History and Modern Languages

History and Modern Languages at Cambridge

The Cambridge course provides insight into the cultures of other countries, and understanding of the past and present in international contexts.

Our four-year degree encompasses intensive study in language, culture, film, the history of political thought and a wide variety of modern British, European, American and world history. Like other language students, you spend the third year abroad – studying or working in a foreign country and immersing yourself in the language, culture and history.

When you graduate, you'll have near native-speaker skills in your language and a deep knowledge and understanding of the regions in which that language is used. You'll also have acquired a wider knowledge of European and extra-European history.

Languages available

Languages options are German, Italian, Russian and Spanish from scratch or post-A Level/post-IB Higher Level; Portuguese from scratch; and French post-A Level/post-IB Higher Level.

You should indicate which language you're interested in studying in your additional questionnaire. If you want to take up a new language from scratch, you should select the 'ab initio' option for the relevant language. If you want to take one of the post-A Level/post-IB Higher Level language options, you must have an A Level/IB Higher Level (or equivalent) in that language.

Facilities and resources

For both history and modern languages, our exceptional teaching and research are globally respected. In these subject areas, the University consistently features at the top of national and global league tables – for example, first in the country in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and in the top three in the QS World University Rankings 2017 – and more than 80 per cent of submissions from these Faculties were deemed 4* (world leading) or 3* (internationally excellent) in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).

Students can benefit from access to the facilities and resources available across both Faculties (which are adjacent to each other on the Sidgwick Site), as well as those offered at the neighbouring University Library and the University's Language Centre.

The Faculty of History's Seeley Library is one of the largest history libraries in the world; holding around 95,000 books and publications, and subscriptions to more than 100 journals. In addition, the collections in the University Library, College libraries and online are extensive and include a wealth of rare materials and manuscripts, as well as standard texts.

The Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages (MML) also has a well-stocked library of around 118,000 books and 3,500 videos, DVDs, CDs and audio recordings – boasting excellent coverage of the literature, film, history and thought of key language areas, from the middle ages to the present day – as well as the Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Facility, the Media Centre, a phonetics lab and a dedicated Year Abroad Office.

Course outline

Language options are German, Italian, Russian and Spanish from scratch or post-A Level; Portuguese from scratch; and French post-A Level. You will be asked to indicate which language you are interested in studying as part of the application process.

Teaching is provided through lectures, intensive language classes, seminars and College supervisions. You can typically expect around 14 hours of teaching each week, alongside which you complete translation and essay assignments, as well as supervision essays which you discuss with a subject specialist.

There are written exams at the end of each year, plus an oral examination in your chosen language. In the final year, you can offer a dissertation of 10,000 words in place of a written exam.

For more details about the History papers mentioned below, please visit the Faculty of History website.

Year 1 (Part IA)

During the first year you will enhance your written and spoken language skills and study a related paper (normally an introduction to the literature, thought and history of the relevant country). You will also choose one History Outline paper, which will introduce you to broad themes within a substantial historical period. You can opt to attend a training course in historical skills. Within your College, you will also study the Historical Thinking IA paper, which investigates how historians work. 

Year 2 (Part IB)

In your second year, you continue your advanced language study and take three further papers. The latter comprise a further paper related to your language, and a History Topics paper, plus either an additional MMLL paper or the History IB Research Project. The latter familiarises you with the research methods of a well-defined historical field, and allows you to carry out a small piece of independent research. 

Years 3 and 4 (Part II)

Year 3

You spend the third year abroad – studying, teaching or on a work placement while gaining near-native proficiency in your language. You also complete a project, normally on a topic related to the history of the country you're staying in.

Year 4

At the start of your final year you take an Advanced Oral examination. You will then study advanced language papers in your chosen language and three other advanced papers from a wide range offered by both Faculties. You can also choose to research and prepare a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice, subject to supervisor availability. This takes the place of one written examination. 

For further information about studying History and Modern Languages at the University of Cambridge see the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics website.

The application process

The Cambridge application process is slightly different to other universities. You still need to apply through UCAS, however, at Cambridge the process starts earlier to give us time to collect and consider all of the application information. The steps below and the following pages will guide you through the process.

You’re going to be studying to a very high level for several years so make sure you choose a course you’re personally interested in and will really enjoy studying! Check, also, that you meet the entrance requirements of the course you want to study.

Most applicants need to take a written admission assessment as part of the application process. Some applicants will also be asked to submit examples of their written work.

Please check the type of assessment required for your course as early as possible as some assessments require you to be registered before the UCAS application deadline (15 or 30 September).

Where would you like to live when you’re here? In your UCAS application, you can apply directly to one of our 29 Colleges or make an open application. 

You need to submit your UCAS application by 15 October – our institution code is CAM C05. Please note:

• Earlier or later deadlines may apply for Mature Students, Foundation Year and Organ Scholarship applicants.
• There's an additional application form if you're applying for the Graduate Course in Medicine.
• You can’t apply to both the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the same year.
• Some applicants will be required to submit an academic transcript.

After you’ve submitted your UCAS application, you will need to fill in an additional Cambridge-specific application form, which we’ll send you a link to by email.

Everyone with a good chance of being offered a place is invited to attend an interview. If you decide to apply, you can find videos and full information on what to expect and how to prepare, in our interviews section.

We’ll advise you of our decision before the end of January.