History and Modern Languages

This superb joint Honours degree gives you the language skills and historical awareness to better understand foreign cultures and societies – in Europe and beyond.

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; Portuguese from scratch; and French post-A Level. You should indicate in your SAQ (see p7) which language you’re interested in studying.You must have an A Level/IB Higher Level (or equivalent) in the language for languages to be studied post-A Level/IB Higher Level.

Facilities and resources

Students can benefit from access to the facilities and resources available across both Faculties, as well as those offered at the University’s Language Centre.

The Faculty of History is globally respected (consistently topping national and international league tables), with an exceptional teaching staff of more than 100 leading historians. The collections in the Seeley Library (one of the largest history libraries in the world), 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 – boasting excellent coverage of the literature, film, history and thought of key language areas, from the middle ages to the present day – the Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Facility, and the Media Centre.

Careers

History and ML graduates will be well equipped to appeal to a wide range of potential employers – advanced language skills and experience of living abroad are transferable skills that are often in great demand.

Recent History graduates and Modern Languages graduates have progressed to careers in the media, PR, law, public administration, consultancy, teaching and the charity sector. See the History course and Modern and Medieval Languages course pages and the Careers website for more information about what our students go on to after Cambridge.

The course also provides good preparation for further study in either history or the language.

You should indicate in your Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) which language you’re interested in studying with History.

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, and supervision essays which you discuss with a subject specialist.

There are written exams at the end of every 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.

Year 1 (Part IA)

You receive intensive language training (including translation and conversation) and take an introductory paper on the literature, history, film and philosophy of the country where your language is spoken. You also choose two broad papers in European or world history or the history of political thought.

Year 2 (Part IB)

You continue with classes to improve your language skills, and also choose three advanced papers – at least one from each subject – from a range in your chosen language (eg literature, history, film,  art, thought) and history (European, global or intellectual).

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

In the fourth year, you continue with advanced language work,  and take three specialised papers from a range of topics related to your language (eg literature, history, film, thought) and history (covering a variety of periods and parts of the world). You must take at least one from each subject.

• All applicants to the University of Cambridge must submit an application to UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) by the relevant deadline.
• The Attestat o (polnom) Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education) is not considered to be suitable preparation for a competitive application to the University of Cambridge. We strongly recommend that you undertake further study if you wish to apply for an undergraduate degree. Examples of the qualifications that would be considered suitable for admission to Cambridge are A Levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB), five or more Advanced Placement (AP) courses, or possibly the first year of an undergraduate degree at a university outside the UK. We recommend that you contact the College that you wish to apply to directly for further advice and guidance.
• IELTS – normally a minimum overall grade of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or above in each element.
• Cambridge English: Advanced – grade A or B.
• Cambridge English: Proficiency – grade A, B or C.

Admissions assessments

Applicants for History and ML are required to take written assessments both pre-interview (the History assessment) and at interview (the Modern Languages assessment) if interviewed. Applicants for History and Russian do not take the at-interview language assessment.

Assessment format

Pre-interview - History assessment

• Section 1: Reading Comprehension (60 minutes)
• Section 2: Essay/text response (60 minutes)

At interview - Modern Languages assessment (except Russian)

• Discursive response in Foreign Language (40 minutes)
• Discursive response in English (20 minutes)

The pre-interview assessment must be taken at an authorised centre (for a lot of applicants, this will be their school/college). You must be registered in advance (separately to your UCAS application) to take the pre-interview assessment – the registration deadline is 15 October 2017. Your assessment centre must register you for the pre-interview assessment; you’re not able to register yourself. See the written assessments page for information about assessment centres and registration.

The pre-interview written assessment will be taken on 2 November 2017. 

• Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust

Your living expenses may be higher than for a Home student (eg if you stay in Cambridge/the UK during vacations). The minimum resources needed in Cambridge for the year (excluding tuition and College fees) are estimated to be approximately £10,080 in 2017-18 and £10,310 in 2018-19, depending on lifestyle (you should allow for increases in future years).