# University Challenge 2002–03

Series 32 of University Challenge began on 2 September 2002, with the final on 31 March 2003.
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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.