And why you might need one

When you’re juggling flatmates, induction week, and figuring out where the closest McDonald's is, it's easy to overlook the TV licence. It might not sound exciting, but getting it right could save you a lot of hassle.

When do you need a licence?

You’ll need a TV Licence if you:

• Watch or record TV as it’s being shown on any channel.
• Stream live TV on services like YouTube, NOW TV, or ITVX.
• Use BBC iPlayer (whether that’s live, on demand, or downloads).

This applies no matter what device you’re watching on - TV, laptop, phone, tablet, games console, etc.

Living in halls at Queen Mary

If you’re in halls, the communal licence for the building does not cover your room. That means if you want to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer in your room, you’ll need your own licence.

There is one exception: if your parents’ or guardians’ home has a TV licence, you can use that as long as you’re watching only on a device powered by its own batteries (like a phone, laptop, or tablet) and it’s not plugged into the mains or connected to an aerial.

So: Netflix on your phone = fine. BBC iPlayer on your plugged-in laptop = licence needed.

Living in a rented house or flat

If you move into private housing later on, the rules depend on your tenancy agreement:

• Separate tenancy (just for your room): you’ll each need your own licence.
• Joint tenancy (for the whole flat/house): one licence usually covers the whole place.

It’s worth double-checking at tvl.co.uk/students to be sure.

Refunds for students

The good news is you might not have to pay for a full year. If you don’t need your licence for the summer months (for example, you’re heading home), you can apply for a refund on the unused time. That could put some money back in your pocket. You can sort this online at tvl.co.uk/refund.

Why bother?

Apart from avoiding a fine of up to £1,000, the licence also pays for services you probably use. From BBC iPlayer boxsets to Radio 1, BBC Sounds, the Weather app, and BBC Sport.

Quick recap

• In halls: you’ll need your own licence to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer in your room.
• You’re covered by your home licence only if you’re on a battery-powered device.
• In private rentals, whether you need your own depends on your tenancy.
• Refunds are available if you don’t need a full year’s licence.

For more info or to set one up, head to tvl.co.uk.