Conducted by the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) and the National Union of Students (NUS), the poll shows that some students do not know how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

More than one in ten claimed to not know how to put a condom on while almost a quarter believe wrongly that other forms of contraception could protect them from STIs.

Over a third of students thought latex condoms had holes in them large enough to let the HIV virus slip through. Seven respondents even thought that condoms could be washed and reused.

Lisa Power, head of policy at THT, said: "University students are no smarter than many other young people when it comes to sexual health. They are just as likely to believe myths about condoms and to have got more of their sex education in the playground than the classroom.

"We spend a fortune educating students, but leave them ignorant about key issues in their adult lives. It's hardly surprising that rates of sexually transmitted infections are soaring."

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