A licence is needed if you are watching or recording television programmes at the same time as they are being shown on TV. This is true no matter what device you're watching on (including TV sets, laptops, mobile phones) and no matter how you're receiving the programmes (including terrestrial, satellite, cable or digital television channels). Anyone without a valid TV Licence who watches or records television programmes as described above risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
Your parents' TV Licence will not cover you away from home in most cases, except in the following rare and limited circumstances:
If you do not satisfy all of these requirements, you will need to buy your own TV Licence for your student accommodation. To check whether this exception applies to you, please contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6090.
TV Licensing's database lists addresses that don't have a TV Licence, including university accommodation. TV Licensing officers regularly visit universities and will be doing so over the next few months, with the consent and co-operation of university authorities. If you use television-receiving equipment without a valid TV Licence, you risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, plus court costs, and you will need to buy a TV Licence if you still need one.
A colour TV Licence currently costs £145.50, and a black and white licence is £49. They will remain at these rates for the next few years as the TV Licence fee has been frozen until 2017.
TV Licensing refund for students:
If you are moving back home for the summer from university and no longer need a TV Licence over the holidays, and there are three full calendar months before your licence expires, you are entitled to a refund for the unused, quarter of your licence.
You will need to ensure you buy a licence early on, by the end of September/ early October, in order to allow enough time at the end of the academic year to qualify for a refund. The refund on a TV Licence bought after April 2010 will be around £37.
If you wish to arrange a refund or would like further information, simply click on the following link: TV Licensing for Students or call TV Licensing on 0300 790 6090.
If you are not staying at university over the summer and do not need your TV Licence again before it expires, you are entitled to a refund of any unused quarters (three full calendar months). So long as you purchased your TV Licence in October and don't need it for July, August and September, you could be eligible for a refund.
Most students would need to buy a TV Licence at the beginning of term in October in order to allow enough time at the end of the year to qualify for a refund. Assuming that a TV Licence is purchased in the month it is needed, it will expire 12 months from the first of that month.
To check if you are eligible for a refund, visit the TV licensing website or call 0844 800 6734.
If you are moving out of halls or other student accommodation, remember that your TV Licence does not move with you and you will need to notify TV Licensing of your new address. You can update your details on the TV Licensing website. It only takes a minute or two. You'll be asked for your TV Licence number and new address.
At the same time you can choose to receive your TV Licence by email instead of receiving a paper licence in the post.
Students requiring further information should contact TV Licensing on 0844 800 6734. To find out about the many ways you can pay for your TV Licence, including Direct Debit, visit the TV licensing website