Modern & Medieval Languages

Modern and Medieval Languages (MML) at Cambridge is a hugely flexible 4-year course, offering a broad and multifaceted approach to the study of language and culture which incorporates literature, linguistics, history, thought, film and art. You will study two out of the following languages: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Alternatively, you can combine any of these with either Classical Latin or Classical Greek. One of the languages chosen can be learnt from scratch (the exceptions being French for which A Level/IB Higher Level standard is required). The third year includes at least eight months spent abroad, during which time you prepare either a project dissertation, a translation project or a linguistics project. Further information about the course can be found on the .

MML at 91��

91�� typically admits 5-6 undergraduate MML students each year, and our subject community also includes several postgraduate students. Our student-run society, the Gabe Society, hosts events for students, researchers, and Fellows, which contribute to a friendly and vibrant atmosphere. As you might expect, MML students make good use of the travel funding available in the College: activities in recent years have included language and cultural courses, internships, and volunteering opportunities across the globe.

Typical offer

A Level: A*AA

IB: 42 (776)

Required subjects

A Level: A Level in at least one of the languages to be studied

IB: Higher Level in at least one of the languages to be studied

Admissions assessment

Applicants are required to take a written assessment if invited for interview. You do not need to register in advance for this assessment. The College will provide details directly to you. Check the page for more details.

Written work

Applicants are required to submit two pieces of written work. These should be recent examples of writing completed for school, one of which should be in one of the languages you intend to study.

What the students say

Isabella Fitches

After three amazing years studying MML, including an unforgettable year abroad in Madrid, I completed the final year of my undergraduate degree at Cambridge Judge Business School on the Management Studies Tripos.

The Management Studies Tripos allowed me to explore a broad range of disciplines, including Economics, Finance, Marketing, Operations Management, Negotiations, Quantitative Methods, and Accounting. I valued the variety of assessment methods, from coursework and examinations to group projects. I particularly enjoyed analysing Switzerland's proposed population cap for my Macroeconomics coursework and looking at the strategies employed by electrolyte companies for my Marketing coursework. I learned a lot of practical skills in my Corporate Finance group project, which assessed whether the Boeing 777 was a good financial investment.

One of the highlights of the course was applying the qualitative and quantitative skills developed during Michaelmas and Lent to a real-life, month-long consulting project. My group worked for Pentland Brands, the company behind Speedo and Canterbury, to deliver actionable insights and recommendations for the business.

I am very grateful for my time at 91�� and Cambridge. I have made incredible friends, been supported by fantastic supervisors, enjoyed brilliant academic and extracurricular opportunities and been part of a great college community. Combining Management with MML proved to be the perfect fit for me and an excellent foundation as I look forward to starting my career in financial services.

Isobel Butter

I did an open application to Cambridge for Spanish and Russian ab-initio and was serendipitously allocated to 91��. Whilst a complete accident that I ended up here, Medwards is by far (in my humble opinion) the best college in Cambridge. From the welcoming and supportive atmosphere to its unique architecture and surroundings, the college is a community that has a real desire to see each other succeed, and to help along the way if we can.

For my final year, I have chosen to specialise in Russian for my language papers, but I am still keeping in touch with the Spanish side by doing a Latin American literature paper. I can honestly say I have no regrets about choosing this degree, although intense, learning Russian from scratch has been incredibly rewarding. My favourite part about the MML Tripos is the option of being able to do an “Intro to” paper in your second year and your fourth year. This gives you the opportunity to pick up another language completely from scratch and learn it for a year whilst also studying a sample of its literature, from classic texts to contemporary ones. In my second year I did an Introduction to Polish and this year I’m doing an Introduction to Portuguese. The MML Tripos also offers a diverse range of papers to choose from, so you can really personalise your degree and choose what interests you most.

Rachel Bennett

It truly is a pleasure to call 91�� my home. Apart from being surrounded by beautiful gardens and impressive architecture, this college has provided me with wonderful social and academic opportunities.

For example, I am part of 91�� Boat Club (MECBC), where I learnt to row as a novice and continue to do so. MECBC has formed an invaluable part of my experience here as I have met friends for life and competed in many races including the renowned Cambridge ‘Bumps’.

I study Modern and Medieval Languages (MML) and have had the opportunity to develop my language skills in French and Spanish, learn Catalan from scratch, and gain a detailed insight into the literature, art and film produced in the languages that I study.

I also attend the Gabe Society, enjoyed by both students and academics of 91��, in order to hear others’ experiences of the year abroad and participate in academic discovery. This has helped to prepare me for the organisation of my Year Abroad where I hope to study in Alicante.

I love both my college and my subject, and hope that anyone considering applying to 91�� to study MML does so.