Full-time student discount
If you are a student, you may be eligible for Council Tax discount or exemption.
To find out if you need to apply for exemption, you should check:
- if you qualify as a full-time student
- your accommodation type (e.g. halls of residence, student accommodation)
- who else lives in the property
Check if you qualify as a full-time student
A full-time student is someone who meets the age, course length and study hours requirements shown in the table below:
| Age | Course length | Study hours |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | At least 3 months | At least 12 hours a week |
| 20 or over | At least 24 weeks | At least 21 hours a week at a recognised educational establishment |
What is a recognised educational establishment?
A recognised educational establishment is a university, college or other education provider that is officially recognised to provide further or higher education. If you’re unsure whether your college is recognised, check with your college or course provider.
You may also qualify as a full-time student if you are:
- a student nurse on a university course
- a foreign language assistant registered with the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges
- the non-British spouse or dependant of a student who is prevented from working or claiming benefits (due to UK entry conditions)
Courses that don’t qualify
The following courses do not qualify:
- day release courses
- block release courses
- part-time or evening courses that do not meet the minimum study hour requirements
English language courses in schools in Reading do not usually qualify for Council Tax purposes because they:
- do not typically meet the minimum course length
- are often attended by students under 18, who do not need to pay Council Tax
Accommodation exemption and discount rules
Halls of residence
Halls of residence run by a university or college are exempt from Council Tax. If you are a student living in halls of residence, you do not need to do anything.
It is the university or college’s responsibility to apply for exemption.
Student accommodation
Student accommodation that is not run by a university or college is not counted as halls of residence and is not exempt from Council Tax.
If you live in student accommodation with other students (not halls of residence), you must apply for Council Tax exemption for your room.
Students living with non-students
Students living with non-students are subject to different rules depending on who and how many people live in the property:
- if you are a full-time student living with one adult non-student, you can apply for a 25% Council Tax discount
- if you are a full-time student living with two or more adult non-students, Council Tax discount is not available
Apply for a full-time student discount
You need your Council Tax reference number to apply for discount. If you do not have one, you will first need to tell us you’re moving in so we can set your account up.
Course dates and payments
Your student status can affect when you need to pay Council Tax.
If your course is suspended or you leave early
If your university or college confirms you are still registered while your course is suspended, you continue to be a full-time student.
If you leave or withdraw from your course, you may need to pay Council Tax from the date you leave.
Council Tax before or after your course
You may have to pay Council Tax before your course starts and after it ends. Your student exemption applies only while you are on your course.
Last updated on 25/08/2026
Full-time student discount