This is a list of university a cappella musical groups in the UK who have achieved some level of notability or recognition. The two main competitions for university a cappella in the UK are the 'Universities' section of the Voice Festival UK (which ran from 2009 to 2018) and the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which has had a UK semi-final and regional quarter-finals since 2015. University groups also enter, and have had success in, the UK's Open A capella Competition (OAC), which has run since 2020. Many university a cappella groups have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Some British university groups have had success in the international Contemporary A Cappella Society's (CASA) recording awards and video awards.

University of Aberdeen

Aberpella Aberpella are a University of Aberdeen a cappella ensemble. They first competed in the St Andrews round of the Voice Festival UK in 2012. They competed in the semi-finals of the Voice Festival UK in 2015 and placed third in the regional quarter-final of ICCA in 2017.

The group also performed a week long run of their 2016/17 repertoire at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival under the title "Aberpella Presents: 50 Tones of Grey". In 2023, Aberpella placed third at the Scottish A Cappella Championships.

Chordiac Arrest Chordiac Arrest were formed in the summer of 2011 by a group of medical students. Although they have performed at some events in Aberdeen, most recently being joint winners of the open Vocal Group class (V21) in the Aberdeenshire Music Festival, they have never entered the Voice Festival UK. They disbanded in the summer of 2012, as final year of medicine spread the group far and wide on rural placements. However a reunion of six members formed GCS-3 (the Gangster Coma Scales - 3) who performed at a Christmas Concert in 2012, with the American group Pentatonix as their inspiration.

University of Bath

The Alley Barbers The longest-running vocal group at Bath University, The Alley Barbers sing a wide range of songs in four part harmony, often in the barbershop style. Current conductor and former student member, Tim Greeves, succeeded the director of student music-making, Robin Jackson, on his retirement in 2005. The founder of Bristol University's TUBBS A Cappella was a member of the Alley Barbers from 2000 to 2001.

Aquapella Aquapella won an 'Outstanding Musicality' award in their regional heat in the 2013 Voice Festival UK and reached the semi-final in 2015. In 2016 they reached the final for the first time, winning the 'Outstanding Musicality' award. They released an EP Lambda in 2015.

They won the UK ICCA semi-final in 2017 and 2019, and came third in 2023. In 2020, they won the 'Exceptional Choreography' award at the first Open A cappella Competition and were runners-up in 2023, again winning the 'Exceptional Choreography' award.

University of Birmingham

The Sons of Pitches

The Sons of Pitches are an all-male a cappella group formed in October 2010by Mark Nathan. In 2011, they took part in the inaugural Birmingham semifinal of the Voice Festival UK. In 2012, they won the Birmingham semifinal of Voice Festival UK, and competed at the final in London. They returned to the London finals again in 2013 where they received more awards than any other group in the competition, being recognised for 'Outstanding Arrangement', 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion', 'Outstanding Choreography/Stagecraft' and 'Outstanding Performance', but ultimately lost overall to Vive from Guildhall. However, just a few weeks later The Sons of Pitches won the 'International Wildcard Round' of the International Championships of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), and competed in the International Finals at The Town Hall, New York City, on 20 April 2013.

In September and October 2015 The Sons of Pitches were one of the a cappella groups who appeared in the Gareth Malone BBC television series, The Naked Choir.Luke Beardsworth, "Birmingham choir The Sons of Pitches to appear on Gareth Malone's BBC 2 series The Naked Choir", Birmingham Mail, 22 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015. The choir won the competition.

The Uptone Girls The Birmingham Songbirds were an all-female a cappella group. In 2012 they reached the Birmingham semifinal of the Voice Festival UK.Voice Festival UK: Birmingham regional round, UoB Blogfest, 16 March 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2015. Later that year, they changed their name to 'The Uptone Girls'.

Former Groups

Augmented Seven were a mixed-voice a cappella group from the University of Birmingham formed in 2010 by Tom Johnson and Mark Nathan. They were University of Birmingham's first a cappella group and only mixed group. In 2011, the group entered the Voice Festival UK at the inaugural Birmingham semifinal, and progressed to the final after winning the 'Outstanding Performance' award. Later that year, the group split up due to artistic differences. Three of its male members went on to join the second incarnation of The Sons of Pitches from 2011 to 2012. This group has since disbanded.

The Lorelites were an all-female a cappella group formed in January 2011. In 2011 they took part in the first Birmingham semifinal of the Voice Festival UK. Now defunct.

University of Bristol

Academy Academy are the university's all-male-identifying a cappella group formed in 2015 by Nick Jones. In the summer of 2017, Academy appeared on Sky One's Sing: Ultimate A Cappella, opening the first episode. In 2018, their first year of competing and Jones' first year as music director, Academy progressed to the ICCA UK Final in London's New Wimbledon Theatre. Later in the same year, Academy reached the semifinals of the Voice Festival UK. In August 2018, Academy made their Edinburgh Fringe debut performing the joint show "Academy and Pitch Fight present: Buy One, Get One Free" alongside their sister group Pitch Fight. In December 2018, Academy released their first single and music video, Jones' arrangement of LunchMoney Lewis' "Bills", which featured in their 2018 ICCA set. The group reached the ICCA UK final again in 2019, their second year entering the competition, with beatboxer Cem Rifat winning Outstanding Vocal Percussion at the quarterfinal stage. In 2020 Academy recorded and released their debut album "Exhibit A". The album went on to receive five CARA nominations, including two for their version of Mark Ronson's "Bang Bang Bang". The group went on to win the CARA for Best Lower Voices Collegiate Song, and came runner-up for Best Debut Scholastic Album.

All Sharps

All Sharps (formerly known as HotTUBBS) were an auditioned a cappella group partially-contained within TUBBS A Cappella. Formed in 2008, they have won medals at the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition and Oxford Music Festival. They had also been semi-finalists in Voice Festival UK twice: in 2012 and in 2015. HotTUBBS rebranded at the end of 2017 to become All Sharps.

The Bristol Suspensions The Bristol Suspensions placed third in their ICCA regional quarter-final in 2016, as well as achieving an award for Outstanding Arrangement in Aliak Bedirian's 'Madness/Magic'; they did not place in the semi-final but did receive an Outstanding Vocal Percussion for Scott Lechleiter. They also won the 2016 Voice Festival UK university competition. For three consecutive years (2017–2019), the group placed in the top three groups at the ICCA UK Finals and were runner-up in 2019 (missing first place by one point). In 2018 and 2019, the group won special awards for 'Outstanding Choreography' and 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion', awarded to Performance Directors: Sam Walter (2018 and 2019) and Alessia Doyle (2019) and Vocal Percussionists: James Dempsey (2018 and 2019) and Jonny Simon (2019) respectively. In the 2021 virtual edition of ICCA, the group progressed to the international final of the competition with their version of "The Heartburn Song" by Lawrence, picking up awards for Vocal Percussion, Arrangement and Audio Mixing on the way. In 2022 they won the CASA Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards for Best Scholastic Debut Album or EP, for Best European Album or EP and for Best Mixed Voices Collegiate Album with Red Hot, and Best Funk / Disco Song with Funk from Red Hot.

The Bristones/Top Note/The Tone Rangers (formerly known as TUBBS A Cappella)

The University of Bristol Barbershop Singers were a society formed in 2007 at the University of Bristol from an earlier quartet. The society was started by Iain Hallam, who was musical director for most of the next ten years, and who went on to direct British mixed barbershop chorus champions Bristol A Cappella from their formation in 2013. There were three main unauditioned choruses (for upper, lower and mixed voices) and HotTUBBS (now the All Sharps), plus numerous quartets and smaller ensembles. Several member quartets have competed at national barbershop finals, with Park Street and Patchwork qualifying to represent the UK at international competitions. In 2014, Park Street became the National Barbershop Quartet Champions. Following their Edinburgh Fringe show 'Cheap Trills' in 2017, TUBBS A Cappella was rebranded as three new unauditioned groups: The Bristones (mixed voices), Top Note (upper voices) and The Tone Rangers (lower voices).

Pitch Fight Pitch Fight are a 14-piece all female identifying competitive a cappella group formed in 2015. In 2016 they competed in the VoiceFest. They have appeared on national television in Sky One's Sing: Ultimate A Cappella. They were runners up in the ICCA 2018 Exeter quarterfinal, picking up awards for "Outstanding Choreography" and "Outstanding Solo"; they also won the "Outstanding Soloist" award at the UK semifinal, finishing outside of the top three. Ttwo weeks later they were VoiceFest 2018 finalists. In August 2018 they debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe alongside their brother group Academy A Cappella with their joint show "Academy and Pitch Fight present: Buy One, Get One Free" which was sold out for its final two performances. In 2019, Pitch Fight once again qualified for the ICCA UK Final by placing as runners up in the Exeter quarterfinal, along with picking up the "Outstanding Choreography" award. Pitch Fight returned to the Edinburgh fringe in August 2019 with their aca-brothers, Academy, to perform "Romeo & Juliet: An A Capella Tragedy". In 2020 they recorded their first EP, Purple Reign, which released on 26 September. The group placed third in the UK semifinal of the virtual ICCA in 2021, receiving the award for "Outstanding Choreography" at the quarterfinals.

University of Cambridge

Cadenza Cadenza are a mixed-voice group formed in 1997 and performing pop and jazz pieces. They have released an EP, Under the Lights.

In March 2011, the group won the Voice Festival UK. In January 2012, it was confirmed that Cadenza would not be competing in the Voice Festival UK in 2012, thus becoming the first ever group not to try and retain their title.

They reached the final of the Voice Festival UK again in 2016, picking up an 'Outstanding Arrangement' award after also winning an 'Outstanding Musicality' award in the semi-final.

Fitz Barbershop Fitz Barbershop are an all-male a cappella group founded in 1994 at Fitzwilliam College but taking members of all colleges. In 2009, the group entered the inaugural Voice Festival UK competition in the Cambridge semifinal. They won the award for 'Outstanding Musicality' for Wonderful Tonight. In 2010 they entered again, winning the award for 'Outstanding Performance' and the 'Ward Swingle Award for Originality'. They went on to claim the 'Outstanding Performance' award again in the final. In March 2014 the group put on a 20th anniversary concert alongside the Fitz Sirens at Fitzwilliam College.

The Fitz Sirens