The Russell Games: Here’s exactly which district each uni would be in The Hunger Games

With the excitement of the new Hunger Games book and film coming out, it’s easy to get sucked into the fantasy world of Panem all over again. Ttrying to get through uni life sometimes feels like a dystopian death match, so it wouldn’t be unordinary to find yourself wondering what each Russell Group uni city would be as a district in the Hunger Games.

Just like Panem’s districts, each Russell Group uni has its own speciality – from the engineering overlords of Imperial to the feral, kebab fuelled warriors of Newcastle. Some hoard all the resources (cough, Oxbridge, cough), while others keep the whole system running without getting enough credit (yes, Bath, we see you). So, grab your overpriced oat latte, avoid eye contact with your seminar tutor, and let’s figure out who’s thriving and who’s barely surviving the Russell Games.

District 1: Cambridge and Oxford

In this dystopia, the two big dogs of the Russell Groups have merged to form the Capitol’s sweethearts – the horror! They’re the ones who will probably one day run the games. They’ve been training for this moment their whole lives (likely through centuries-old secret societies), and their sponsors (connections on LinkedIn) alone will keep them alive for a while.

District two: Durham

District two is known for training future peacekeepers and building weaponry, so it seems fitting that the uni that churns out future politicians, barristers, and posh rugby lads built for combat would be this district. Think career tributes, but in Barbour jackets.

District three: Imperial College London

Imperial is a STEM powerhouse, its students are the tech geniuses who could hack the Games from within, if they can be bothered to talk to anyone. While they’ll easily outthink their competition, their lack of social skills might be their Achilles’ heel. Alone in the arena, they may struggle to form alliances, unless they build a robot to do it for them.

District four: Exeter

Exeter gives the seaside vibe of District four, but with an air of quiet (extremely loud and obnoxious) privilege. Exeter students live their best life on the coast, perfecting the art of looking effortlessly cool while sipping pints in Patagonia fleeces. They’ll flirt their way into alliances, but once food supplies run low, they’ll struggle without their usual Waitrose essentials.

District five: UCL

Out of all the districts from The Hunger Games as a Russell Group uni, this one’s easy. UCL students are overworked, underpaid, and constantly on the brink of a nervous breakdown, perfect training for a brutal dystopia. Their intelligence and adaptability will make them a formidable force, but their fatal flaw is distraction. While other tributes are fighting for their lives, UCL will be busy debating ethics and writing essays about the sociopolitical implications of the Games.

District six: Bristol

Bristol is the district of travel because every student knows the pain of trying to hike St Michael’s Hill after a night out. While Bristol students might lack traditional discipline, they have a different kind of resilience, one built on late night raves, anti-establishment ideals, and the ability to find a workaround for any problem. Expect them to be involved in the rebellion. The books also mention District six has a certain substance issue… Sound familiar?

District seven: Edinburgh

District seven  in The Hunger Games is an easy Russell Group match. Edinburgh is Bristol’s equally obnoxious and equally unhinged cousin. Its students dress like 19th century poets, have strong opinions on oat milk, and would rather be caught dead than seen in a Wetherspoons. In the arena, they’ll be crafting artisanal wooden weapons, quoting Nietzsche, and somehow still acting superior even while starving halfway up a tree. They won’t win, but they’ll die thinking they were above it all.

District eight: Leeds

District eight is textiles, making it the perfect fit for Leeds, home to a thriving ecosystem of Depop entrepreneurs (read: Scammers). As these students can flip a £2 charity shop find for £50, they’ll be built for the Tribute Parade or maybe striking alliances by trading food for some exclusive vintage shop find. Plus, after years of Otley Runs and questionable nightlife choices, their bodies have been battle-tested.

District nine: Nottingham

Nottingham is District nine, aka, the bread and butter of the Russell Group unis. Nottingham is deceptively deadly, they’re socially adaptable and strategically smart, so they’ll be able to fly under the radar until it’s too late. They’ll make alliances, betray them at the perfect moment, and pull off a surprise top three finish. While Durham and Imperial are out brute-forcing or out-teching their way through, Notts will be playing the long game.

District 10: Newcastle

I genuinely think I would fear a Newcastle tribute. Newcastle students are built different: Impervious to the cold, fuelled by trebles, and with an alcohol tolerance that would kill lesser tributes. They won’t play smart; they’ll play hard. The only thing that’ll take them out? The sheer force of their own reckless abandon.

District 11: Glasgow

11 was one of the first Districts to join the Rebellion, and Glasgow is no different. Glasgow is a no-nonsense, working class, and fiercely independent city that has been ready to riot since birth. Also, agriculture? Yeah, Scotland has entire fields of barley dedicated to whisky production. Close enough.

District 12: Queen’s University Belfast

Queen’s students know struggle. They’ve had to fight for recognition, funding, and basic respect within the Russel Group, so the Hunger Games is just another Tuesday for them. They’re tough, self sufficient, and not afraid to get their hands dirty. Like 12, Queen’s doesn’t get the same attention as the bigger Russell Group unis, but it has a quiet strength that gives Katniss Everdeen vibes.

BONUS District 13: Bath

“Wait! Imposter! Bath’s not a Russell Group” I hear you cry.

Well, Bath is the uni equivalent of District 13, quietly brilliant, but never asking for attention. It’s often mistaken for being in the Russell Group because, well, it’s that good. Just like the Capitol tried to erase District 13, the Russell Group refuses to acknowledge Bath, even though it’s clearly punching above its weight.

Featured image via Netflix