Just for my interest. I will be studying here for few years. The VAT in England is charged in your shopping, but I have noticed that tourist can get tax refund at the airport for the goods they bought in England.

Does this tax refund also apply to international students?

do you count as resident?

If the goods are being taken outside the EU (and not brought back) then you are entitled to reclaim your VAT of specific purchases made under the Retail Export Scheme.

As a student you will have to be leaving the country for a minimum period of 12 months (i.e. not going out on vacation) most likely at the end of your studies.

You need a retailer who operates the scheme. There are forms to be filled out when you make the purchase.
You need to satisfy the retailer that the goods are going out of the EU.
You need to be taking the goods out within 3 months of purchase.
You need a way of the retailer getting the refund to you after you have left the country.
It is a big hassle and delay showing the items to customs and then repacking them.

But it can be well worth it on certain items.

Customs & Excise Information from here. (http://www.hmce.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_InfoGuides&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_PROD_007779)

Or you could just pay the VAT like us mere mortals have to!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: