UCD's College Tribune newspaper has revealed that while students are intelligent enough to get into university, during their time there they struggle with the practicalities of everyday life.

The College Tribune surveyed 300 students last week to ascertain their views on a range of topics including politics, drugs, alcohol, sex, the Iraq war and their ability to boil an egg.

The results of the survey have sparked a debate among student lobby groups over the impracticalities of our education system.

Colm Hamrogue, president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), said, "The way I view these survey results is that many students are developing their academic skills and sometimes the development of their life skills is being left behind.

"A student's involvement in clubs and societies at college is an important part of their personal development but these results show that a lot of them need more than that.

"It is a startling fact that only one in 10 students knows how to cook and I don't know why that is.

It is something that should be addressed, perhaps in second level before the students go to college."

Other survey findings were that 41% of UCD students cannot change a plug, 17% cannot use a washing machine and 15% cannot change a light bulb.

"It's atrocious, " said UCD's student union president, Dan Hayden. "Perhaps there should be tutorials in tyre changing. It's amazing that they're able to get dressed and shower in the morning."