Student Eligibilty

Paris_Anthony

Hi,

I'm an Open Uni student in Leicester, technically full time. I've just moved into student digs with the council tax exemption as I was told I was eligible for it, but I can't find any criteria for being a full-time student online. I want to double check it myself so I don't get any nasty surprises later.
Does anyone know the basic criteria to be classed as a full-time student?

Thanks

CIS

The original guidance issued to local authorities stated that a local authority could give OU students an exemption if they believed they qualified - http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ctil/ctil13.pdf- however the regulatins require actual attendance, this was confirmed by some case law last year, which the OU does not require.

4.—(1) A full-time course of education is, subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), one—

• (a) which subsists for at least one academic year of the educational establishment concerned or, in the case of an educational establishment which does not have academic years, for at least one calendar year;

• (b) which persons undertaking it are normally required by the educational establishment concerned to attend (whether at premises of the establishment or otherwise) for periods of at least 24 weeks in each academic or calendar year (as the case may be) during which it subsists, and

• (c) the nature of which is such that a person undertaking it would normally require to undertake periods of study, tuition or work experience which together amount in each such academic or calendar year to an average of at least 21 hours a week during the periods of attendance mentioned in paragraph (b) above in the year.

Because of the attendance requirement OU students do not qualify as students for council tax purposes. It is annoying because I study enough courses to get me a disregard if I was at a redbrick uni but I'm in the same situation as you are in.

Oldernotwiser

You cannot be a full time student with the OU - "technically" or not. The OU only offers part time study however many courses you take; this is why you cannot claim maintenance funding for study with them.

You are not eligible for the CT student exemption.