Information for Local Councils

Information for Local Councils

This page outlines the University’s policy on reporting student information for the purposes of council tax collection and exemption, and on the handling of enquiries relating to current and former students and to future students/applicants.

General Information on Programme Start and Expected End Dates

A BA or BSc honours degree will take four years to complete. Each academic session normally starts in September and finishes at the end of May (session dates vary slightly from year to year but are confirmed each year by the University Senate).

Students can exit from their course at the end of any session and accept an interim award. Students can also be allowed direct entry into year 2, 3 or 4 of a course. For these reasons, the University can record only the 'expected end' date on student records. The latest student report will always provide the most accurate start and expected end date information.

Reporting Student-Specific Information

Student-specific information will be provided three times within each academic session, as follows:

  • by no later than 30 October
  • by no later than 31 January
  • by no later than 30 April

To the following councils:

  • Angus Council
  • Fife Council
  • Dundee City Council
  • Perth and Kinross Council

Councils will use the reports only to verify individual claims of student status at Abertay University and for no other purpose.

The report will include only the student address during the academic session where it falls within defined postcode areas:

Angus CouncilDD2, DD3, DD4, DD5, DD7, DD8, DD9, DD10, DD11, PH11, PH12, PH13 and AB30
Dundee City CouncilDD1 - DD5
Fife CouncilKY1 - KY16 (inclusive), DD6, FK10
Perth and Kinross Council             PH1 - PH18, KY4, KY5, KY6, KY13, KY14, DD2, DD8, FK14, FK15, FK19 and FK21

Enquiries Relating to Current Students

Current students should appear on the standard report provided, but if a student fails to update their term-time address this can result in their details not being identified as residing within the area and not appearing on the report.

Where an individual has reported that he/she is a current student at Abertay University, but his/her information does not appear on the standard reports provided, or where your council does not receive standard reports from us, the individual must request either to have the council’s standard form authorised by the University (Student Services) or to obtain a confirmation of student status letter from Student Services.

It is the student’s responsibility to bring the appropriate documentation to Student Services for verification or to request a confirmation of student status letter.

The University’s Data Protection Policy, and the Data Protection Act, permit the release of information to aid the collection of council tax; however, enquiries of this nature will not be dealt with by telephone. This ensures that the security of individuals’ information is protected.

Enquiries Relating to Former Students

Where an individual has reported that he/she was a student at Abertay University in the past, and his/her information has not been included on standard reports provided, the council should contact Student Records in our Registry department.

The University’s Data Protection Policy, and the Data Protection Act, permit the release of information to aid the collection of council tax; however, enquiries of this nature will not be dealt with by telephone. This ensures that the security of individuals’ information is protected. Requests for information can be submitted:

Enquiries for former students will normally be dealt with within 10 working days (excluding Saturday and Sunday). At busy periods, particularly from June to October, this will take longer. We prefer to receive requests via email.

Please note: We are unable to confirm the address or contact information for any former student. We do not retain up-to-date contact information for former students.

Future Students/Applicant Enquiries

An applicant who has firmly accepted an unconditional offer of a place at Abertay University will receive an Offer Letter, normally within 14-21 days of submitting a firm acceptance or meeting conditions of an offer. An individual reporting that he/she will become a student of Abertay University in the forthcoming session should be asked to provide this letter. If he/she then enrols within the University, he/she will appear on the standard current student reports.

If the individual is unable to provide this certificate, it means that he/she is either not holding an unconditional offer or has not yet firmly accepted an offer. Where this is the case, Student Records and Student Services will be unable to provide alternative confirmation and the individual must wait until his/her certificate of offer is available. Requests for information on individuals who are not enrolled students of the University will be held until the first reporting period in October.

Councils are advised that holding the certificate of offer does not guarantee that the individual will enrol on a programme of study at Abertay University, which leads to exemption from council tax.

Pause carousel

Play carousel