Part-time students. If your course does not meet the hours above, you count as an adult like anyone else.
Wales: your term-time home. The Welsh Government says your term-time address is treated as your main home for the whole of your course.

How to check and apply

Check your course meets the rules in the first table.
Apply to your local council for the exemption or discount. They are not automatic, even if you qualify.
Tell the council if your course ends, you drop out, or a non-student moves in. If you get an exemption you are not entitled to, you could be fined and asked to pay it back.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

Scotland: you are exempt if everyone in your home is a full-time student, or you live in halls of residence. If you are over 20, you must be in higher education, studying at least 21 hours a week, on a course lasting at least 24 weeks a year. If you are under 20, you must be in further or higher education, studying at least 12 hours a week, on a course lasting at least 3 months.
Northern Ireland: there is no Council Tax. Homes pay domestic rates instead, run by Land & Property Services.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Apply for an exemption

Common questions

Do I get a discount if I live with a student?

Full-time students are not counted for Council Tax. If everyone else in your home is not counted, you get 25% off your bill.

Do 18 and 19 year olds in full-time education pay Council Tax?

No, people aged 18 or 19 in full-time education are not counted when working out Council Tax.

Do student nurses and apprentices pay Council Tax?

Student nurses are not counted. Apprentices on certain schemes are not counted if their employer confirms they earn no more than £195 a week and are working towards a recognised qualification.

Do students in Wales pay Council Tax in the holidays?

No, in Wales your term-time address is treated as your main home for the whole course, so you do not pay during holidays.

Official sources

1.Council Tax: discounts for full-time studentswww.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for-full-time-students
2.Council Tax discounts, disregards, exemptions and reductions (Wales)www.gov.wales/council-tax-discounts-disregards-exemptions-and-reductions
3.Council Tax discounts, exemptions and reductions (Scotland)www.mygov.scot/council-tax/discounts-exemptions-and-reductions
4.How Council Tax works: who has to paywww.gov.uk/council-tax/who-has-to-pay

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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