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Your student TV Licence explained

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A TV Licence covers you to watch BBC iPlayer, all TV channels and live TV on streaming services at uni. On any device. 
 

When and where you need a TV Licence

If you love watching live TV or BBC iPlayer, you need a licence. Check out how it works for your living situation.
 
Living in halls 
You’ll need to be covered by a licence for your room. You’ll be able to watch TV in shared areas too. 
 
House or flat shares 
You’ll need your own licence if where you live is self-contained, such as a separate flat or annex. Or if you have a separate contract for your room. 
 
Property with joint tenancy 
You’ll need one licence for the address. Ask your landlord if you’re already covered. 
 
Living at home 
If you commute to university from home, that property must have a licence. 
 
Get Started
 
You may already be covered by a licence at your out-of-term address if: 
 
You only watch on devices (such as a laptop, phone or tablet) that aren’t plugged into the mains. 
 
If this is the case, you can claim No Licence Needed. 
 

Everything you can watch with your TV Licence

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Your licence lets you enjoy a huge range of TV. It covers you for:  
 
Streaming live TV online  
Live TV on streaming services like ITVX, Sky Go, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. 
 
BBC iPlayer
Everything on BBC iPlayer. Live, on catch up, or on demand. 
 
Pay TV services 
Pay TV services such as Sky, Now TV and EE TV. Live or recorded. 
 
All TV channels 
All traditional Freeview channels such as BBC, ITV and international channels.
 
Student Webpage Devices
 
For all devices - not just a TV  
You need a TV Licence to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer on a mobile device, games console, computer or tablet. This includes watching at home and on the go. 
 

Helping you budget for your TV Licence

Option one: Set up a Direct Debit 
You’ll need your account number and sort code to hand. 
 
a. Pay for the year 
Make a payment of £174.50 every 12 months. No surprises, just one convenient sum. 
 
b. Pay quarterly 
Make four payments of £44.89 throughout the year. This can help you budget your student loan. Each payment will include a £1.25 charge. 
 
c. Pay monthly  
Spread the cost of your first TV Licence even further. Pay £29.10 a month for six months. After that, you’ll pay £14.54 a month. 
 
Option two: Pay with a debit or credit card 
 
Make a payment of £174.50 every 12 months. 
 
Get Started

Is there a TV Licence student discount?

Unfortunately, there are no student discounts for a TV Licence. However, you can apply for a refund for any unused months at the end of the academic year. You just need to make sure you have at least one complete month left on your licence.
 

Frequently asked questions?

 
Do I need a TV Licence to watch YouTube? 
 
You don’t need a TV Licence to watch user content (including live streams), videos or clips on demand on YouTube. 
 
But you do need a TV Licence if you watch live TV on YouTube. 
 
An example of this would be watching Sky News live. But it isn’t just live news or sport which needs a licence – it’s any programme which is part of a TV channel, shown or transmitted for everyone to watch at the same time.
 
I don’t think I need a TV Licence. What do I do? 
 
If you’re certain you don’t need a TV Licence, you can claim No Licence Needed. 
 
More FAQs
 

TV Licensing student video guide


Still unsure? Take a look at our student guide

Advice for Students - English (PDF 3 Mb opens in a new window)

Advice for Students - Welsh (PDF 1.4 MB opens in a new window)


Student Resources

Your essential university checklist 
 
All the important things you need to pack as a first-time student from home.  

 
Your halls to house checklist 
 
Here are a few things to keep in mind for a stress-free move. 
 

General information about TV Licensing is available in other languages:

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