Skip Navigation Skip to Content Skip to Footer

History and Modern Languages

As well as becoming fluent in a language, and studying it to the same level as single subject language students, History and Modern Languages students can combine the study of the history and the literature and culture of countries in which they are interested.

This four-year course includes a compulsory year abroad, during which students can pursue further study and find work. The ‘bridge’ essay allows you to explore the links between literature and history through a subject of your own choice.

Modern Languages at Oxford interested me most due to its focus on literature and the incredible departmental resources

Katie Rennie|Modern Languages (and Linguistics)

Admission Criteria

Short-listing by History Aptitude Test, Language Test, and GCSE results (contextualized by school performance data). Admission by written work, interviews, and AAA at A-level or equivalent. Conditional offers: AAA at A-level (or equivalent), with A grades required for any language to be studied (except ab initio languages). We consider applicants who do not have A-level History.

Number of places

From the Modern Languages quota

Departments

Faculty of History

Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages

Teaching Staff

Dr Lucia Akard

Lecturer in Medieval History

Dr Valerio Zanetti

Sir John Elliott Junior Research Fellow in History

Organising Tutor
Professor Annette Volfing

Knight Fellow & Tutor in Modern Languages

Professor Simon Skinner

College Lecturer in History

Dr Katherine New

College Lecturer in Russian Literature & Language

Professor Julia Mannherz

Fellow & Tutor in History

Professor Katrin Kohl

College Lecturer in German

Dr Ole Hinz

German Lektor

Dr Marie Kawthar Daouda

College Lecturer in French | Visiting Students Coordinator

Dr David Damtar

Turpin Junior Research Fellow in History

Mrs Stefanie Burkert-Burrows

College Lecturer in German

Dr Cécile Bishop

Kelleher Fellow in French | Associate Professor of Post-Colonial Francophone Literatures & Cultures| Organising Tutor in French

Dr Alessandra Aloisi

Lecturer in French

Dr Víctor Acedo-Matellán

Fellow & Tutor in Linguistics & Spanish

OTHER COURSES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

History
Number of places 9 Admission Criteria The admissions process at Oriel is exactly the same as at all other colleges. For further information, please visit the History Faculty admissions pages.

History (Ancient and Modern)
Number of places Usually 1 Admission Criteria Short-listing by History Aptitude Test and GCSE results (contextualized by school performance data). Admission by written work, interviews, and AAA at A-level or equivalent. There are no required subjects, and we consider applicants who do not have A-level History.

History and Economics
Number of places From History quota Admission Criteria Short-listing by History Aptitude Test, Thinking Skills Assessment (Section 1), and GCSE results (contextualized by school performance data). Admission by written work, test result, interviews and AAA at A-level or equivalent. There are no required subjects, and we consider applicants who do not have A-level History, but A-level (or at least GCSE or AS-level) Maths would be an advantage.

History and Politics
Number of places Usually 1 Admission Criteria Short-listing by History Aptitude Test and GCSE results (contextualized by school performance data). Admission by written work, interviews, and AAA at A-level or equivalent. There are no required subjects, and we consider applicants who do not have A-level History.

Modern Languages (and Linguistics)
Number of places Usually 9 Admission Criteria One piece of marked written work is required for each language you plan to study and in which you will have A2 (or equivalent) before university. In addition, all candidates must submit one piece of marked writing in English. If you are applying for a language which you have not taken at A2 (or equivalent) then you do not need to submit anything in that language. All candidates are required to sit a test or tests in November. Conditional offers: AAA at A-level (or equivalent), with A grades required for any language to be studied (except ab initio languages).

Philosophy and Modern Languages
Number of places 1 or 2, taken from the Modern Languages quota of 9 Admission Criteria All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests (MLAT), normally at their own school or college, in November, in addition to the written work specified on the university's website. Separate registration for this test is required and it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that they are registered for this test. Candidates will need to take two sections of the MLAT: one for their chosen language, and one for Philosophy. Conditional offers: AAA at A-level (or equivalent), with A grades required for any language to be studied (except ab initio languages).

What next?

Applying to Oriel

Applying to Oriel

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

Open days

Open days