Discounts and exemptions for students

You will not have to pay Council Tax if you are a full-time student. This applies if you are either living in a property with other full-time students or living in a property by yourself.

A student is any person taking a course at an educational establishment, such as university or college, and includes:

• Those over 20 years of age who are enrolled on a full-time course at university or college that lasts for at least one academic or calendar year.
• Where the student is required to attend for at least 24 weeks of the year

And

• Undertake at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience each week during term time.
• Those under 20 years old who are taking a course that lasts for at least 3 months and is a qualifying course of education. Such as A-levels or at the same level or below, and includes more than 12 hours a week study time, during the day. Correspondence courses are not included.

Foreign language assistants who are registered with The British Council and are working at a school or other educational establishment.

If you are only studying your course on a part-time basis, you will have to pay Council Tax.

If you are the only person living in your property who is liable to pay Council Tax, you may be able to apply for a single person discount.

If you meet the criteria of a full-time student but not for an open-ended period, you are still exempt from paying Council Tax.

If you are a student nurse studying full-time, you will not have to pay Council Tax.

If you are a full-time student that has a partner or dependent living with you who is not a British citizen, then you are both exempt from paying Council Tax.

It is unlikely that students studying English at the many language schools in Portsmouth will be regarded as ‘full-time students’ for Council Tax purposes. This is because these courses are usually not long enough to meet the qualifying criteria.