University Challenge — Lowest Scores

Not much is known about the lowest scores from the Bamber Gascoigne series, except that the lowest score ever was amassed in 1971-2, when a Sussex team, fresh from two series wins, managed only 10 points. Sussex repeated that feat by also scoring 10 points in their first-round loss in 2022, the lowest score since 1994. It is also claimed that in 1977 the Brunel team were the only team to still be on zero points at the half-time interval.

Outside of the student series, the final of the 2017 Christmas University Challenge ended with the Reading team on 0 points.

The following are the lowest scores since the show returned in 1994.

Lowest Scores, 1994-2025
1SussexBirmingham1st2210
2ExeterCorpus Christi, OxfordQF0915
3Wadham, OxfordImperial, London2nd2525
4St John's, OxfordPeterhouse, CambridgeFinal1630
5Lincoln, OxfordManchesterSF0930
6BangorDurham2nd2335
7BradfordQueen's, Belfast1st0435
8New Hall, CambridgeNottingham1st9835
9ExeterBristol2nd2535
10Brasenose, OxfordDurham1st1535
11Jesus, OxfordEdinburgh1st1135
12KeeleChrist's, Cambridge2nd0240
13Queen's, BelfastJesus, CambridgeHSL0540
14St AndrewsManchester1st0540
15Wolfson, CambridgeMerton, Oxford1st2140
16Oxford BrookesLSE2nd9840
17Birkbeck, LondonManchester1st9740
18KeeleLiverpool1st1440
19St AndrewsChurchill, Cambridge1st0240
20Sheffield HallamNewcastle1st1840
21Robinson, CambridgeWadham, Oxford1st0740
22Wolfson, CambridgeSt John's, Oxford1st2040
23CardiffSouthampton1st1840
24Corpus Christi, OxfordEdinburgh2nd0745
25Queen Mary, LondonSt John's, Cambridge2nd2245
26UlsterBristolQF1845
27Wolfson, OxfordDurhamQF2045
28St Hugh's, OxfordUniversity, LondonHSL1845
29PlymouthDurham1st1245
30St Hilda's, OxfordTrinity, Cambridge2nd2245