OBJECTIVE To determine the sexual experience and risky sexual behaviours of Turkish university students. METHODS This cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out in a state university in central Turkey. The data were collected in the 2006-2007 academic year in this university. Participants were 949 convenience students from this university. The study group was determined by a stratified sampling method, with faculty and sex representing the strata. Data were collected with the questionnaire designed by researchers to determine the personal features, sexual experience and risky sexual behaviours of students. A chi-square test was applied in the statistical analysis of data. RESULTS Of all the students in the research; 42.9% were female and 57.1% male. The percentage of students having had sexual experience was 33.8%. Of the students having had sexual experience, 17.1% were sexually active. The average age for first sexual experience was 17.47 ± 1.79. Among sexually active students, 51.9% indicated that they had unprotected sexual intercourse, 64.2% had sexual intercourse when they were intoxicated and 59.3% had more than one sexual partner. CONCLUSIONS According to the results obtained from this research, it can be said that a considerable number of the university students had sexual experience and those who are sexually active are under the risk of important health problems, such as sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy.