History and Modern Languages 

Subject overview at Downing 

Average places per year  1
Course duration 4 years - BA (Hons) (Year 3 spent abroad)
Standard offer A-Level: A*AA
IB: 40-42, with 776 at Higher Level
Other qualifications: See entrance requirements
Course requirements

A Level/IB Higher Level in the language you wish to study and A Level/IB Level History is required. For languages from scratch some evidence of language ability may be needed. 

Useful preparation: History, English (language or literature), mathematics

Admission overview

All Applicants for History and ML are required to take a written assessment if shortlisted for interview.

Assessment Format:

For A Level languages: Discursive response in Foreign Language (40 minutes); discursive response in English (20minutes)

For languages from scratch: Discursive response in English (40minutes); Language aptitude test (20 minutes)

Applicants are required to submit two pieces of written work prior to interview. If you are applying for a post A-level language, one piece of written work should be in the language you intend to study.

UCAS code VR18
Campus code D

Why study History and Modern Languages at Cambridge?

The joint degree in History and Modern Languages combines the best of both subjects. It offers the opportunity to develop near native-speaker skills in a foreign language while studying a range of papers relating to the culture and history of the relevant language area; options in some languages also include film and contemporary politics. Students will also develop analytical skills in History through a wide range of topics in British, European, American and World history, as well as the history of political thought. There will be opportunities to work with historical sources in foreign languages. As for other language students, those who take this course will spend their third year studying or working abroad, thereby immersing themselves in the language, culture, history and politics of a foreign country.

As of 2018 entry, the languages available for study will be:

French (post A Level)
German (from scratch or post-A Level)
Spanish (from scratch or post-A Level)
Italian (from scratch or post-A Level)
Portuguese (from scratch)
Russian (from scratch or post-A Level)

Both faculties are regarded worldwide as leaders in their respective fields. The History Faculty is one of the largest in the United Kingdom and is consistently ranked as the best in research and teaching assessments. It has internationally recognised experts in all relevant fields of study. The Modern Languages Faculty is the largest in the United Kingdom and also consistently rated as the best. It offers an unrivalled range of courses taught by leading scholars. The library resources in Cambridge, which support teaching and research in both Faculties, are world-class; the University also has extensive collections of films in all relevant languages. All teaching for History and Modern Languages follows the same course outline set by the two Faculties. See the structure of the course here.

Why study History and Modern Languages at Downing College?

Studying History and Modern Languages at Downing enables students to draw upon the strengths of both subjects in the College. Members of Downing‘s Fellowship teach aspects of medieval and modern history. Dr David Pratt, the Director of Studies in History, whose work concerns King Alfred the Great and the early history of the English coronation service, teaches early medieval British and European history as well as the History of Political Thought. Dr Natalia Mora-Sitja, Associate Professor in Modern Economic History, teaches Modern European History and has research interests in the relationship between economic growth and labour markets. Downing College has a strong team providing teaching in Modern Languages. The relevant Fellows include Professor Adam Ledgeway (Italian and Romance Philology), Professor Ian Roberts (Linguistics) and Dr Liesbeth Francois (Spanish). Downing has extensive arrangements with other Colleges to ensure that teaching in all languages and areas covered by the MML Tripos are provided at highest level. Within History, in addition to lectures and supervisions, there are informal seminars within the College where students and Fellows meet to discuss general historical themes and problems. There is also the College’s History Society, the Maitland Society, which meets twice each term to hear speakers from within and outside Cambridge.

Who is Downing looking for?

Applicants will have a variety of relevant examination qualifications, though not necessarily in both languages and history; they will be expected to demonstrate an interest in both subjects and will be assessed on their potential to succeed in them. All Colleges require A-Level/IB Higher level for the languages to be studied post-A level; and evidence of language ability for the languages studied from scratch. Downing College requires A-Level/IB Higher level in History. Candidates should normally expect two interviews, one in each subject. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their relevant interests and potential directions they may wish to follow. Applicants should submit two examples of recent work, which will be available to interviewers. Applicants will take a written assessment in College. For post-A level language candidates, this hour-long assessment is designed to assess writing skills in a foreign language, the ability to understand an intellectual argument, and to write in English. For applicants to study a language from scratch, the hour-long assessment will assess aptitude for language learning and ability to understand an intellectual argument, writing in English. No special preparation or prior knowledge is required. 

Further advice about entry requirements and interviews for all subjects can be found in the Apply to Downing section of this site.

How can you find out more about History and Modern Languages?

Historical Association – the UK national charity for history

RHS | Royal Historical Society 

Institute of Historical Research 

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