University Challenge — Season 55
Amol Rajan asks the questions as students from across the UK face fiendish tests.
About this season
Amol Rajan asks the questions as students from across the UK face fiendish tests.
Episodes (37)
1. Sheffield v Warwick
Aired 14 July 2025 • 29 min
The series kicks off with a match between students from Sheffield and Warwick. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
2. UCL v SOAS
Aired 21 July 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 28 July 2025 • 28 min
The University of Bath faces the University of Southampton in another first-round match. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
4. Newcastle v Edinburgh
Aired 4 August 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 11 August 2025 • 29 min
The University of Manchester plays New College, Oxford for a place in the second round. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
6. Cardiff v Bristol
Aired 18 August 2025 • 28 min
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
Aired 25 August 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 1 September 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 8 September 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 15 September 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 22 September 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 29 September 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 6 October 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 14 October 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 20 October 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 27 October 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 3 November 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 10 November 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 17 November 2025 • 28 min
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
Aired 24 November 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 1 December 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 8 December 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 15 December 2025 • 29 min
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
Aired 5 January 2026 • 29 min
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
Aired 12 January 2026 • 28 min
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
Aired 19 January 2026 • 28 min
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
Aired 26 January 2026 • 29 min
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
Aired 2 February 2026 • 29 min
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
Aired 23 February 2026 • 28 min
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. Manchester v UCL
Aired 2 March 2026 • 29 min
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.
31. Sheffield v Imperial
Aired 9 March 2026 • 29 min
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.
32. Darwin College, Cambridge v Warwick
Aired 16 March 2026 • 28 min
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.
33. Manchester v Sheffield
Aired 23 March 2026 • 29 min
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.
34. Merton College, Oxford v Darwin College, Cambridge
Aired 30 March 2026 • 29 min
It's the last quarter-final, and only one place remains in the semi-finals - who will take it? Amol Rajan asks the questions.
35. Semi-Final 1: Edinburgh v Darwin College, Cambridge
Aired 6 April 2026 • 29 min
Two teams of students go head-to-head in the first of the semi-finals. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
36. Semi-Final 2: Manchester v Imperial
Aired 13 April 2026 • 29 min
The second set of semi-finalists face off for a place in the final. Amol Rajan asks the questions.
37. Grand Final: Edinburgh v Manchester
Aired 20 April 2026 • 30 min
It’s the grand final. Who will lift the series trophy? Amol Rajan asks the questions.