Undergraduate · Cambridge MML
Cambridge's Modern and Medieval Languages course requires every student to study two languages, one of which can be learnt from scratch, with the exception of French. It is a four-year course with at least eight months abroad in the third year. The offer level is A*AA at A level or 41 to 42 IB points with 776 at Higher Level. The rule that matters most to an applicant is the language prerequisite: you need an A level or IB Higher Level in at least one of the languages, and French can only be offered if you hold it. The decision is which languages to pair and whether a different Cambridge language course would fit better.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
Taken from Cambridge's Modern and Medieval Languages 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.
All students study two languages, one of which can be learnt completely from the beginning, except French. Options include French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, or one of these with Classical Latin or Classical Greek.
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.
You need A levels or IB Higher Levels in at least one of the languages you want to study. For French you must hold the A level or Higher Level.
There is an admission assessment at all Colleges for this course, with no advance registration.
You submit two recent pieces of written work completed for school, one of which should be in one of the languages you intend to study.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on Cambridge's Modern and Medieval Languages course page, which describes 2027 entry. The Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics pages, individual College requirements, the interview arrangements, fees, the admission-assessment content and the 2028-entry values were not read and are not stated.
The course
In the first year students study two languages, at least one at post A level or Higher Level standard, using authentic texts, radio and video, in faculty classes of up to 15 and supervisions of two to six students. An introductory paper explores three or more of literature, linguistics, history, thought, film and art. The second year takes five papers and continues intensive language study. In the third year students spend at least eight months abroad and prepare a project worth one sixth of the final mark. In the fourth year they take five further papers, may specialise in one language or combine options from two, and may take up to two options from other courses such as English or History; a dissertation can replace one written paper. Cambridge says students leave with a high level of competence in at least one of their languages.
Choosing between courses
Cambridge says to think carefully about the course before applying, because changing course is rare and may not be approved.
two languages and their literatures and cultures are the centre of your interest, and you are happy to take history, linguistics, film or thought as options.
history is an equal partner. Cambridge sends applicants who want to combine a modern European language with history to that course, and Avandy has a separate guide.
you want the systematic study of language itself, or Arabic, Hebrew or Persian with a European language. Cambridge directs those applicants to those courses.
Entry rules
The minimum A-level offer is A*AA and the minimum IB offer is 41 to 42 points with 776 at Higher Level; Cambridge lists the requirements for entry in the cycle described or deferred entry a year later. You need an A level or IB Higher Level in at least one language you want to study, and French requires it. Another language, English, History and Mathematics are recommended. Applicants sit an admission assessment at every College and submit two pieces of recent school writing, one in a language they will study. Cambridge says the majority of recent A-level students took two languages, and 71% of entrants from the three cohorts it analysed achieved at least A*A*A; that is historical information and not a requirement. Colleges may ask for more than the minimum.
A decision framework
This is Avandy's own framework, not Cambridge's.
Check that at least one is held at A level or Higher Level, and whether the second would be learnt from scratch. French cannot be started from the beginning.
One piece must be in a language you intend to study. Choose pieces you can discuss and that show analysis.
At least eight months abroad are part of the degree. Think about the study, assistant or internship routes now.
Planning for 2028 entry
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.
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Cambridge has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Check Cambridge's course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
Pick the two languages, confirm the A level or Higher Level in at least one, and choose two pieces of school writing.
Support
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 and literature mentoring and ethical interview practice; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not write submitted work. No outcome is promised.
Questions
A*AA at A level, or 41 to 42 IB points with 776 at Higher Level, with an A level or Higher Level in at least one language to be studied. This is Cambridge's wording for 2027 entry.
Yes, one of the two languages can be learnt from the beginning, except French, which requires an A level or Higher Level.
Yes. Cambridge says there is an admission assessment at all Colleges for this course, with no advance registration.
Two recent pieces of school writing, one of which should be in one of the languages you intend to study.
At least eight months in one or two countries, spent at a university, as an English-speaking assistant in a school or on an internship.
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
Tell us about the student's curriculum, which two languages they would study, their current level and the written work they could submit, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.
