University Challenge Trials

Thank you for your interest in applying for Series 31 of University Challenge via The University of Law. The Students’ Union are hosting the trials for students who are interested in participating.

This is only the third time that The University of Law has entered a team for University Challenge and we are incredibly excited to be taking this opportunity. The process of applying consists of two rounds:

Trials: Round One

An online quiz consisting of 30 sample questions which are typical of the style of University Challenge. The questions are posed as a mixture of multiple choice and free text. This round is open to all students providing that the following conditions are all met:

• You are a student on a course of study at any UK ULaw campus, including the online campus. Students studying outside of the UK are not eligible.
• You will still be a registered student until at least 30th April 2024
• You have not featured in any televised series of University Challenge before, including with any other university
• Would be available to attend filming by the Programme Directors on ALL of the dates below. Please note it is unlikely you will be needed for all of these dates, but the directors ask that availability is there. Filming will be in Salford and all expenses will be covered.
  • 27th February – 1st March 2024
  • 25th March – 27th March 2024
  • 23rd April – 25th April 2024

We encourage any student who may be interested to try their hand at the first round of trials, even if you think you don’t have much general knowledge. From previous experience, some of the most successful participants have been those who took the trial without any expectation of achieving a high mark or making the team. In last year’s trials, the average score was just 40%.

The ten to twelve applicants with the highest marks will then be invited to take part in a live ULaw University Challenge afternoon / evening on a date which suits all finalists w/c 20th November. We are unsure at this stage whether this will be a virtual event or in person, but if it is in person then the SU will pay for your travel costs. It is more likely that this will be a virtual event.

When completing the trial paper, please do not be put off if you are unable to answer the majority of questions. The questions are designed to be difficult and many successful candidates from other institutions have previously achieved fewer than half marks at the trial stage.

The trial paper is available for all students to complete online until 11:59pm Wednesday 8th November.

Candidates will be informed of the outcome of their trial on or before Friday 10th November.

You are only able to complete the trial paper once. If students attempt to complete the paper more than once, only your first attempt will be considered.

We ask all students to complete the paper honestly and without conducting research whilst completing the paper. It is not in your best interests to use other resources as you may find that you are invited to be part of the team without adequate knowledge.
The trial round is timed to 15 minutes. If you have not submitted the form at 15 minutes, it will auto-submit for you. We recommend keeping an eye on the time throughout. In the personal details section you will be asked for a ‘publishing code’. This enables us to publish the full list of participants on our website, anonymously attributing your score to you.

Complete the Round One Try-Outs here: https://forms.office.com/e/jCGL6gBjmd

Round Two: ULaw University Challenge

The ten to twelve applicants with the highest marks in round one will then be invited to take part in a live ULaw University Challenge afternoon / evening on a date which suits all finalists w/c 20th November. We are unsure at this stage whether this will be a virtual event or in person, but if it is in person then the SU will pay for your travel costs. It is more likely that this will be virtual.

This mock event will be used to select the four team members and one reserve member. Further details will be provided to those applicants who are successful in this stage.

The full team will then complete the application form supplied by University Challenge and go through the production team’s application processes.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Emma.Beenham@law.ac.uk.