Students are often perceived in public as politically apathetic, uninterested, and socially indifferent. However, this work demonstrates, using the example of students at the University of Trier, that such attributions are unjustified. While the relationship of students to conventional politics is characterized by a critical distance, particularly reflected in a pronounced distrust of political parties, this cannot be equated with political disillusionment or even disillusionment with democracy. Students are indeed willing to engage, but the framework conditions must be appropriate, and the forms of participation should be compatible with the student lifestyle.