# 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.