How to get on your college team for University Challenge

This could be you (Picture: BBC)

University Challenge has become a staple of the small screen over the past few decades – and it’s still going strong.

The show first began in 1962 on ITV, with Bamber Gascoigne posing the questions for its 25-year run before it was revived in 1994 and moved to BBC Two, with Jeremy Paxman in the chair.

Thousands of students from all across the country – some better-known than others – have taken part in that time.

But if you fancy seeing yourself on the next series of the show, how do you go about getting on your university’s team?

How to get on your college team for University Challenge

Your chance at TV stardom – and possibly becoming one of the show’s most memorable contestants – depends on which university you’re at, as they all have different selection processes.

The show is produced by Granada Studios for ITV (and aired by BBC Two), which every year writes to the president of every Student Union and every Oxbridge College president inviting them to put a team forward.

How the team is chosen varies according to university – some might simply pick the teammates themselves, while others may have a more rigorous selection process in which would be team members have to complete a general knowledge quiz, with the highest scorers progressing.

The process varies depending on your university (Picture: BBC)

Once the team members are chosen, they have to fill in the official application form which also includes 30 general knowledge questions, which they have to answer together as a team.

This is followed by an interview and another test, after which the teams who have applied are whittled down to the top 28 by producers.

What are the criteria for the show?

In order to be eligible for a spot on University Challenge, you must not have taken part in the show before.

Also, you must be a student for the entire duration of the application and recording process (should you be lucky enough to get that far).

This rule was restated following the 2009 series, after one of the members of the winning team from Corpus Christi College, Oxford was revealed to have already left the college and started work as an accountant.

The controversy led to Corpus Christi having to forfeit the title, which went to the runners-up from Manchester University.

University Challenge continues on BBC Two on Monday night at 8.30pm.

MORE : Who writes the questions on University Challenge?

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