Amol Rajan asks the questions as students from across the UK face fiendish tests.
Where to Watch University Challenge • 2025/26
37 Episodes
Sheffield v Warwick
E1
Sheffield v WarwickThe series kicks off with a match between students from Sheffield and Warwick. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
UCL v SOAS
E2
UCL v SOASThe first round of the competition continues. Students from UCL take on a team from next-door neighbours SOAS. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Bath v Southampton
E3
Bath v SouthamptonThe University of Bath faces the University of Southampton in another first-round match. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Newcastle v Edinburgh
E4
Newcastle v EdinburghAnother 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.
Manchester v New College, Oxford
E5
Manchester v New College, OxfordThe University of Manchester plays New College, Oxford for a place in the second round. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Cardiff v Bristol
E6
Cardiff v BristolThe 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.
Trinity College, Cambridge v Linacre College, Oxford
E7
Trinity College, Cambridge v Linacre College, OxfordIn another first-round heat, students from Trinity College, Cambridge take on a team from Linacre College, Oxford. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Lincoln v Lancaster
E8
Lincoln v LancasterThe University of Lincoln makes its debut in the competition against a team from Lancaster University. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Green Templeton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
E9
Green Templeton College, Oxford v Darwin College, CambridgeIn another first round match, competition debutants Green Templeton College, Oxford face a team from Cambridge’s Darwin College. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Trinity Hall, Cambridge v LSE
E10
Trinity Hall, Cambridge v LSEThe 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.
Durham v Merton College, Oxford
E11
Durham v Merton College, OxfordThe 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.
Harper Adams v Strathclyde
E12
Harper Adams v StrathclydeHarper Adams University makes its first ever appearance in this competition. Their opponents are from the University of Strathclyde. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Imperial v Churchill College, Cambridge
E13
Imperial v Churchill College, CambridgeIn 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.
Magdalen College, Oxford v Robinson College, Cambridge
E14
Magdalen College, Oxford v Robinson College, CambridgeThe first round of the competition concludes with a match between Magdalen College, Oxford and Robinson College, Cambridge. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
SOAS v Imperial
E15
SOAS v ImperialTwo of the highest-scoring losing teams from the heats get a second chance to qualify for the second round. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Sheffield v New College, Oxford
E16
Sheffield v New College, OxfordTwo more of the highest-scoring losing teams from the heats compete for the final second round place. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Magdalen College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
E17
Magdalen College, Oxford v Darwin College, CambridgeThe 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.
Sheffield v Strathclyde
E18
Sheffield v StrathclydeRound 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.
Southampton v Imperial
E19
Southampton v ImperialTwo more student teams return to play a second-round match. A place in the quarter-finals awaits the winner. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Bristol v Warwick
E20
Bristol v WarwickThe 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.
LSE v Manchester
E21
LSE v ManchesterThe 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.
Trinity College, Cambridge v Edinburgh
E22
Trinity College, Cambridge v EdinburghThe 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.
Lincoln v UCL
E23
Lincoln v UCLTwo more teams of students compete for a place in the quarter-finals in the penultimate match of round two. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Churchill College, Cambridge v Merton College, Oxford
E24
Churchill College, Cambridge v Merton College, OxfordIt’s the final match in the second round. Who will take the last spot in the quarter-finals? Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Manchester v Edinburgh
E25
Manchester v EdinburghThe 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.
UCL v Merton College, Oxford
E26
UCL v Merton College, OxfordThe 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.
Darwin College, Cambridge v Sheffield
E27
Darwin College, Cambridge v SheffieldTwo more teams of students play their first of at least two matches in this double-elimination quarter-final. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Imperial v Warwick
E28
Imperial v WarwickThe 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.
Edinburgh v Merton College, Oxford
E29
Edinburgh v Merton College, OxfordThe 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.
Manchester v UCL
E30
Manchester v UCLTwo 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.
Sheffield v Imperial
E31
Sheffield v ImperialThe 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.
Darwin College, Cambridge v Warwick
E32
Darwin College, Cambridge v WarwickThe 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.
Manchester v Sheffield
E33
Manchester v SheffieldThe 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.
Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
E34
Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, CambridgeIt's the last quarter-final, and only one place remains in the semi-finals - who will take it? Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, Cambridge
E35
Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, CambridgeTwo teams of students go head-to-head in the first of the semi-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Semi-Final 2: Manchester v Imperial
E36
Semi-Final 2: Manchester v ImperialThe second set of semi-finalists face off for a place in the final. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
Grand Final: Edinburgh v Manchester
E37
Grand Final: Edinburgh v ManchesterIt’s the grand final. Who will lift the series trophy? Amol Rajan asks the questions.
