TV licences - what students need to know

If you’re living away from home, in halls of residence or in a shared house, then you’ll need a TV licence. Students planning to return home over the summer may be able to claim a discount.

Who needs a TV licence

College or university students living away from home must have a TV licence to watch or record television.

You also need a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV and BBC iPlayer.

A single TV Licence covers all of the following in a single property:

TV
computers
laptops
tablets
mobile phones
any other device that can receive a TV signal

You can find out more information at:

TV Licence (Government services and information website)

If you think you don’t need one, you can find out more information at:

If you don't need a TV licence (TV licensing website)

Get a refund if you're going home for the summer

If you are returning home for the summer holidays and only need a licence for nine months, you may qualify for a refund on the remaining three.

You can get more information from the students' section of the TV Licensing website or calling TV Licensing.

What you need to do

Exactly what you need to do about getting a TV licence depends on where you live:

Halls of residence

If you live in halls of residence and watch or record TV in your room, you will need your own TV licence.

Shared houses

If you have a shared tenancy agreement, with everyone in your house signing the same contract, you will usually need just one licence to cover all the devices in the house.

If you have a separate tenancy agreement, with each tenant signing an individual contract with the landlord, each of you will need your own licence to use a set in your rooms.

Only one licence is needed if the only TV being used is in a communal area.

Battery-powered equipment

A TV set powered by its own internal batteries, such as a pocket-sized TV or mobile phone, is covered by a licence at your parents’ address.

However, it must not be plugged into the mains while being used to receive television.

If there is no licence at your parents’ address you will need to buy your own.

Student housing

How to buy a licence

You can buy or renew a TV licence online with a credit or debit card by visiting the TV licensing website.

It also has information on other ways to pay. These include paying by post, by direct debit, via a savings card or over the counter at a PayPoint outlet.

If you're caught without a licence

Using a TV or any other device (for example, tablet, set-top box, DVD recorder or PC) to watch or record television programmes as they are being shown on TV without a valid TV Licence is against the law and could lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 not to mention the embarrassment and hassle of a court appearance.

How to claim a refund

You could qualify for a refund of almost £37 if you buy a TV licence before the end of October then return home for the summer holidays. For more information on how to claim, contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6090 or visit its website.

Cancellations and refunds (TV Licensing website)

TV licence concessions

If you or someone you live with is registered blind, you'll qualify for a 50 per cent cut on the cost of your TV licence. Concessions are also available for people living in residential care. For more information, follow the link below or call TV Licensing on 0300 790 6090.

Blind/severely sight impaired (TV licensing website)

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?

report a problem

leave feedback

ask a question

Report a problem

Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

A link, button or video is not working

There is a spelling mistake

Information is missing, outdated or wrong

I can't find what I'm looking for

Another issue

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Tell us more about the problem you're having with the nidirect website.

Enter your feedback

What is your question about?

Choose a topic for your question:

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

Extra comments (optional)