Series 47 of University Challenge began on 17 July 2017 on BBC Two.
In this series, Ulster University made its debut appearance in the BBC era of the programme, having last appeared in the Bamber Gascoigne era in the 1980s. Sheffield Hallam University made only its second appearance since 2001.
Results Winning teams are highlighted in bold. Teams with green scores (winners) returned in the next round, while those with red scores (losers) were eliminated. Teams with orange scores had to win one more match to return in the next round. Teams with yellow scores indicate that two further matches had to be played and won (teams that lost their first quarter-final match). A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.
First round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date University of Edinburgh165160 Ulster University 325 17 July 2017 Trinity College, Cambridge230 University of Bristol 325 24 July 2017 University of Southampton280 Cardiff University 320 31 July 2017 St Edmund's College, Cambridge185 Magdalen College, Oxford 290 14 August 2017 University of York240 University of Warwick 320 21 August 2017 Oxford Brookes University175 The Courtauld Institute of Art 260 28 August 2017 Trinity College, Oxford160145 University College London 305 4 September 2017 Sheffield Hallam University170 Newcastle University 210 11 September 2017 University of Leicester200 Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge 305 18 September 2017 Imperial College London145 University of Strathclyde 270 25 September 2017 Emmanuel College, Cambridge170155 St Hugh's College, Oxford 325 2 October 2017 University of St Andrews255 St John's College, Cambridge 375 9 October 2017 Corpus Christi College, Cambridge225135 St Anne's College, Oxford 360 16 October 2017 Merton College, Oxford285 King's College London 395 23 October 2017
Highest Scoring Losers play-offs Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date Ulster University175 St Anne's College, Oxford 265 30 October 2017 University College London315 St Hugh's College, Oxford 360 6 November 2017
Second round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date University of Strathclyde170 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 275 13 November 2017 St John's College, Cambridge285 Corpus Christi College, Cambridge 365 20 November 2017 University of Warwick170 Ulster University 310 27 November 2017 University College London170 University of Edinburgh 335 4 December 2017 University of Bristol205 Trinity College, Oxford 305 18 December 2017 Newcastle University215 University of Southampton 345 8 January 2018 Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge200 Magdalen College, Oxford 355 15 January 2018 Oxford Brookes University255 Merton College, Oxford 430 22 January 2018
Quarter-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date University of Bristol130225 Newcastle University 355 29 January 2018 Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge125270 Merton College, Oxford 395 5 February 2018 St John's College, Cambridge185130 Ulster University 315 12 February 2018 University of Edinburgh125110 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 235 19 February 2018 Newcastle University135160 St John's College, Cambridge 295 26 February 2018 University of Bristol205 Ulster University 250 5 March 2018 Merton College, Oxford21085 University of Edinburgh 295 12 March 2018 Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge175 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 325 19 March 2018 University of Bristol195 University of Edinburgh 255 26 March 2018 Newcastle University205 Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge 270 2 April 2018
Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date St John's College, Cambridge270 University of Edinburgh 330 9 April 2018 Merton College, Oxford215 Newcastle University 325 16 April 2018
Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date St John's College, Cambridge145 Merton College, Oxford 245 23 April 2018
The trophy and title were awarded to the St John's team of John-Clark Levin, Rosie McKeown, James Devine-Stoneman, and Matt Hazell. The trophy was presented by Judith Weir.
Spin-off: Christmas Special 2017
Qualification round Each year, a Christmas special sequence is aired featuring distinguished alumni. Out of 7 first-round winners, the top 4 highest-scoring teams progress to the semi-finals. The teams consist of celebrities who represent their alma maters. Teams with green scores won their match and achieved a high enough score to return in the next round, teams with red scores lost and were eliminated. Teams with grey scores won their first round match but did not achieve a high enough score to return. Team 1Team 2TotalBroadcast dateUniversity of Durham220Keble College, Oxford25524 December 2017Selwyn College, CambridgeUniversity of St Andrews23526 December 2017University of YorkUniversity of Southampton22027 December 2017University of Leicester175University College London22028 December 2017St John's College, Cambridge155St Edmund Hall, Oxford19529 December 2017Queen Mary University of LondonCardiff University1701 January 2018Brunel University London155University of Reading2002 January 2018
Standings for the winners RankTeamTeam captainScore1Keble College, OxfordKaty Brand2202University College LondonJane Dacre175 3=St John's College, CambridgeGiles Foden 155University of ReadingSophie Walker5University of SouthamptonJohn Wilson1506Selwyn College, CambridgeDavid Wilson1457Queen Mary University of LondonAdrian Chiles110
Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date Keble College, Oxford160 St John's College, Cambridge 265 3 January 2018 University College London130 University of Reading 255 4 January 2018
Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date Keble College, Oxford240 University of Reading 240 5 January 2018
The winning Keble College, Oxford team consisted of Paul Johnson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Katy Brand and Anne-Marie Imafidon, who beat the University of Reading team of Anna Machin, Martin Hughes-Games, Sophie Walker and Pippa Greenwood.
References
External links University Challenge homepage Blanchflower Results Table