University Challenge (Season 55)

Academic quiz show where teams of students from UK universities answer questions on all manner of subjects.

  • Poster for Sheffield v Warwick

    Sheffield v Warwick (Episode 1)

    Air date: 2025-07-14

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for UCL v SOAS

    UCL v SOAS (Episode 2)

    Air date: 2025-07-21

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Bath v Southampton

    Bath v Southampton (Episode 3)

    Air date: 2025-07-28

    Runtime: 28 min

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

  • Poster for Newcastle v Edinburgh

    Newcastle v Edinburgh (Episode 4)

    Air date: 2025-08-04

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Manchester v New College, Oxford

    Manchester v New College, Oxford (Episode 5)

    Air date: 2025-08-11

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Cardiff v Bristol

    Cardiff v Bristol (Episode 6)

    Air date: 2025-08-18

    Runtime: 28 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Trinity College, Cambridge v Linacre College, Oxford

    Trinity College, Cambridge v Linacre College, Oxford (Episode 7)

    Air date: 2025-08-25

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Lincoln v Lancaster

    Lincoln v Lancaster (Episode 8)

    Air date: 2025-09-01

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Green Templeton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge

    Green Templeton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge (Episode 9)

    Air date: 2025-09-08

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Trinity Hall, Cambridge v LSE

    Trinity Hall, Cambridge v LSE (Episode 10)

    Air date: 2025-09-15

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Durham v Merton College, Oxford

    Durham v Merton College, Oxford (Episode 11)

    Air date: 2025-09-22

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Harper Adams v Strathclyde

    Harper Adams v Strathclyde (Episode 12)

    Air date: 2025-09-29

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Imperial v Churchill College, Cambridge

    Imperial v Churchill College, Cambridge (Episode 13)

    Air date: 2025-10-06

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Magdalen College, Oxford v Robinson College, Cambridge

    Magdalen College, Oxford v Robinson College, Cambridge (Episode 14)

    Air date: 2025-10-14

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for SOAS v Imperial

    SOAS v Imperial (Episode 15)

    Air date: 2025-10-20

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Sheffield v New College, Oxford

    Sheffield v New College, Oxford (Episode 16)

    Air date: 2025-10-27

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Magdalen College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge

    Magdalen College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge (Episode 17)

    Air date: 2025-11-03

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Sheffield v Strathclyde

    Sheffield v Strathclyde (Episode 18)

    Air date: 2025-11-10

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Southampton v Imperial

    Southampton v Imperial (Episode 19)

    Air date: 2025-11-17

    Runtime: 28 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Bristol v Warwick

    Bristol v Warwick (Episode 20)

    Air date: 2025-11-24

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for LSE v Manchester

    LSE v Manchester (Episode 21)

    Air date: 2025-12-01

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Trinity College, Cambridge v Edinburgh

    Trinity College, Cambridge v Edinburgh (Episode 22)

    Air date: 2025-12-08

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Lincoln v UCL

    Lincoln v UCL (Episode 23)

    Air date: 2025-12-15

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Churchill College, Cambridge v Merton College, Oxford

    Churchill College, Cambridge v Merton College, Oxford (Episode 24)

    Air date: 2026-01-05

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Manchester v Edinburgh

    Manchester v Edinburgh (Episode 25)

    Air date: 2026-01-12

    Runtime: 28 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for UCL v Merton College, Oxford

    UCL v Merton College, Oxford (Episode 26)

    Air date: 2026-01-19

    Runtime: 28 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Darwin College, Cambridge v Sheffield

    Darwin College, Cambridge v Sheffield (Episode 27)

    Air date: 2026-01-26

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Imperial v Warwick

    Imperial v Warwick (Episode 28)

    Air date: 2026-02-02

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Edinburgh v Merton College, Oxford

    Edinburgh v Merton College, Oxford (Episode 29)

    Air date: 2026-02-23

    Runtime: 28 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Manchester v UCL

    Manchester v UCL (Episode 30)

    Air date: 2026-03-02

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Sheffield v Imperial

    Sheffield v Imperial (Episode 31)

    Air date: 2026-03-09

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Darwin College, Cambridge v Warwick

    Darwin College, Cambridge v Warwick (Episode 32)

    Air date: 2026-03-16

    Runtime: 28 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Manchester v Sheffield

    Manchester v Sheffield (Episode 33)

    Air date: 2026-03-23

    Runtime: 29 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge

    Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge (Episode 34)

    Air date: 2026-03-30

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, Cambridge

    Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, Cambridge (Episode 35)

    Air date: 2026-04-06

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Semi-Final 2: Manchester v Imperial

    Semi-Final 2: Manchester v Imperial (Episode 36)

    Air date: 2026-04-13

    Runtime: 29 min

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

  • Poster for Grand Final: Edinburgh v Manchester

    Grand Final: Edinburgh v Manchester (Episode 37)

    Air date: 2026-04-20

    Runtime: 30 min

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

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