Whether you’re a university student, a parent or you provide student accommodation, find out when a TV Licence is needed and how much it costs.
From the day you start watching TV at uni you need a TV Licence. By law you need a licence to:
On any TV service. On any device.
A standard TV Licence costs £159 and you can pay in a way that suits you.
There are 3 ways to pay
Once a year |
Pay in one go £159 per year Pay by debit/credit card or annual Direct Debit |
Once every 3 months |
It costs a little more but might be more convenient £41 per quarter (including £1.25 charge) Direct Debit. |
Once a month |
Paying monthly spreads the cost Around £26.50 monthly for first 6 months, then £13.25 per month Direct Debit. |
If you spend some of the calendar year away from uni, you can usually claim a refund for any unused full months. Which could come in very handy.
A halls licence won’t cover your room and it’s very likely you will need your own licence. See why.
Before telling us you don’t need a TV Licence, make sure, using our checklist.
If we find you’ve been watching or recording TV live on any channel or service, or BBC iPlayer, without a licence, you could be fined up to £1,000† plus costs and even receive a criminal conviction.
† The maximum fine in Guernsey is £2,000.
If you live in halls you still need a TV Licence to watch TV in your room. And if you live in a house or flat share with a separate tenancy agreement, you’ll need your own TV Licence too. A joint tenancy is usually covered by one licence for the whole property.
You’ll only be covered by your parents’ licence if:
We do make visits to confirm that a licence isn’t needed so use this checklist before completing a ‘No Licence Needed’ declaration.
You (and anyone else in your household) need a TV Licence if you:
This applies to any device you use, e.g. a TV, laptop, desktop computer, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.
Tell us if you don’t need a TV Licence.
* Watching S4C on demand doesn’t require a TV Licence.
Watch our short guide on when you need a TV Licence at university.
There is no separate student TV Licence or a student discount. But if you don’t need your licence for the full 12 months, you can apply for a refund for any unused months.
If you are going home for the summer – and won’t need the licence you bought to cover you in term time – you may be able to get a refund. Please note, you may need to provide evidence that supports your request, like the confirmation of attendance at college/university and the term dates.
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.
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.
We offer detailed information and advice for residential landlords.
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