10 Relatable Uni Dating Icks Everyone Knows Too Well

University is often a time of exploration, independence, and the thrill of new relationships.

Yet it is also where students encounter countless awkward turn-offs that instantly change how they see someone.

These moments, now widely referred to as “icks”, capture small behaviours or attitudes that seem minor but quickly grow unbearable.

For South Asian students, where cultural expectations and dating dynamics collide, these icks can feel particularly sharp and hilarious.

We spoke to some young British Asians across the UK to gather their experiences of the most unforgettable dating icks.

From awkward conversations to cultural judgements, these are the funniest yet most relatable icks students cannot ignore.

The Body Count Bragger

There is always someone who brags about their body count like it is a competitive sport.

What they think sounds impressive often comes across as insecure and forced.

Instead of being attractive, the fixation on numbers reduces intimacy to a scorecard.

The constant boasting quickly becomes repetitive and unappealing.

What should have been a flirtatious chat turns into an endless monologue.

Mandeep remembers: “When I was at uni, there was this one guy who you couldn’t have a conversation with without him somehow steering it to how many girls he’d slept with.

“It was meant to sound impressive, I guess, but it just made him seem insecure.”

The Conversation Hijacker

It can be charming when someone is open about their desires, but the ick emerges when every conversation turns into something sexual.

From course discussions to coffee breaks, they always find a way back to the topic.

This behaviour jars especially in mixed company.

What starts as playful quickly feels forced and uncomfortable.

Instead of intimacy, their obsession comes across as crass.

Friends begin to avoid inviting them to group hangouts.

The overemphasis on sex drains any genuine connection.

The Overly Innocent Act

Uni life is about growth, but the ick arrives when someone insists on acting overly naïve about dating and relationships.

Pretending not to understand basic dynamics can feel manipulative.

It becomes especially irritating when the behaviour feels performative.

What could be sweet turns quickly into frustrating immaturity.

Their constant wide-eyed shock at normal experiences creates a false sense of superiority.

Conversations feel patronising instead of natural. The pretence wears thin, leaving others unimpressed.

Nina recalls: “I had a flatmate who’d act completely clueless about basic dating, constantly play the ‘who, me?’ card when anyone brought up anything slightly suggestive. It just felt so put on and fake.”

The Judger of Sex-Positivity

With more students embracing open conversations about sexuality, the ick appears when someone harshly judges others for being sex-positive.

Their disapproving looks or comments instantly create tension in social settings.

Instead of healthy discussion, they project outdated attitudes.

What could have been an open-minded exchange collapses into condescending remarks.

Students quickly sense the hypocrisy when their private actions do not align with public opinions.

The double standards create a lasting negative impression.

The Relationship Gossip

Few things spread faster on campus than gossip, but the ick takes centre stage when someone constantly gossips about who is dating whom.

Their need to share intimate details makes trust impossible.

What should be harmless chat soon becomes malicious whispering.

The gossip rarely stays contained and usually comes back to haunt the speaker.

Instead of strengthening friendships, it isolates them socially. People quickly learn never to confide in them.

Jaspreet shares: “There were always a few people who thrived on knowing everyone’s business and spreading it around.

“You couldn’t tell them anything about your dating life because the entire campus would know by the end of the day.”

The Home-Judger

Moving away from home is a big step for many students.

The ick emerges when someone judges those who choose independence.

They criticise students for supposedly abandoning family values or traditions.

Instead of understanding the balancing act, they oversimplify personal choices.

Their harsh opinions make others defensive rather than comfortable. What could have been a supportive conversation becomes a lecture.

The irony is that their own lifestyle rarely lives up to the standards they demand.

Students quickly distance themselves from such negativity.

The Background Restrictor

While everyone has preferences, the ick hits when someone insists on only dating people from their exact cultural background.

They dismiss others without giving them a chance. In diverse uni environments, this feels limiting and outdated.

Their strict stance seems less about compatibility and more about narrow-mindedness.

Instead of being rooted in values, it comes across as insecurity.

What could have been natural chemistry is blocked by rigid thinking. The insistence feels more like a rulebook than genuine attraction.

Karam recalls: “When I was at uni, there was this lad who was so adamant about only dating someone from their exact background.

“It felt, honestly, a bit sad, because he was missing out on so many interesting people and experiences purely based on arbitrary rules.”

The Inconsistent Feminist

Campus conversations about equality are common, but the ick strikes when someone preaches feminism yet behaves contradictorily in relationships.

They claim progressive ideals but still expect outdated roles.

What begins as impressive intellect collapses under inconsistency. Their words and actions no longer align.

Friends quickly notice the hypocrisy, and the attraction fades.

The ick is sealed once their “progressive” stance becomes more performance than reality.

The Competitive Dater

Another common uni ick is the competitive dater, who treats relationships like achievements rather than genuine connections.

They count conquests and show off like they are winning a game.

Instead of celebrating intimacy, they trivialise it into bragging rights.

Their obsession with comparisons kills any genuine romance.

Friends quickly grow tired of the constant updates.

What should have been exciting feels transactional and hollow.

The Social Media Exhibitionist

Social media is central to uni life, but the ick arises when someone broadcasts every detail of their love life online.

From relationship milestones to cryptic break-up posts, nothing is private.

Their need for public validation overshadows real intimacy.

Instead of depth, relationships become performances.

Scrolling through constant updates feels exhausting. The oversharing leaves little room for authentic connection.

Students soon avoid getting involved, knowing it will inevitably end up online.

The “ick” is universal, but uni life magnifies it in unforgettable ways.

These moments feel sharper and funnier when paired with the pressures of independence, culture, and relationships.

Whether it is bragging about body counts, judging sex-positivity, or gossiping about relationships, everyone has encountered at least one of these icks.

They serve as a reminder that dating is as much about compatibility as it is about shared respect.

While the ick can end attraction instantly, it also creates stories that unite students in laughter.

After all, nothing bonds people like laughing at experiences we all secretly share.