Do Master's or PhD Students Pay Council Tax?

Last updated: January 2026

If you’re stepping up to a master’s or PhD, your brain is probably already full. The last thing you need to be stressing about is how council tax works. Full-time undergrads get a free pass on council tax, but does the same apply to Master’s and PhD students?

Here’s a quick breakdown of everything you need to know, including what council tax is, if master’s students are exempt, if PhD students are exempt, if part-time postgraduate students are exempt, and how to claim an exemption. 

What is council tax? 

Council tax is an annual fee you pay to your local council. The amount depends entirely on where you live and what “tax band” your property falls into (which is just based on how much the place is worth).

It’s typically paid in monthly instalments, and the cash goes towards funding local services, like bin collection and street lighting.

Do master’s students pay council tax? 

The short answer is no, as long as you’re full-time. The UK government treats full-time master’s students exactly the same as undergrads, meaning you’re completely exempt. If you live entirely with other full-time students, the whole property is exempt, meaning you have one less major bill to worry about.

If you live with people who aren’t students (like a working professional or a partner), they’ll still have to pay council tax. But if only one person in your household is not a full-time student, they’ll be given a 25% ‘single person’ discount. Essentially, all full-time students are invisible when it comes to council tax, so they won’t be counted as living in the property.

Do PhD students pay council tax? 

Good news – you won’t have to worry about paying council tax while completing your demanding PhD. Just like undergraduate and master’s students, full-time PhD students are exempt from paying council tax. 

Are part-time Master’s and PhD students exempt from paying council tax? 

We mentioned above that full-time postgraduate students don’t have to worry about paying council tax, but what about part-time ones? 

This is where it gets a bit trickier. Unfortunately, you’ll need to be classed as a full-time student to be exempt from council tax. To hit the mark, your course must: 

  • Last for at least one calendar or academic year and run for at least 24 weeks of the year. 
  • Clock in at least 21 hours of study, work experience or tuition per week (in term time).

This means if you’re studying for your Master’s or PhD part-time, you’ll usually be liable to pay council tax. However, if you’re the only part-time student living with a bunch of full-time students, the household can still claim that 25% discount.

Sometimes, local councils will look at the actual hours you put in and count you as full-time for tax purposes if you’re doing more than 21 hours a week. Don’t just assume they will, though. It’s always worth ringing up your local authority to check your specific status.

How to claim council tax exemption as a PhD or Master’s student 

If you live in a privately rented student property and study full-time, your exemption might happen automatically. But don’t just bank on it. If a bill drops through your letterbox, you need to act fast and apply for the exemption online.

You’ll only be able to claim the exemption from the official start date of your course, and you might need to prove you’re a full-time student. You can easily grab a student status letter or certificate from your uni portal or your PhD supervisor to back up your claim.

Bill-splitting service designed for students 

Even though you won’t have to worry about paying council tax as a full-time postgraduate student, managing the rest of your household bills can still be a lot of hassle. From setting up utility accounts to getting all your housemates to pay on time, living in a shared house isn’t always easy. This is where we come in… 

Split the Bills is a bill-splitting service trusted by thousands of students nationwide. Our team will handle everything on your behalf – we’ll set up utility accounts, call suppliers, and manage your direct debits. All you have to do is pay your portion of the household bills each month, giving you more time to focus on perfecting your dissertation or thesis. There’s no need to worry if your housemates pay late, as you’re only responsible for your own monthly payment!  

You can even create a personalised package based on what your house needs. You can include energy, broadband, water and even a TV Licence if you plan on watching live TV.  

If you want to simplify your shared household bills, get a price today! 

Student sorting bills on laptop

What Most Surprised Me about UK Utility Bills as an International Student

Moving to the UK as an international student comes with a lot of adjustments, including trying to figure out the transport system, cooking, getting used to the weather, and (one of the biggest adjustments of all) figuring out how to pay utility bills in a new country. In this blog, I’ll take you through the biggest surprises I came across when tackling bills in the UK as an international student.

Read More »
15th May 2026 No Comments