Episode guide
University Challenge: 1980–1981
40 episodes · premiered Dec 15, 1980
TMDB has no overview for this season.
- Episode 1: Corpus Christi, Oxford v Aberystwyth Dec 15, 1980
- Episode 2: Aberystwyth v Magdalene, Cambridge Dec 22, 1980
- Episode 3: Special: Merton, Oxford students v Merton, Oxford dons Dec 29, 1980
- Episode 4: Aberystwyth v Bedford, London Jan 5, 1981
- Episode 5: Oriel, Oxford v St John's, Cambridge Jan 12, 1981
- Episode 6: St John's, Cambridge v Exeter Jan 19, 1981
- Episode 7: St John's, Cambridge v St Anne's, Oxford Jan 26, 1981
- Episode 8: Queen's, Belfast v Warwick Feb 2, 1981
- Episode 9: Queen's, Belfast v Selwyn, Cambridge Feb 9, 1981
- Episode 10: Pembroke, Oxford v Kent Feb 16, 1981
- Episode 11: Pembroke, Oxford v Surrey Feb 23, 1981
- Episode 12: Pembroke, Oxford v Clare, Cambridge Mar 2, 1981
- Episode 13: Clare, Cambridge v Bristol Mar 9, 1981
- Episode 14: Bristol v Leicester Mar 16, 1981
- Episode 15: Leicester v St John's, Oxford Mar 23, 1981
- Episode 16: Leicester v Girton, Cambridge Mar 30, 1981
- Episode 17: Girton, Cambridge v Royal Holloway, London Apr 6, 1981
- Episode 18: Girton, Cambridge v Bradford Apr 13, 1981
- Episode 19: Keble, Oxford v Leicester Apr 20, 1981
- Episode 20: Keble, Oxford v LSE Apr 27, 1981
- Episode 21: Keble, Oxford v Christ's, Cambridge May 4, 1981
- Episode 22: Christ's, Cambridge v Edinburgh May 11, 1981
- Episode 23: Edinburgh v Mansfield, Oxford May 18, 1981
- Episode 24: Edinburgh v University, Swansea May 25, 1981
- Episode 25: Peterhouse, Cambridge v Bristol Jun 1, 1981
- Episode 26: Peterhouse, Cambridge v St David's, Lampeter Jun 8, 1981
- Episode 27: St David's, Lampeter v Jesus, Oxford Jun 15, 1981
- Episode 28: St David's, Lampeter v Trinity, Dublin Jun 22, 1981
- Episode 29: Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford v Southampton Jun 29, 1981
- Episode 30: Southampton v Stirling Jul 6, 1981
- Episode 31: Stirling v Corpus Christi, Cambridge Jul 13, 1981
- Episode 32: Corpus Christi, Cambridge v UEA Jul 20, 1981
- Episode 33: Episode 33 Oct 26, 1981
- Episode 34: Girton, Cambridge v Queen's, Belfast Nov 2, 1981
- Episode 35: St John's, Cambridge v Edinburgh Nov 9, 1981
- Episode 36: Queen's, Belfast v St David's, Lampeter Nov 16, 1981
- Episode 37: Final – Edinburgh v Queen's, Belfast Nov 23, 1981
- Episode 38: Final – Edinburgh v Queen's, Belfast Nov 30, 1981
- Episode 39: Final – Edinburgh v Queen's, Belfast Dec 7, 1981
- Episode 40: Special: Queen's, Belfast students v Queen's, Belfast dons Jan 4, 1982