2025/26 Plot
Amol Rajan asks the questions as students from across the UK face fiendish tests.
University Challenge 2025/26 aired on July 14th, 2025.
2025/26 Episodes
1. Sheffield v Warwick
The series kicks off with a match between students from Sheffield and Warwick. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
2. 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.
3. Bath v Southampton
The University of Bath faces the University of Southampton in another first-round match. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Lincoln v Lancaster
The University of Lincoln makes its debut in the competition against a team from Lancaster University. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. Episode 30
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.
