University Challenge
2025/26
202537 episodes
Amol Rajan asks the questions as students from across the UK face fiendish tests.
Episode 1
Sheffield v Warwick
Jul 14, 202529m
The series kicks off with a match between students from Sheffield and Warwick. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 2
UCL v SOAS
Jul 21, 202529m
The first round of the competition continues. Students from UCL take on a team from next-door neighbours SOAS. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 3
Bath v Southampton
Jul 28, 202528m
The University of Bath faces the University of Southampton in another first-round match. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 4
Newcastle v Edinburgh
Aug 4, 202529m
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.
Episode 5
Manchester v New College, Oxford
Aug 11, 202529m
The University of Manchester plays New College, Oxford for a place in the second round. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 6
Cardiff v Bristol
Aug 18, 202528m
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.
Episode 7
Trinity College, Cambridge v Linacre College, Oxford
Aug 25, 202529m
In another first-round heat, students from Trinity College, Cambridge take on a team from Linacre College, Oxford. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 8
Lincoln v Lancaster
Sep 1, 202529m
The University of Lincoln makes its debut in the competition against a team from Lancaster University. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 9
Green Templeton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
Sep 8, 202529m
In another first round match, competition debutants Green Templeton College, Oxford face a team from Cambridge’s Darwin College. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 10
Trinity Hall, Cambridge v LSE
Sep 15, 202529m
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.
Episode 11
Durham v Merton College, Oxford
Sep 22, 202529m
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.
Episode 12
Harper Adams v Strathclyde
Sep 29, 202529m
Harper Adams University makes its first ever appearance in this competition. Their opponents are from the University of Strathclyde. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 13
Imperial v Churchill College, Cambridge
Oct 6, 202529m
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.
Episode 14
Magdalen College, Oxford v Robinson College, Cambridge
Oct 14, 202529m
The first round of the competition concludes with a match between Magdalen College, Oxford and Robinson College, Cambridge. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 15
SOAS v Imperial
Oct 20, 202529m
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.
Episode 16
Sheffield v New College, Oxford
Oct 27, 202529m
Two more of the highest-scoring losing teams from the heats compete for the final second round place. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 17
Magdalen College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
Nov 3, 202529m
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.
Episode 18
Sheffield v Strathclyde
Nov 10, 202529m
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.
Episode 19
Southampton v Imperial
Nov 17, 202528m
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.
Episode 20
Bristol v Warwick
Nov 24, 202529m
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.
Episode 21
LSE v Manchester
Dec 1, 202529m
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.
Episode 22
Trinity College, Cambridge v Edinburgh
Dec 8, 202529m
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.
Episode 23
Lincoln v UCL
Dec 15, 202529m
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.
Episode 24
Churchill College, Cambridge v Merton College, Oxford
Jan 5, 202629m
It’s the final match in the second round. Who will take the last spot in the quarter-finals? Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 25
Manchester v Edinburgh
Jan 12, 202628m
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.
Episode 26
UCL v Merton College, Oxford
Jan 19, 202628m
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.
Episode 27
Darwin College, Cambridge v Sheffield
Jan 26, 202629m
Two more teams of students play their first of at least two matches in this double-elimination quarter-final. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 28
Imperial v Warwick
Feb 2, 202629m
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.
Episode 29
Edinburgh v Merton College, Oxford
Feb 23, 202628m
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.
Episode 30
Manchester v UCL
Mar 2, 202629m
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.
Episode 31
Sheffield v Imperial
Mar 9, 202629m
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.
Episode 32
Darwin College, Cambridge v Warwick
Mar 16, 202628m
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.
Episode 33
Manchester v Sheffield
Mar 23, 202629m
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.
Episode 34
Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
Mar 30, 202629m
It's the last quarter-final, and only one place remains in the semi-finals - who will take it? Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 35
Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, Cambridge
Apr 6, 202629m
Two teams of students go head-to-head in the first of the semi-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 36
Semi-Final 2: Manchester v Imperial
Apr 13, 202629m
The second set of semi-finalists face off for a place in the final. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Episode 37
Grand Final: Edinburgh v Manchester
Apr 20, 202630m
It’s the grand final. Who will lift the series trophy? Amol Rajan asks the questions.