TV Licensing

Where and when you need a licence

Do students need a TV Licence? Yes if you live in:

Student halls - you’ll need to be covered by a licence to watch TV in your room.

House or flat share with separate tenancy agreement – you’ll need to be covered by your own licence.

Property with joint tenancy – you’ll need one licence to cover the whole place.

You may already be covered by a licence at another address if you only watch on devices (such as a laptop, phone or tablet) that aren’t plugged into the mains and you have a licence at your out-of-term address.

What does it cover me to watch?

With a licence you can stay connected to your favourite shows – and feel more connected to your family and friends watching too. You can enjoy:

• 400+ TV channels, like ITV, E4, Dave, BBC and Channel 5.
• Live TV on services you might pay for, like Sky, Virgin Media and BT.
• Live TV programmes on streaming services, like Amazon Prime Video, NOW and YouTube.
• Plus, everything on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch it all on any device.

Video: All about the TV Licence for students

Watch our short video.

Still unsure? Take a look at our student guide.

Advice for Students - English (PDF 883 Kb opens in a new window)

Advice for Students - Welsh (PDF 881 Kb opens in a new window)

What does the TV Licence pay for?

National and regional TV channels
On BBC One and other BBC TV channels, you’ll help fund brilliant shows like Man Like Mobeen, Glow Up, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and more.

BBC iPlayer
The place for streaming BBC channels and watching on-demand box sets and reality shows like What We Do in the Shadows and The Rap Game UK, plus exclusive content. Find out more about BBC iPlayer and the TV Licence.

Radio and BBC Sounds
Playing feel-good tunes and fresh new music on national and local stations like Radio 1. Plus, playlists, podcasts and live radio shows on BBC Sounds.

BBC News and Sport
Delivering trusted international, national and local news and sport straight to your phone or tablet, 24 hours a day.

Want to know more? See what else the licence funds.

Let us know if you think you don’t need a licence. But before you do, double-check when you need a licence.

View our uni checklists

Busy navigating university? Save time with our checklists for various stages of student life, including when you’re starting uni. From must-have supplies to unexpected home comforts, our handy checklist can help you remember the necessities.

Get your uni checklist:

Your uni checklist in English.

Your uni checklist in Welsh.

Moving out of student halls?

Keep on top of everything with our moving out of halls checklist, created by students who’ve already been there, done that. From deciding on a laundry rota to a household bill keeper, this checklist can save you time and stress. It even has a list of budget hacks to cut costs.

Your moving out of halls checklist in English.

Your moving out of halls checklist in Welsh.

Quiz: Are you ready for university?

Now that you’ve got a place at uni, take our quiz for students to find out if you’re ready for the realities of student life. Like if you need a TV Licence in halls. Or how much it costs to do your laundry.

Round one

1. How often should you change your bed sheets / towel?
2. How much a load of washing costs in a laundrette on average?
3. How do you find out when bin day is?
4. Do you need a TV Licence in student halls?
5. On which shelf in the fridge is meat typically stored?
6. Which of these does not currently ever need to be covered by a TV Licence. Now, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube
7. How much is your first year of uni worth to your final grade?
8. How long should you boil an egg for a runny yolk?
9. Do you need a TV Licence to watch recorded TV?
10. When should you start looking for your next year’s accommodation?

Round one answers

1. Once a week is the recommended number
2. About £4 for a standard load
3. Look on your local council website
4. Yes, students need to be covered by a TV Licence
5. The bottom shelf to prevent contamination
6. None. You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch live TV programmes on any of these services
7. It doesn’t count but you have to pass by 40% (This is generally true however, please confirm this is accurate for your own child)
8. 4 - 5 mins
9. Yes, showing on or recorded from live TV requires a licence
10. As early as November - January

Round two

Discover how ready you are for university by answering these questions with your family or friends.

1. What item from home are you most likely to take with you?
2. How many times a week will you call home?
3. How many of your lectures will you attend?
4. How long do you spend watching TV shows in a week (in hours)?
5. How would you navigate cleaning halls with housemates?
6. How much will you budget for food each month?
7. What is the first meal you cook at university going to be?
8. What clubs/ societies will you/ did you join in freshers week?
9. What is your best money saving tip?
10. What is your best stress busting tip?
11. If you had a 9am lecture, what time would you go to sleep the night before?

Any other questions?

What happens if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer without a licence?

Anyone caught watching or recording TV live on any channel or service, or BBC iPlayer – without a licence – could be fined (up to £1,000* plus costs). There’s also a risk of receiving a criminal conviction.

*The maximum fine in Guernsey is £2,000.

Do I need a TV Licence to watch YouTube?

If you are watching a TV programme live on YouTube, you need to be covered by a TV Licence. A licence is not required to view user generated content, clips and videos on YouTube. This includes live streamed content that is not part of a television broadcast. Or being broadcast at the same time by other means.

Does my parents' TV Licence cover me while I'm away at university?

If you’re watching away from your parents' address on a device powered solely by its own internal batteries (i.e. it is not connected to an aerial or plugged into the mains) you will be covered by their TV Licence.

If you ever plug your device (e.g. laptop, phone, tablet) into the mains while watching TV you will need to buy your own TV Licence.

What if I move?

Your licence won’t automatically move with you. Once you know where you’re moving to, and when, update your details to stay covered.

More help and advice about moving house.

What support do you offer halls managers?

Our collection of resources for halls managers includes imagery in handy formats to print and display in communal areas or for use in your emails, websites or social media.

I let to students. What do I need to know?

We offer detailed information and advice for residential landlords.

Is there a student discount for a TV Licence?

No, there are no discounts for students. However, you can claim a refund on any months you didn't use your TV Licence if you live in your student accommodation for less than 12 months.