2025/26

University Challenge2025/26

2025
37 Episodes

Amol Rajan asks the questions as students from across the UK face fiendish tests.

Episodes

Sheffield v Warwick
S55E01

Sheffield v Warwick

The series kicks off with a match between students from Sheffield and Warwick. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

14 Jul 202529m
UCL v SOAS
S55E02

UCL v SOAS

The first round of the competition continues. Students from UCL take on a team from next-door neighbours SOAS. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

21 Jul 202529m
Bath v Southampton
S55E03

Bath v Southampton

The University of Bath faces the University of Southampton in another first-round match. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

28 Jul 202528m
Newcastle v Edinburgh
S55E04

Newcastle v Edinburgh

Another two teams of students put fingers on buzzers for the first time, representing Newcastle University and the University of Edinburgh. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

04 Aug 202529m
Manchester v New College, Oxford
S55E05

Manchester v New College, Oxford

The University of Manchester plays New College, Oxford for a place in the second round. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

11 Aug 202529m
Cardiff v Bristol
S55E06

Cardiff v Bristol

The first round of the 2025/26 competition continues with a Severnside derby as Cardiff University faces the University of Bristol. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

18 Aug 202528m
Trinity College, Cambridge v Linacre College, Oxford
S55E07

Trinity College, Cambridge v Linacre College, Oxford

In another first-round heat, students from Trinity College, Cambridge take on a team from Linacre College, Oxford. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

25 Aug 202529m
Lincoln v Lancaster
S55E08

Lincoln v Lancaster

The University of Lincoln makes its debut in the competition against a team from Lancaster University. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

01 Sept 202529m
Green Templeton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
S55E09

Green Templeton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge

In another first round match, competition debutants Green Templeton College, Oxford face a team from Cambridge’s Darwin College. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

08 Sept 202529m
Trinity Hall, Cambridge v LSE
S55E10

Trinity Hall, Cambridge v LSE

The first round of the competition continues. Trinity Hall, Cambridge and the London School of Economics are the teams facing their first starters for ten. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

15 Sept 202529m
Durham v Merton College, Oxford
S55E11

Durham v Merton College, Oxford

The heats continue with a match between Durham University and Merton College, Oxford. A place in round two awaits the winner. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

22 Sept 202529m
Harper Adams v Strathclyde
S55E12

Harper Adams v Strathclyde

Harper Adams University makes its first ever appearance in this competition. Their opponents are from the University of Strathclyde. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

29 Sept 202529m
Imperial v Churchill College, Cambridge
S55E13

Imperial v Churchill College, Cambridge

In this first-round match, two institutions specialising in science go head-to-head - Imperial College London and Churchill College, Cambridge. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

06 Oct 202529m
Magdalen College, Oxford v Robinson College, Cambridge
S55E14

Magdalen College, Oxford v Robinson College, Cambridge

The first round of the competition concludes with a match between Magdalen College, Oxford and Robinson College, Cambridge. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

14 Oct 202529m
SOAS v Imperial
S55E15

SOAS v Imperial

Two of the highest-scoring losing teams from the heats get a second chance to qualify for the second round. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

20 Oct 202529m
Sheffield v New College, Oxford
S55E16

Sheffield v New College, Oxford

Two more of the highest-scoring losing teams from the heats compete for the final second round place. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

27 Oct 202529m
Magdalen College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
S55E17

Magdalen College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge

The second round of the competition begins. Two teams of students go head-to-head for a place in the quarter-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

03 Nov 202529m
Sheffield v Strathclyde
S55E18

Sheffield v Strathclyde

Round two of the competition continues. Two more teams of students battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

10 Nov 202529m
Southampton v Imperial
S55E19

Southampton v Imperial

Two more student teams return to play a second-round match. A place in the quarter-finals awaits the winner. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

17 Nov 202528m
Bristol v Warwick
S55E20

Bristol v Warwick

The round of sixteen continues. Two more teams of students return to play for a second time, hoping to earn themselves a quarter-final spot. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

24 Nov 202529m
LSE v Manchester
S55E21

LSE v Manchester

The second round continues. Two more teams of students put fingers on buzzers for a second time, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

01 Dec 202529m
Trinity College, Cambridge v Edinburgh
S55E22

Trinity College, Cambridge v Edinburgh

The round of 16 continues as another two teams of students set out to secure themselves a place in the quarter-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

08 Dec 202529m
Lincoln v UCL
S55E23

Lincoln v UCL

Two more teams of students compete for a place in the quarter-finals in the penultimate match of round two. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

15 Dec 202529m
Churchill College, Cambridge v Merton College, Oxford
S55E24

Churchill College, Cambridge v Merton College, Oxford

It’s the final match in the second round. Who will take the last spot in the quarter-finals? Amol Rajan asks the questions.

05 Jan 202629m
Manchester v Edinburgh
S55E25

Manchester v Edinburgh

The double-elimination quarter-final stage begins. Two of the eight remaining teams play their first of up to three matches in this round. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

12 Jan 202628m
UCL v Merton College, Oxford
S55E26

UCL v Merton College, Oxford

The first round of quarter-finals continues. Two more teams are hoping to pick up the first of the two wins they need to qualify for the semis. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

19 Jan 202628m
Darwin College, Cambridge v Sheffield
S55E27

Darwin College, Cambridge v Sheffield

Two more teams of students play their first of at least two matches in this double-elimination quarter-final. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

26 Jan 202629m
Imperial v Warwick
S55E28

Imperial v Warwick

The last two quarter-finalists play their first of up to three matches in this round. A win will see them half-way to the semis. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

02 Feb 202629m
Edinburgh v Merton College, Oxford
S55E29

Edinburgh v Merton College, Oxford

The second round of quarter-finals begins. The winner of this match becomes the first team through to this year’s semi-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

23 Feb 202628m
Manchester v UCL
S55E30

Manchester v UCL

Two teams return to play a second quarter-final. Having both lost their first, they need to win this one to stay in the competition. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

02 Mar 202629m
Sheffield v Imperial
S55E31

Sheffield v Imperial

The quarter-final stage continues. Having won one match already, the teams know that if they can win again here, they’ll reach the semi-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

09 Mar 202629m
Darwin College, Cambridge v Warwick
S55E32

Darwin College, Cambridge v Warwick

The quarter-finals continue with another elimination match. Both teams lost their first quarter-final and can’t afford to lose again. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

16 Mar 202628m
Manchester v Sheffield
S55E33

Manchester v Sheffield

The quarter-final stage nears its conclusion. Two places in the semi-finals are still up for grabs - both teams are hoping to take one of them. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

23 Mar 202629m
Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
S55E34

Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge

It's the last quarter-final, and only one place remains in the semi-finals - who will take it? Amol Rajan asks the questions.

30 Mar 202629m
Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, Cambridge
S55E35

Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, Cambridge

Two teams of students go head-to-head in the first of the semi-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

06 Apr 202629m
Semi-Final 2: Manchester v Imperial
S55E36

Semi-Final 2: Manchester v Imperial

The second set of semi-finalists face off for a place in the final. Amol Rajan asks the questions.

13 Apr 202629m
Grand Final: Edinburgh v Manchester
S55E37

Grand Final: Edinburgh v Manchester

It’s the grand final. Who will lift the series trophy? Amol Rajan asks the questions.

20 Apr 202630m