A Varsity survey has found that 57 per cent of students at the University of Cambridge agree that this is a “Generation Self” – a term used by the Guardian to describe a generation more concerned with the self than others.

Half of students at the University of Cambridge said that they “agree” or “strongly agree” that their generation is far less politically active than their parents’ generation, compared to 32 per cent who “disagree” or “strongly disagree.”

Only 3 in 10 said that they had participated in a demonstration in the last five years, although 2 in 5 answered that they took “quite a lot” of interest in national politics. 60 per cent agreed with the suggestion that there is a “strong level of political apathy within the student population.”

Gideon Farrell, a Natural Sciences student at King’s, thinks that the suggestion that today’s students are more self-centred than previous generations is unfair: “If anything the Baby Boomer generation is ‘Generation Self’. That generation had high growth, free university, benefits and the NHS and yet did not think to ensure future stability.”

The introduction of £9,000 tuition fees last September has meant that student debt is an even greater cause of concern. 54 per cent think they will have to ask their parents for financial support after graduation.

Another student, who is reading History at King’s, said: “The generation before us, in [their] 30s now, is far less politically engaged than the present student cohort, many of whom have been radicalised by tuition fees and government cuts”.

Nearly 60 per cent of students said that they were “generally opposed” or “firmly opposed” to cuts in public spending.

Figures from the survey also indicate that students at Cambridge are more sympathetic to those living on benefits than their counterparts nationally.

Only 18 per cent disagreed with the statement that “unemployed people receiving benefits are for the most part unlucky rather than lazy”, compared to nearly 50 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds questioned in a poll conducted by ICM.

But opinions on the levels of government spending on benefits were divided. Responding after the recent changes to the welfare system, 40 per cent thought that current spending was “about right”, while 37 per cent said it was “too low”.

The latest report by the British Social attitudes survey indicated that there has been a shift towards the right over the last 20 years, particularly on the redistribution of wealth. In 1991, 58 per cent of respondents agreed that the “government should spend more on welfare benefits even if it leads to higher taxes”, compared to only 28 per cent in 2011.

Dr Jeff Miley, a lecturer of political sociology at the University of Cambridge, said: “The way in which people understand what it means to be on ‘the left’ versus on ‘the right’ seems to be shifting. On issues associated with LGBT rights (for example gay marriage),  immigration, and racial tolerance, the younger cohorts in Britain – as well as more generally across a wide variety of countries – come across as more ‘progressive’.  

“However, support for ‘traditional’ left-wing concerns such as support for the welfare-state and progressive redistribution is not greater among younger cohorts in Britain, and on some indicators is even less.”

In Cambridge, the left-wing student stereotype held strong: 1 in 2 considered their political views to be on the left, compared to 1 in 10 on the right. The most popular news outlet, aside from the BBC, was the Guardian, favoured by 28 per cent of students.

The National Health Service, which featured in what some described as a ‘leftie’ Olympic opening ceremony last summer, is strongly supported by students. 82 per cent said they “strongly agree” that the NHS should remain free for everyone.

Although Cambridge MP Julian Huppert was elected with 39 per cent of the vote in the 2010 general election, students seem to be turning away from the Liberal Democrats.

Of those who said that they supported a main political party, only 13 per cent were Liberal Democrat voters, equal with supporters of the Green party. Nearly half said they supported the Labour party, while 23 per cent said they supported the Conservatives.

While the majority agreed that there was widespread political apathy among students, others thought that students connected with society through other means.

One student, who is studying History of Art at Fitzwilliam, said: “I think maybe my generation expresses its concern for others in different ways than my parents’ generation – through something like volunteering for a charity in their area – rather than through an interest in party politics.”

Figures show that 53 per cent of students at Cambridge have volunteered for charity or within the local community in the past year. Some believe that social media has contributed to the idea of the “Generation Self”.

Tanne Spielman, a PPS student at Jesus, commented: “Our generation is narcissistic and cares a lot about our image, often on a superficial level – Facebook is an example of this.”

She noted that social media was however an effective tool for activism: “Student protests and sharing of political ideas are frequently done on Twitter, Facebook and other contemporary ways of showing our social conscience just like other generations.”

Farrell added: “This generation has the power of internet-fuelled activism to allow them to inform themselves about things that don’t even happen in this country. We are becoming more global, not more insular.”