We surveyed 2,000 university students aged 18-24 in October 2025 to uncover the reality behind the headlines. From dating apps to one-night stands, safe sex to sexual experimentation, here’s what we discovered about the intimate lives of today’s students.
The most common answer might surprise you. A significant 37% of students report having no sex at all during an average month, making celibacy the single most prevalent experience on campus. For those who are sexually active, the majority fall into the moderate range, with 33% having sex 1-3 times per month and 13% having sex 4-6 times per month. Only a small minority report very frequent sexual activity, with 10% having sex 7-15 times and 7% having sex more than 15 times per month.
The gender breakdown reveals that female students are slightly more likely to be abstinent, with 39% reporting zero sexual activity compared to 34% of male students. This challenges the stereotype of university as a sexually charged environment and suggests that many students are prioritizing other aspects of their lives.
When it comes to the number of sexual partners, the data paints a picture of relative monogamy. The largest group by far consists of students who had exactly one partner in the past year (44%), followed by those who had no partners at all (30%). This means that nearly three-quarters of students fall into the 0-1 partner category.
Multiple partners are far less common than popular culture might suggest. Only 20% of students had three partners, while just 3% had five partners. The numbers drop even further for those with 11 or more partners, representing only 3% of the total sample. Male students report slightly higher numbers, with 27% having zero partners compared to 32% of female students, and 24% having three partners compared to 19% of female students.
Group sexual experiences remain relatively uncommon among university students, with 87% reporting they have never had a threesome. However, the 13% who have reveals one of the most striking gender differences in the entire survey. Male students are more than twice as likely to have had this experience, with 21% answering yes compared to just 9% of female students. This substantial gap raises questions about differing opportunities, social expectations, and attitudes toward group sexual encounters between genders.
Despite the ubiquity of dating apps in modern culture, they are used by only a minority of students. A clear majority of 69% do not use dating apps to find partners, while 31% do. Interestingly, this is one area where gender differences are minimal, with usage rates nearly identical between female and male students (31% and 32% respectively). This suggests that traditional methods of meeting partners—through friends, classes, societies, and social events—remain the dominant approach for today’s university students.
Sexual experimentation with BDSM and kink practices has entered the mainstream for a significant minority of students. Nearly one in four students (23%) report having tried BDSM or kink, while 77% have not. This is another area where gender differences are virtually non-existent, with 23% of female students and 24% of male students reporting experience with these practices. The relatively high percentage suggests that alternative sexual practices have become more normalized and accepted among young adults.
Perhaps no other question in the survey reveals such a stark gender difference as pornography consumption. Male students are dramatically more likely to watch porn regularly, with 13% watching every day and 26% watching regularly. In contrast, only 2% of female students watch daily and 15% watch regularly.
The gap is equally pronounced at the other end of the spectrum. Nearly half of female students (46%) report never watching porn, compared to 30% of male students. The middle ground of irregular viewing is occupied by 36% of all students (38% female, 32% male). These findings highlight fundamentally different relationships with pornography between genders.
University social life appears more moderate than stereotypes suggest. The most common pattern is having one night out per week (35% of students), followed by no nights out at all (29%). Another 22% go out twice per week, while only 9% go out three times. Very frequent socialising – four or more nights out – is rare, accounting for just 6% of students combined.
Male students show a slightly higher tendency toward frequent socializing, with 12% going out three times per week compared to 7% of female students. However, the overall patterns are quite similar between genders, suggesting that most students balance their social lives with academic and other commitments.
The data challenges the notion of pervasive “hookup culture” on university campuses. A substantial 60% of students report never hooking up after a night out, making this by far the most common response. Another 29% hook up irregularly, while only 9% do so regularly. A mere 2% hook up every time they go out.
Gender differences are notable here. Female students are significantly more likely to never hook up after nights out (66%) compared to male students (50%). Conversely, male students are twice as likely to hook up regularly (14% versus 7%) and more likely to do so irregularly (34% versus 26%). These patterns suggest different approaches to casual sexual encounters between genders.
Recent one-night stands reveal one of the survey’s most significant gender disparities. Overall, 21% of students had a one-night stand in the last month, while 79% did not. However, this headline figure masks a dramatic difference in experience between male and female students.
Male students were more than twice as likely to have had a recent one-night stand, with 32% answering yes compared to just 15% of female students. This 17-percentage-point gap represents one of the largest gender differences in the entire survey and raises important questions about differing sexual opportunities, attitudes, and experiences on campus.
Students generally perceive their universities as LGBTQ+ friendly, though experiences vary considerably. On a scale of 0-10, the most common rating was 10 (20% of students), followed by 7 (17%) and 8 (15%). Overall, 60% of students rated their university 7 or higher, suggesting a generally inclusive environment.
However, a notable minority experience less welcoming campuses. 13% of students rated their university 3 or lower, with 5% giving the lowest possible score of 0. Female students tend to rate their universities as more LGBTQ+ friendly, with 23% giving a score of 10 compared to 14% of male students. The middle rating of 5 was chosen by 14% of students, indicating neutrality or mixed experiences.
Living in close quarters sometimes leads to intimate encounters. 16% of students report having hooked up with a roommate or flatmate, while 84% have not. This represents a significant minority who have navigated the potentially complicated dynamics of sexual relationships within their living space.
Male students are notably more likely to have had this experience, with 22% reporting yes compared to 13% of female students. Whether this reflects different living arrangements, social dynamics, or attitudes toward mixing living and romantic spaces remains an open question.
Direct participation in sex work remains uncommon among university students, with only 4% reporting they have engaged in activities such as OnlyFans, camming, escorting, or sugaring. The vast majority (96%) have not participated in sex work. Gender differences are minimal, with 4% of female students and 3% of male students reporting involvement.
While personal participation is rare, awareness of sex work among peers is surprisingly common. Nearly one in four students (23%) know someone at their university who has done sex work, while 77% do not. This significant gap between participation (4%) and awareness (23%) suggests that sex work, while still a minority activity, has become more visible on university campuses. Gender differences in awareness are minimal, with both female and male students reporting similar levels (23% and 24% respectively).
Safe sex practices among university students reveal concerning gaps in consistent protection use. While 42% of students report always practicing safe sex, this means that the majority do not consistently use protection. A quarter of students (25%) sometimes practice safe sex, while 12% never do. Another 21% selected “not applicable”, likely indicating they are not currently sexually active.
The patterns are remarkably similar between genders, with both male and female students showing comparable rates of consistent safe sex practice (43% and 42% respectively). The fact that 37% of sexually active students are not consistently using protection represents a significant public health concern, particularly given rising rates of sexually transmitted infections among young adults.
This survey was conducted in October 2025 with a sample of 2,000 university students aged 18-24 from across the UK. The research aims to provide up-to-date insights into the sexual habits and lifestyles of young people in higher education.
Further analysis of the data is planned for the coming months, including a breakdown of findings by individual universities to explore how sexual behavior and attitudes vary across different UK institutions.
