Think you have what it takes to represent Kingston University at University Challenge?
Do you fancy your chances on the UK's televised inter-University quiz show?
We're hosting trials to give you the opportunity to be part of the team!
***WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE TRIALS?***
We have reserved two lecture theatres (Kingston Hill: KHDL0002 & Penrhyn Road PRMB1099 (LT - 304) JW Hall) between the hours of 2-4pm. Please select below which session you would like to attend.
At this session you will be given a short closed-paper general knowledge quiz, selected from a list of University Challenge sample questions. You can arrive at any time during this period but we suggest leaving yourselves at least half an hour to complete the paper. You will receive a briefing upon arrival on timings, and can leave once your test has been completed.
We ask that you do not share the questions or answers with other potential candidates.
So how does the show work?
University Challenge is one of the oldest programmes still airing on UK television, and its rules and format have changed very little since it first aired in 1962! The programme is produced externallyby Lifted Entertainment (a division of ITV Studios), and broadcast on BBC2 and iPlayer.
Each series is a single tournament, consisting of six rounds of head-to-head matches, with 28 teams taking part. Gameplay revolves around ‘starters for ten’ - questions that all players compete to answer on the buzzer, with the aim of winning their team ten points and a round of bonus questions.
To make up a team, you need five players: four main team members, with one nominated as captain, and a reserve player. These will be selected upon the results of the trials.
What does taking part in the show involve?
The series is recorded at Dock10 Studios in MediaCityUK in Salford, over three ‘blocks’: 24th February 2026 to 27th February 2026 inclusive (Round One) 25th March 2026 to 27th March 2026 inclusive (Repechage and Round Two) 21st April 2026 to 23rd April 2026 inclusive (Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final)
Filming takes place largely between 9am and 7pm, and it takes around three hours to prepare for and film one episode. In the later stages of the competition, teams may be required to film more than one episode in a day, and potentially on multiple days back-to-back. The maximum number of episodes a team could be required to film in total is eight!
If successful in the trials, your details will be passed across to the production compnay who will ask all team members (including the reserve player) to confirm that they are potentially available to attend all the filming dates above.