How to watch University Challenge from anywhere in the world

Amol Rajan in University Challenge
(Image credit: BBC)

The classic quiz show returned last year with a new host and a bit of a revamp. University Challenge pits teams from academic institutions across the country against one another with four teams left in the battle to become this years champion.

You can watch University Challenge for FREE in the UK on the BBC iPlayer streaming service. But don't worry if you're on holiday while it's on — because you can watch University Challenge on BBC iPlayer from anywhere with a VPN.

Quick links

UK: BBC Two, Mondays at 8:30pm GMT and iPlayer (free with license fee)
How to use a VPN to watch any stream

University Challenge returned to our Monday night screens last year with a new look. Amol Rajan may have taken over hosting duties from long time quizmaster Jeremy Paxman, but that doesn’t mean things got any easier for our contestants, with Rajan’s questioning style equally tough. Alongside its often challenging trivia, University Challenge is best known for its iconic use of horizontal split screen and sarcastic responses from the host.

There was also an overhaul of the set and opening titles as we moved firmly into a new era for the quiz show. The University Challenge format is a tournament which started with 28 teams of four from Universities all over the UK. Teams were pitted against one another in an effort to answer notoriously tough questions, with the losing teams eliminated round by round, with four teams heading in to the semi-finals in a bid to be crowned champion.

Up for the challenge? Here's how to watch University Challenge from anywhere in the world. We've got all the information you'll need below.

How to watch University Challenge in the UK

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The BBC airs new episodes of University Challenge on BBC Two on Mondays at 8:30pm UK. Previous episodes are also available to watch online on BBC iPlayer now and new installments will hit the streaming service right after they've aired.

BBC Two and iPlayer are free to watch for license fee payers. If you're trying to access iPlayer while traveling outside the UK, you might want to try a VPN to allow you to watch from abroad.

Can I watch University Challenge in the US?

University Challenge is currently unavailable in the US and there's no news of a release date any time soon. British license fee payers travelling to the States can use a VPN to catch the latest episode from abroad, just as you would at home.

How to watch University Challenge from anywhere with a VPN

You can watch University Challenge on iPlayer by using a VPN – no matter where you are in the world!

Normally a streaming service will know where you are trying to tune in from and block you if you're not in the right country but a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an app that hides your location. That means you can access your usual sports and entertainment services even while you're traveling abroad.

Our favorite VPN is ExpressVPN, which is the No. 1-rated VPN in the world right now according to our sister site, TechRadar.


How to use a VPN to watch any stream

  • Download the app at ExpressVPN
  • Choose the location of the streaming service you want to watch (UK, US, etc)
  • Navigate to the streaming service and start watching!
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to watch what you want from anywhere you want to watch it.

It's straightforward and easy to use, has great security, is available on loads of streaming devices and, best of all, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out 100% risk-free.

What is the University Challenge release date?

University Challenge runs throughout the year and there's already a wealth of episodes from the 2023/2024 series available on iPlayer. You can also catch all of the 2022/2023 season which is on iPlayer in full at the time of writing.

New episodes air every Monday at 8:30pm GMT on BBC Two and land on iPlayer shortly thereafter.

Tom Wardley

Tom is a freelance writer, predominantly focusing on film and TV. A graduate of Film Studies at University of South Wales, if he's not diving in to the Collector's Edition Blu Ray of an obscure 80s horror, you'll find him getting lost with his dog or mucking about in the water with his board.