Let’s work this out: The Russell Group unis each High School Musical character would go to

It’s been almost 20 years since the first High School Musical film was released. But as we know, the trilogy which centres around the musical lives of student basketball prodigy Troy Bolton, music-loving science nerd Gabriella Montez and their high school friends is still as iconic and timeless as ever.

And despite the fact that Troy, Gabriella and the gang were shown navigating very relatable teenage struggles throughout the films, like worrying about university tuition and trying to maintain the balance of staying true to yourself and your passions, the music and dancing of East High School has always seemed a world away from the classrooms that we grew up and learned in as students in Britain.

However, have you ever wondered which Russell Group uni each High School Musical character would go to if the series had been set in a British school, and Troy, Gabriella and the gang had grown up learning in classrooms throughout the UK?

Let’s not stick to the status quo. Let’s work this out by reading on and looking at all the High School Musical characters at Russell Group unis

After all, we’re all in this together.

Troy – Durham

via Disney+

After donning the signature red graduation robes and cap at East High, Troy would be off to Durham to study a sports science degree. You can bet on it!

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Outside of his degree, the revered Wildcat would be the star player on the men’s 1s basketball team at the university and would go on to become the captain of the team, psyching up his players with passionate pep talks, just like his dad that came before him, and just like the time that he was the voice of optimism encouraging his friends to look on the bright side in High School Musical 2’s Work This Out. However, since he found his singing voice at East High and vowed to choose both basketball and singing at his graduation at the end of High School Musical 3, he would also sing in university concerts and performances during his free time.

Gabriella – Cambridge

via Disney+

Even though Gabriella didn’t want to be thought of as the “freaky genius girl” at East High, her exceptional intelligence and knowledge of the sciences and maths would serve her well at prestigious Cambridge.

Gabriella would head off to Cambridge with top grades in all subjects, and she would study biochemistry at university. She would spend the vast majority of her time in Cambridge’s beautiful university libraries, losing herself in endless science books, when she’s not in the lecture hall or in the laboratory conducting complex experiments for her course. However, if she did happen to have any free time away from her studies and textbooks, you would most likely find Gabriella singing her heart out at choir rehearsals and performing in university concerts and musical productions.

Sharpay – King’s College London

As King’s College London advertises its theatre and performance Faculty as being “at the heart of London’s Theatreland”, Sharpay would instantly be sold. What could be more fabulous? She would pull up to KCL in her pink Convertible car with her signature SE monogram, and she would drag poor Mr Fulton from the Lava Springs Country Club all the way to London to carry her bedazzled pink luggage up to her luxury private studio. Oh, and she would try to sneak Boi, her adorable dog, into her pet-free accommodation.

Like her brother Ryan, Sharpay would pursue a degree in the performing arts, and she would always be vying to be elected as President of the Musical Theatre Society. And she would be completely oblivious to Zeke down the road at UCL pining over her. Evaporate, tall person!

Ryan – Manchester

via Disney+

As a theatre kid, Ryan’s unapologetic quirkiness and flamboyancy would be a perfect match for Manchester’s vibrancy, liveliness and thriving camp culture. With his jazz hands and his famous jazz squares, Ryan would receive a prestigious scholarship to study drama, dance and musical theatre at Manchester.

And since High School Musical director Kenny Ortega has confirmed Ryan to be an LGBTQ+ character that would have come out as gay at university, Ryan would find love, acceptance and comfort in Manchester’s burgeoning queer scene.

He would also also be elected as President of the Musical Theatre Society throughout his university years, and he would star in university theatre productions in all of the principal roles.

Chad – Birmingham

via Disney+

I can’t really explain this one, but Chad just gives off Birmingham vibes. Chad’s a chill guy, and he would suit Birmingham campus’s laid-back atmosphere.

Like Troy, he’d be off to study sports science at uni, and he’d play for the men’s 1s basketball team whenever he’s not in the lecture hall, a seminar room, or getting his head in the studying game for his exams. He’d always be seen with a basketball under his arm, even when practice isn’t scheduled, and he’d wear a different quirky shirt with a funny quote each day.

After all, he’s unique and isn’t afraid to tell the world that! He comes with his own background music, and he majored in vacation.

Taylor – London School of Economics and Political Science

via Disney+

Out of all the High School Musical characters at Russell Group unis, Taylor is an easy one to place. At the end of High School Musical 3, it is announced during graduation that Taylor is heading off to study political science at prestigious Yale University, to pursue her dreams of becoming the President of the United States someday.

And if Taylor were a British student, there wouldn’t be a more perfect place for Taylor to pursue her dreams than at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Throughout her university years, and as President of her very own political student society advocating for intersectional feminism and women’s rights, Taylor would carefully arrange her society’s schedule around her uni timetable to ensure that she spends almost every waking hour of each day in the intellectual depths of political study. Her passion and dedication to politics and feminism would pave the way for her to make history as an assertive, powerful, widely admired political leader in the future.

Kelsi – York

via Disney+

As a York girlie myself, the shy, sweet pianist Kelsi gives me wholesome York vibes.

Kelsi would receive a prestigious scholarship to study music at the university after delighting admissions tutors with her exceptional inborn talent for musical performance and composition. She would definitely be a Vanbrugh girlie, as Vanbrugh is the college at York that is renowned for its musicians and its proximity to the music department. When she’s not in the lecture hall, you’d most likely find Kelsi playing the most beautiful music on one of the many pianos across York’s campus, and she’d definitely compose the music to accompany the singers of the university’s Chamber Choir.

The tranquil atmosphere of the lakes and nature of York’s beautiful campus would really suit Kelsi’s quiet yet kind and thoughtful personality. Like York Uni, Kelsi is underrated yet very wholesome.

Zeke – University College London

via Disney+

After graduating from East High, aspiring baker/chef Zeke would be off to University College London to study a food science and catering degree, despite everyone peer-pressuring him into “sticking to the status quo” in High School Musical 1.

Zeke would spend the vast majority of his time in the kitchen cooking up to his heart’s content: Strudels, scones, apple pandowdy and, of course, creme brulee. His dream career would most likely be cooking up delicious dishes at his very own world-renowned restaurants as a Michelin star chef. In his spare time, he would play for the university’s basketball team.

Oh, and another reason he would decide on University College London would be because he still has a massive crush on Sharpay and she would only be next door, at KCL.

Martha – Oxford

via Disney+

In High School Musical 1’s Stick to the Status Quo, Martha sings “Look at me and what do you see? Intelligence beyond compare,” as she peruses a history book. Well, prestigious Oxford would certainly be able to see her incomparable, one-of-a-kind intelligence, and they would immediately offer her a place on their coveted history degree. Martha would dazzle admissions tutors at Oxford with not only top grades in all subjects, but with her exceptional natural aptitude for, and love of, history.

When she’s not busy studying, however, Martha would most likely be found popping and locking and jamming and breaking in dance rehearsals, as she would be a member of the hip-hop competitive dance team at Oxford.

Tiara – Exeter

via Disney+

After graduating from East High, British student Tiara would cross the pond again to return home to the UK to study drama at Exeter.

Like Sharpay, she would vie for the principal roles in all of the uni’s theatre productions, and for the role of President of the Drama Club every year while at uni. However, luckily for Tiara, she would be free to unleash her love of the colour orange and return to wearing orange outfits, as she would no longer have to worry about Sharpay’s glittery pink ensembles clashing with her similar-coloured wardrobe.

Mr Bolton – Glasgow

via Disney+

If Troy’s dad were to be at a Russell Group uni, he’d be a sports science lecturer at Glasgow Uni, as well as being a local basketball coach. Like Chad studying at Birmingham, he would carry a basketball under one arm at all times (even carrying it to his lectures and seminars), and he would always be there for his students to give them passionate pep talks if they’re feeling less than enthusiastic about their exams, or if they’re crying over their coursework.

Ms Darbus – Leeds

via Disney+

We can’t look at the characters of High School Musical at Russell Group unis without mentioning Ms Darbus. A flamboyant and quirky member of academic staff, Ms Darbus would be the head of the drama department at Leeds, as well as being a senior lecturer in the subject. She would take great pleasure in enlightening the “fertile young minds” of her students through extravagant lectures and seminars, and she would oversee all of the drama and musical productions put on by students of the uni.

And what about Jason?

via Disney+

Just like when he fell asleep in homeroom at the beginning of High School Musical 2, Jason fell asleep before submitting his UCAS application and didn’t wake up in time before the deadline passed.

For more like this look at High School Musical characters at Russell Group unis and all the latest news, drops, quizzes and memes, like The Tab on Facebook. 

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Featured image via Disney