Early medieval Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia
The course covers history, material culture, languages and literature, with languages such as Old Norse, medieval Welsh, Irish and Latin.
Undergraduate · Cambridge ASNC
Cambridge Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic: a specialist early-medieval degree
Cambridge's Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic course is a small, specialised degree on the history, material culture, languages and literature of Britain, Ireland and the Scandinavian world in the earlier Middle Ages. It asks for A*AA or 41 to 42 IB points, specifies no particular subjects, sets no admission assessment and asks applicants for two pieces of written work. That makes the real question one of fit: do you want to learn languages such as Old Norse and medieval Welsh and Irish to read original sources, rather than study medieval history or English in a broader course?
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What Cambridge asks for in ASNC
Taken from Cambridge's Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic course page and read on 31 October 2026. For a normal 2028-entry application, made in 2027, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; Cambridge's 2028-entry requirements and dates are awaiting publication.
A*AA, or 41 to 42 IB points with 776 at Higher Level
The minimum offer level is A*AA at A level, or 41 to 42 IB points with 776 at Higher Level. Colleges may ask for more.
No specific subjects
Cambridge asks for no specific subjects and recommends English, History and languages, ancient or modern.
No admission assessment, two pieces of written work
There is no admission assessment for this course, but applicants need to submit two pieces of written work.
A free choice of papers and a dissertation
There are no compulsory first-year papers, and every student writes a dissertation of 9,000 to 12,000 words in the third year.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on Cambridge's Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic course page, which describes 2027 entry. The Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic pages, individual College requirements, the interview arrangements, fees and the 2028-entry values were not read and are not stated.
The course
Languages and sources, not a survey
In the first year students choose six subjects from ten: four historical (Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian, Gaelic and Brittonic history) and language and literature subjects including Old English, Old Norse, medieval Welsh, medieval Irish, medieval Latin and palaeography, and sit examinations in four. In the second year they can continue with all six or replace up to three with a dissertation or papers from related courses. The third year offers a choice of papers from a range of 17 and a dissertation of 9,000 to 12,000 words. Cambridge describes interdisciplinary topics such as art history, religious studies and archaeology.
Is it the right course?
ASNC, History or English
Cambridge says to think carefully before applying, because changing course is rare and may not be approved.
Choose ASNC if
you want to read early medieval sources in their original languages and combine history, literature and material culture.
Choose History if
you want a broader chronological range. Avandy's Cambridge History guide covers it.
Choose English if
your focus is literature across periods. Avandy's Cambridge English guide covers it.
Entry rules
Written work rather than a test
The minimum A-level offer is A*AA and the minimum IB offer is 41 to 42 points with 776 at Higher Level. Cambridge asks for no specific subjects and recommends English, History and languages. There is no admission assessment, but applicants submit two pieces of written work. Cambridge says most ASNC students from the years it analysed achieved at least A*AA; that is historical information and not a requirement.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Cambridge's.
Does learning an early language appeal?
The course expects you to work with Old Norse, medieval Welsh or Irish, or Latin.
Are you drawn to original sources?
Cambridge describes research using original source materials.
Which two pieces of work would you submit?
Written work is part of the application.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Applying for 2028 entry means applying in 2027, under rules Cambridge has not yet published for that cycle. Each item below carries one of two labels. Last verified for 2027 entry means Cambridge published it for the previous cycle and it may change. Awaiting publication for 2028 entry means Cambridge has not yet published it.
Offer levels, the absence of an admission assessment and the written-work requirement: last verified for 2027 entry
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Cambridge has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
The UCAS deadline and interview dates: awaiting publication for 2028 entry
Check Cambridge's course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
What to do now
Choose the languages and periods that attract you and pick two pieces of written work.
Support
Independent support with course choice and preparation
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Cambridge or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here means course-fit advice, language-learning mentoring and ethical interview practice; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not write submitted work. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What are the Cambridge ASNC entry requirements?
A*AA at A level, or 41 to 42 IB points with 776 at Higher Level. This is Cambridge's wording for 2027 entry.
Do I need to know a medieval language?
Cambridge asks for no specific subjects and recommends English, History and languages, ancient or modern. Students learn languages such as Old Norse and medieval Welsh and Irish on the course.
Is there an admission assessment?
No. Cambridge says there is no admission assessment for this course.
Do I need written work?
Yes. Applicants need to submit two pieces of written work.
Is there a dissertation?
Yes. Every student writes a dissertation of between 9,000 and 12,000 words in the third year.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Cambridge's wording for the 2027 application cycle. Check the course page again when Cambridge publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Cambridge ASNC
Tell us about the student's curriculum, which languages and periods attract them, the two pieces of written work and why this specialist course rather than History or English, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.