Council Tax

Council tax is an amount of money that people pay every year for public services such as repairing roads, collecting waste, street lighting etc. Students may be charged council tax depending on their age and length of programme. The amount of council tax varies depending on the valuation of the accommodation in which students stay.

For more information, please see https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/council-tax/

Please note that Portsmouth City Council exempt the below students from Council Tax:

Undergaduate

• If you are 18 or 19 years old are studying full time (at least 12 hours per week for at least 3 months), then you will be classed as full time students until you become 20 years old.
• If you are over 20 years old and studying a First Year equivalent course, then you will be classed as a full time student if you are studying at least 21 hours per week for at least 24 weeks of an academic or calendar year.

Postgraduate

• If you are a studying a postgraduate course, then you will be classed as a full time student if you are studying at least 21 hours per week for at least 34 weeks of an academic or calendar year.

Portsmouth City Council will charge Council Tax in the below cases:

• If you are over 20 years old studying a pre-sessional or foundation course which is less than a calendar year, you will not be classed as a full time student.
• If you are a pre-master’s student, you will not be classed as a full time student.

To request a Council Tax Certificate, you will need to log into your ‘Student View’ portal and click on ‘Request Standard Letters’.