Council Tax for PhD students

If you have registered onto a full-time PhD programme you are considered to be a student for council tax purposes from the day you register onto your programme until the day on which you complete it or abandon it or are required to leave, including:

• during any vacations and periods of non-attendance with leave of absence.
• during any period you are writing-up your thesis or making corrections to your thesis post-viva

Your local council may ask you to prove your student status, whether you live in Loughborough, London or elsewhere. 

You can download a ‘Council Tax letter’ from the Student Self-service portal for this purpose.  The letter will confirm your status as a student from the date of registration to the expected end date, which in most cases will be the end of the fourth year. 

If you encounter a problem generating a letter or your studies are extended beyond four years you can email the Doctoral College Office to request a non-standard council tax letter: p.g.research@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk.  

It is important to contact the council and provide any information that is requested. If you need to provide evidence of your student status see above ('Proving my status as a student') for information on how you can do this.  If you are liable, you will need to make arrangements to pay.

If you receive a council tax bill and need further guidance the Student Advice and Support Service can: 

• offer advice
• help you contact the relevant council
• make representations on your behalf

You can book an appointment at the Student Advice and Support Service through the online appointment request form, by emailing advice@lboro.ac.uk or calling 01509 222765. 

Last Updated: 15th March 2023