Modern Languages

Studying Modern Languages provides both practical training in written and spoken language and an extensive introduction to literature and thought written in European languages.

As well as learning to write and speak the language(s) fluently, you can study a broad range of literature, or focus your studies on any period from the medieval to the present day.

A wide range of other options allow you to explore subjects including linguistics, philology, film or gender studies or (in French, German and Spanish) advanced translation.

Course combinations

• Czech (with Slovak)
• French
• German
• Modern Greek
• Italian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish

Interviewed: 94%
Successful: 42%
Intake: 144
(3-year average 2022-24)

Your week’s work will include a tutorial in, or organised by, your college, language classes in the language(s) you study, and typically three to four hours of lectures for each subject. 

Tutorials usually involve two to three students and a tutor. Seminar and language class sizes may vary depending on the options you choose or the language you are studying, but there would usually be no more than 20 students and classes would often be much smaller.

Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students studying at doctoral level. 

To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.

Your first year is closely structured. You will attend oral, grammar and translation classes. You will also attend typically three to four hours of introductory lectures and participate in seminars and/or tutorials on literature.

If you study French, German, Spanish or Russian as a single language you will take a range of further options in that language in the first year. All other languages must be studied in combination with another language or another subject.

Your other years of study give you more freedom to choose the areas on which you wish to focus, from a very wide range of options.

Students may take Polish as a subsidiary language, beginning in the second year. Catalan, Galician, Yiddish and most of the Slavonic languages (including Ukrainian) may also be taken as additional options.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

The options listed above are illustrative and may change. More information about the options available in each of the different languages can be found on the Modern Languages website.

Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read further information on how we use contextual data.

There are several combinations available that allow students to study a language as a beginner. However, please note that it is not usually possible for students to study two beginners' languages or a language from scratch on its own.

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our Applying to Oxford page.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

Deferred entry

Students are welcome to apply for deferred entry for any language courses except those including Beginners’ Russian.

UCAS codes

Single language courses

Joint language courses

Beginners' courses (B.) 

These courses allow students to study a new language from scratch, along with another language which they have already studied to A-level, or equivalent.

Admissions test

All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT) as part of their application. 

All the information you need to arrange to take your test as well as how best to prepare can be found on your test page.

ADVANCE NOTICE OF NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2026 ADMISSIONS TESTS can be found at: www.ox.ac.uk/tests

Written work

You do not need to submit any written work when you apply for this course. Written work was previously required for Modern Languages, however this is no longer the case for 2026 entry.

What are tutors looking for?

Tutors will be looking for a good command of the grammar of any language you have already studied at school and want to continue studying at Oxford, as well as an interest in literature and culture.

At interview, tutors will want to find out as much as possible about your intellectual interests and academic potential, so you may be asked about your reading or your interest in the culture of the relevant country.

You may be asked questions about a short text in English or the relevant foreign language(s). You will be given the opportunity to speak in the relevant foreign language(s) which you have studied to an advanced level. As far as possible, interviewers will try to let you show your strengths, interest in the subject(s) you intend to study, and reasons for applying to Oxford. 

Visit the Modern Languages website for more detail on the selection criteria for this course.

Fees

Courses including beginners’ Russian (or a Middle Eastern language) are slightly different, as they are the only courses with a prescribed year abroad activity (see course structure tab). Students will not incur an additional course fee for this, however, they will be liable for additional administration and visa fees. Currently the combined fee for these is approximately £250.

Oxford aims to produce world-class linguists and the skills gained and fostered by studying languages at degree level are much-prized by employers. Their knowledge and transferable skills ensure that modern linguists are amongst the most sought-after graduates in Britain.

Employers in the UK and abroad value Modern Languages graduates because they are competent in one or two languages, have acquired first-hand experience of other cultures, and possess a range of transferable skills including:

• communication
• critical thinking
• empathy
• analysis
• creative problem solving
• understanding and valuing alternative perspectives
• persuasive argument.

Amongst the careers successfully followed by modern linguists are:

• journalism
• the Civil and Diplomatic Services
• education
• environmental and development work
• the law.

Catherine is Director of the Refugee Support Network. She says:

‘Since graduating from Oxford, I have worked in the field of refugee education and education in emergencies for various charities, including Save the Children and various United Nations agencies. The skills I gained at Oxford have helped me to analyse situations thoughtfully and critically, and gave me the confidence to establish the Refugee Support Network in 2009. I never thought I would use my language skills in situations as diverse as Sudanese refugee camps, with Haitian earthquake survivors and with young victims of trafficking in London.’

View the Unistats data for each course combination.

The Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages runs dedicated outreach programmes, events and activities aimed at promoting the study of languages and supporting talented students from all backgrounds to apply to the course.

Teachers can request to join the Faculty mailing list to hear about upcoming opportunities.

The Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages are involved in a range of events and activities, both to inspire students to pursue language degrees at university and to work with schools and colleges in encouraging students to continue languages to GCSE and A-level (or equivalent). They promote the value of language study as well as the opportunities and careers a degree in languages can create.

UK state school students interested in languages can apply to UNIQ, Oxford’s flagship outreach programme for students in their first year of further education. Each year, UNIQ provides over 1,500 students with the opportunity to experience Oxford teaching and receive application support.

Anyone interested in studying languages at Oxford is encouraged to explore details of subject-specific opportunities and resources on the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages website. Please note that some outreach events may require advance booking or have specific eligibility criteria.

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 270481
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/schools-liaison-and-outreach

In addition to exploring department-run activities, we recommend checking out the outreach event calendar for upcoming University-wide events and other subject and college activities.

Subject-specific resources supporting supercurricular engagement for all ages can also be found via the University's Digital Resource Hub, suggested subject resources webpage and Oxplore, our online learning platform for 11-to-18-year-olds.

Prospective applicants can sign up to receive step-by-step support with their Oxford application.

Read more about Oxford's widening access initiatives and other ways to connect with us before applying.