University Challenge 2002–03

Series 32 of University Challenge began on 2 September 2002, with the final on 31 March 2003.^[1]

It also marked the 40th anniversary of the show’s formation.

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 the first round losers with the highest losing scores.
• A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.

First round

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast date
Newcastle University	205	180	University of York	2 September 2002
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology	165	200	Clare College, Cambridge	9 September 2002
University College London	165	175	Jesus College, Oxford	16 September 2002
University of Liverpool	130	265	Worcester College, Oxford	23 September 2002
Selwyn College, Cambridge	160	180	Merton College, Oxford	30 September 2002
University of Leeds	230	135	Liverpool John Moores University	7 October 2002
Cranfield University	175	165	Brasenose College, Oxford	14 October 2002
Middlesex University	70	200	University of Manchester	21 October 2002
University of Sheffield	180	125	Homerton College, Cambridge	28 October 2002
University of Nottingham	225	105	University of Wales, Aberystwyth	4 November 2002
Birkbeck, University of London	230	185	Emmanuel College, Cambridge	11 November 2002
Durham University	190	115	Queens' College, Cambridge	18 November 2002
University of Warwick	275	140	Wadham College, Oxford	25 November 2002
University of Southampton	190	125	University of Edinburgh	2 December 2002

Highest Scoring Losers Playoffs

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast date
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology	150	205	University College London	9 December 2002
Emmanuel College, Cambridge	205	150	University of York	16 December 2002

Second round

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast date
Newcastle University	80	215	Worcester College, Oxford	23 December 2002
University of Warwick	225	145	University of Southampton	30 December 2002
University College London	330	125	Emmanuel College, Cambridge	6 January 2003
Durham University	225	180	Jesus College, Oxford	13 January 2003
Birkbeck, University of London	190	130	Clare College, Cambridge	20 January 2003
Cranfield University	190	175	University of Manchester	27 January 2003
University of Leeds	170	165	University of Nottingham	3 February 2003
University of Sheffield	195	125	Merton College, Oxford	10 February 2003

Quarter-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast date
University College London	145	220	Birkbeck, University of London	17 February 2003
University of Warwick	175	180	University of Sheffield	24 February 2003
Cranfield University	165	160	Durham University	3 March 2003
University of Leeds	230	130	Worcester College, Oxford	10 March 2003

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast date
Birkbeck, University of London	190	155	University of Sheffield	17 March 2003
Cranfield University	200	125	University of Leeds	24 March 2003

Final

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Broadcast date
Birkbeck, University of London	180	155	Cranfield University	31 March 2003

• The trophy and title were awarded to the Birkbeck team of Tony Walsh, Thor Halland, Tony Gillham, and Colum Gallivan.
• The trophy was presented by Benjamin Zephaniah.