Do international students pay council tax in the UK?
Full-time students do not pay council tax, but the exemption is not automatic: you upload the council tax exemption certificate from your university to your local council's website. If you live with a non-student, the household pays a reduced bill.
Reviewed 17 September 2026 · 1 min read
Short answer: No. Full-time students are exempt, but you must give your council a student exemption certificate from your university. Households where everyone is a full-time student pay nothing.
Who counts as a full-time student
A course lasting at least one year with at least 21 hours of study a week. Almost every degree and taught master's qualifies. Part-time and some pre-sessional courses do not.
What to do
- Enrol, then download the council tax exemption certificate or student status letter from your student portal.
- Find your council at gov.uk/find-local-council and submit the certificate through its student discount form.
- Do it again each academic year if the council asks.
Mixed households
One non-student in a house of students means a 25 per cent discount rather than an exemption. Two or more non-students means a full bill, though the students themselves are not liable for it.
University halls
Purpose-built halls are usually exempt as a building, but some councils still issue letters to residents. Reply with your certificate rather than ignoring it: a council can pursue an unpaid bill even when you were never liable.
Sources
General information, not regulated immigration advice. Rules change; check the source before you act, and speak to an IAA-registered adviser about your case.