University Challenge 1997–98

Series 27 of University Challenge ran between 10 September 1997 and 21 April 1998. The winning team were Magdalen College, Oxford, who were the first team to successfully defend their title.

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 have lost, but survived as highest scoring losers.
• A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.

First round

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast Date
University of Edinburgh	190	180	Jesus College, Cambridge	10 September 1997
Birkbeck, University of London	245	195	University of Wales, Cardiff	17 September 1997
University of Exeter	175	180	Robinson College, Cambridge	24 September 1997
Magdalen College, Oxford	225	185	King's College, London	1 October 1997
University of Sheffield	145	265	University of Aberdeen	8 October 1997
Christ Church, Oxford	155	175	The Open University	15 October 1997
University of Liverpool	130	220	Newnham College, Cambridge	22 October 1997
Queen's University, Belfast	300	70	Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital	29 October 1997
Magdalene College, Cambridge	215	90	St Catherine's College, Oxford	4 November 1997
St John's College, Oxford	130	175	London School of Economics	11 November 1997
Oxford Brookes University	230	135	University of Warwick	18 November 1997
New Hall, Cambridge	35	335	University of Nottingham	2 December 1997

Second round

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast Date
University of Exeter	140	275	Jesus College, Cambridge	9 December 1997
King's College, London	215	230	University of Nottingham	16 December 1997
Newnham College, Cambridge	120	320	University of Edinburgh	6 January 1998
Birkbeck, University of London	215	170	Robinson College, Cambridge	13 January 1998
London School of Economics	245	40	Oxford Brookes University	20 January 1998
University of Wales, Cardiff	275	105	University of Aberdeen	27 January 1998
Magdalene College, Cambridge	140	155	Queen's University, Belfast	3 February 1998
The Open University	235	265	Magdalen College, Oxford	24 February 1998

Quarter-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast Date
Jesus College, Cambridge	220	250	University of Nottingham	4 March 1998
University of Edinburgh	205	275	Birkbeck, University of London	11 March 1998
London School of Economics	225	115	Queen's University, Belfast	18 March 1998
University of Wales, Cardiff	80	375	Magdalen College, Oxford	25 March 1998

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast Date
University of Nottingham	205	240	Birkbeck, University of London	7 April 1998
London School of Economics	85	265	Magdalen College, Oxford	14 April 1998

Final

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast Date
Birkbeck, University of London	195	225	Magdalen College, Oxford	21 April 1998

• The trophy and title were awarded to the Magdalen team of Paul O'Donnell, Phil Jones, Sarah Fitzpatrick and Alex de Jongh.
• The trophy was presented by Richard Dawkins.