Council Tax frequently asked questions

To qualify for exemption as a student, students must be studying towards a full-time programme (not including apprenticeships), that lasts 24 weeks per year and involves at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during semester time.

Students on a course that is not deemed full-time by Edge Hill University will not receive a certificate from us. This includes part-time, fastrack and those on short courses under 24 weeks per year.

All full-time students who meet all the qualifying criteria can download a CRSC.

Confirmation of Student Registration Certificates are only valid for the current academic year only – students must download a new certificate for each academic year of full-time study.

Council tax exemption lasts from the first day of the course until the official end date of the course (not the graduation date). This includes holiday periods until the final year of the course.

The academic year runs from September to August. If a course starts later than September, students need to download two certificates per academic year.

If your visa states ‘no recourse to public funds’ then you are exempt.

Yes, you are still classed as a full-time student for the period that you are away from University.

Students who have been transferred to part time (TPT) are still classed as full-time students and are eligible to receive a council tax certificate.

If you have been granted a repeat year and will be undertaking the same course full time in the next academic year you will remain exempt during the summer.

As soon as a student withdraws from the course, they become liable for Council Tax and must tell their local council as soon as possible.

Yes, as long as you are earning less than £95 per week, you should be exempt.

Undergraduate students who then undertake a postgraduate course are not classed as a student between courses (the summer period between one course ending and the other starting).

Nursing or Education students who have outstanding placement/s to complete are still entitled to a certificate. Please email the Enrolment team to request the certificate.

However, if students only have modules to complete and the resit period comes after the final semester, then students are not exempt beyond the last day of your course. This means you will be liable for Council Tax over the summer vacation and covering the resit period.

Before submission, students will be entitled to receive a CRSC. After submission there will be a 10-week period where students are exempt whilst waiting for their VIVA. If after receiving the VIVA there are corrections to make, your council will need further information including a letter confirming the new end date and a letter from your supervisor detailing the attendance and the level of corrections needed. It is then up to your council to decide if you are exempt. After re-submission, students are no longer exempt.

If you require a retrospective certificate for previous years of study or after the programmes finishes you must pay a £10.00 admin fee:

• Pay for retrospective or duplicate certificates through the University Online Store
• Pay at the Finance Office and present the receipt together with the request to the Student Administration Helpdesk