You do not have to pay council tax, and exemption is automatic.

You don't have to pay council tax but exemption is not automatic.

You must tell your local council that you are studying full-time. Failure to do so may result in a court summons and having to pay court costs.

If you live in York, you should apply for a student council tax discount or exemption with City of York Council (see below). If you live in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), it is your landlord's responsibility to deal with any discount or exemption application.

If you live with non-students you will usually still be personally exempt from paying council tax, and the non-students in the household will be the ones liable to pay. However, there are some exceptions:

• If you live with a partner or adult children and you are the home-owner or only named tenant; or
• If you have lodgers and you are the home-owner or only named tenant.

You do not qualify for exemption and you must pay council tax.

If you are a part-time student living with full-time students

If you are the only other adult in your household you will be eligible for the 25 per cent single persons discount. This should automatically be applied to your council tax bill. You need to contact your local council if it is not automatically applied. 

If you are registered on a full-time programme and attending part-time as a reasonable adjustment, you are eligible for exemption from council tax. This is because you would normally be required to attend your course full-time. 

You don't have to pay council tax. Your dependants (spouse, civil partner, or adult dependant) will also qualify for an exemption if they are visa holders and are prevented by the terms of their visa from either taking paid employment or from claiming benefits.

Exemption is not automatic. You must tell your local council that you are studying full-time (see below). You will also need to tell them about any dependents over the age of 18 who live with you who are exempt based on the above criteria. Failure to do so may result in a court summons and having to pay court costs.

Further information about council tax and international students is provided by UKCISA.

If you are living in University accommodation, you will not have to pay council tax.

If you live in private sector accommodation, and your course is shorter than 24 weeks, you must pay council tax.

Please note the Entry to Pre-masters and Pre-masters programmes are considered to be one programme of more than 24 weeks. However, you are only exempt from council tax if you progress onto the Pre-masters programme.

You have to pay council tax if:

• you were studying part-time for your research degree
• you will not be working on your thesis full-time in your continuation period (where permitted) - even if you were studying full-time immediately before your continuation period

You do not have to pay council tax if you were studying full-time immediately before your continuation year and you will be working on your thesis full-time (at least 21 hours per week for at least 24 weeks of the academic year).

You will need to provide confirmation from your supervisor that you will be studying full-time. Download a form from e:Vision for your supervisor to complete.

• If you do not live within the City of York, your local council may require further supporting evidence that you meet the requirements for exemption.

Once you have submitted your thesis for examination, you are no longer eligible for a council tax exemption because you are no longer considered to be studying full-time.

If you receive a ‘revise and resubmit’ outcome, you do not have to pay council tax if you were studying full-time immediately before your continuation period and you will be working on the revisions to your thesis full-time (at least 21 hours per week for at least 24 weeks of the academic year). 

You will need to provide confirmation from your supervisor that you will be studying full-time. Download a form from e:Vision for your supervisor to complete.

If you do not live within the City of York, your local council may require further supporting evidence that you meet the requirements for exemption.

You must pay council tax if you are taking time out from a part-time programme of study.

If you are taking time out from a full-time programme of study you will not have to pay council tax during leave of absence. This is because you would normally be required to attend your course full time.

Exemption is not automatic. If you are eligible you will need to apply for exemption (see below).

You no longer qualify for exemption and you must pay council tax, even if you are waiting to start another full-time programme. You will be liable to pay council tax from the date you confirm withdrawal.

You no longer qualify for exemption and you must pay council tax, even if you are waiting to start another full-time programme. You are liable to pay council tax from your course end date.