Quick answer
In England, a household is exempt from Council Tax if everyone who lives there is a full-time student. Full-time, for this purpose, usually means a course that lasts at least 1 year and involves at least 21 hours of study a week. You still need to tell your council and apply, even if you believe you should be disregarded or exempt (GOV.UK: discounts for full-time students, GOV.UK: apply for a Council Tax discount).
If a non-student lives in the same home, the household is not usually exempt. A full-time student is still a disregarded person, so a 25% discount may apply if you live on your own or if everyone else in the home is also disregarded. If everyone in the home is disregarded, the discount can be 50%. Part-time students are not treated as full-time students for this exemption, so they usually still count towards the bill. Always read this as if you qualify — your council decides.
General information for people living in England, based on GOV.UK guidance checked on 10 November 2026 (Europe/London). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules. AF Education is not a council and cannot confirm an exemption or a discount. Nothing here promises that you will pay no Council Tax.
This guide is for mature and other Home students who need the official England rules in one place: who counts as a full-time student, what happens if you live with a partner or housemate who is not a student, how part-time study is treated, and how to apply. For part-time funding see part-time student finance in England. For starting later in life see university at 30, 40 or 50.
Who has to pay Council Tax in England
GOV.UK says the full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in a home. Some adults are disregarded when the council works out the bill. The official list of disregarded people includes:
- full-time students
- 18 to 19-year-olds in full-time education
- student nurses
- certain apprentices, if they have a declaration from their employer that they will not be paid more than £195 a week and that the training leads to a qualification accredited by Ofqual or the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SVEC)
GOV.UK is clear that you must still apply even if you are on that list. Being disregarded is not the same as automatically having a zero bill. If you were given a discount by mistake, you should contact the council — you could get a fine and have to repay the discount (GOV.UK: who has to pay Council Tax).
The full-time student exemption
A home can be exempt — so no Council Tax is due for that period — if all the residents are full-time students. That can include a house or flat shared only by full-time students, or a mature student who lives alone while studying full-time, if the council agrees you meet the definition.
GOV.UK’s test for a full-time student is that your course must:
- last at least 1 year, and
- involve at least 21 hours of study a week
A different, shorter test applies to some people under 20 who are still in education up to A-level or equivalent (GOV.UK mentions courses of at least three months with at least 12 hours a week). That is not the typical mature-student route, but it is part of the official definition.
Your university or college can usually give you a student status letter or certificate to send to the council. Keep the document for the period it covers. If you leave, suspend or finish early, tell the council — an exemption that no longer applies can be withdrawn.
Living with a non-student: the 25% discount
Many mature students live with a partner, children over 18, a parent or a housemate who is not a student. In that situation the home is not usually exempt, because not everyone in it is a full-time student. GOV.UK says you may still get a bill if a non-student lives there, but a discount may still apply.
The official discounts are:
- 25% off if you live on your own, or if everyone else in the home is disregarded
- 50% off if everyone who lives in the home is disregarded
A practical example, in official terms only: if you are a full-time student and you live with one adult who is not a student and is not disregarded, that other adult is usually treated as if they live alone for Council Tax, so a 25% discount may apply. If you live with two non-student adults who are not disregarded, the full bill based on two or more adults may still be due. Your council applies the numbers to your household — do not assume the discount without applying.
Sharing a home with family while you study is common for mature students. The Council Tax position depends on who else lives there and whether they are disregarded, not on your age. For the wider practical side of studying later in life, see balancing university with work and family.
Part-time students
Part-time students are not listed as full-time students on GOV.UK’s student Council Tax page. If your course does not meet the full-time test (at least 1 year and at least 21 hours of study a week), you should not assume an exemption or that you will be disregarded as a full-time student.
You may still be disregarded for another official reason, or the household may qualify for a different discount, but that is a council decision after you apply. Do not stop paying or ignore a bill because you are on a part-time degree. For how Student Finance England treats part-time courses, see part-time student finance in England.
How to apply
GOV.UK’s application page covers England and Wales and tells you to check with your council. In practice you usually:
- Find your local council’s Council Tax discount or exemption form (often online).
- Say whether you are asking for a full-time student exemption (everyone in the home is a full-time student) or a discount (for example, you are a disregarded full-time student living with one other adult).
- Send evidence, typically a student status letter or certificate from your university or college, and any other documents the council lists.
- Ask every full-time student in the home to apply or provide their own evidence if the council requires it.
- Keep paying any bill you have already received until the council confirms a change, unless the council tells you otherwise.
Apply as soon as your course starts, or as soon as the household changes (someone moves in or out, you switch from full-time to part-time, or you leave the course). There is no AF Education form for this — it is a council process.
If your circumstances change
Tell the council if you suspend, withdraw, finish, change from full-time to part-time, or if a non-student moves in. An exemption or discount can be removed from the date it no longer applies. GOV.UK also warns that if a discount was given by mistake you could get a fine and have to repay it. If you are unsure whether you still qualify, contact the council rather than waiting for a revised bill.
Student finance is a separate system. A change of living arrangements can also affect a Maintenance Loan — report those changes to Student Finance England, not just to the council. See reporting a change of circumstances to Student Finance England.
Frequently asked questions
Are full-time students exempt from Council Tax in England?
A household can be exempt if everyone who lives there is a full-time student. You still need to apply to your council and provide evidence. If a non-student also lives there, the home is not usually exempt, but a discount may apply.
What counts as a full-time student for Council Tax?
GOV.UK’s usual test is a course that lasts at least one year and involves at least 21 hours of study a week. A shorter test applies to some people under 20 still in education up to A-level or equivalent. Your council decides whether you meet the definition.
What if I am a mature student living with a partner who works?
The home is not usually exempt, because not everyone in it is a full-time student. You may still be disregarded as a full-time student, which can mean a 25% discount if the only other adult is not disregarded. Apply to your council — do not assume the reduction.
Do part-time students get the same exemption?
Not automatically. Part-time students are not treated as full-time students on GOV.UK’s student Council Tax page if the course does not meet the full-time test. Check with your council and keep paying any bill until it confirms a change.
How do I apply for a student Council Tax exemption or discount?
Apply to your local council. GOV.UK’s apply-for-a-discount page covers England and Wales and tells you to check with your council. You will usually need a student status letter or certificate from your university or college.
I live on my own as a full-time student. Do I still apply?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must apply even if you are disregarded. A home where everyone is a full-time student can be exempt, but that is a council decision after you send evidence.
Are student nurses or apprentices treated differently?
Student nurses are listed as disregarded people. Certain apprentices can also be disregarded if they meet GOV.UK’s conditions, including an employer declaration that they will not be paid more than £195 a week and that the training leads to a qualification accredited by Ofqual or SVEC. This is separate from the full-time student exemption. Ask your council.
What if I was given a discount by mistake?
GOV.UK says you should contact the council. You could get a fine and have to repay the discount. Tell the council promptly if you leave, suspend or are no longer full-time.
Free help from AF Education
AF Education gives free UK support with course choice and Student Finance England for mature and foundation-year Home students. We cannot apply to your council for you, but we can help you understand how a full-time or part-time course is structured. WhatsApp: +44 7448 501646 · afeducation.co.uk.
Student Finance England, if eligible. Loans are repaid. Eligibility rules apply. Only your council can confirm a Council Tax exemption or discount.
Sources
- Council Tax discounts for full-time students (GOV.UK)
- Who has to pay Council Tax (GOV.UK)
- Apply for a Council Tax discount (GOV.UK)
