Half of British university students have never changed a lightbulb

A new poll has found that half of Britain’s university students have never changed a lightbulb.

The survey of 1,500 new students also found that while 75% said they felt confident they had the ‘practical skills’ to live away from home, a staggering 68% admitted to never having paid a bill.

Some 38% said they had never sewn on a button while 26% said they had never cleaned their own clothes.

Nearly a quarter (22%) also admitted they had never done a food shop on their own, the survey of 1,500 new students by The Student Room and the University of East Anglia found.

When it comes to working out how to carry out basic household tasks, the majority (80%) said they would ring their mum for help.

If she was not available, 73% said they would look it up online, while the rest would either call their dad or ‘ignore the problem altogether’.

Jack Wallington, community manager at The Student Room, said preparing for life at university was difficult for many students.

MORE: Primary school staff spend 30 minutes a day searching pupils’ packed lunches for banned snacks
MORE: Teenagers who start school earlier at greater risk of depression, say scientists

He said: “People joke about students not knowing how to make their bed or boil an egg, but actually leaving home can have difficult moments for some people, while for others it can be a miserable experience.

“Homesickness and loneliness can go unnoticed, worries about money, making friends and other issues can lead to a very stressful period for young people experiencing this for the first time.”

He added: “It’s important to talk to people and share your own concerns, but also look out for your housemates and ask how they’re coping.”