A four-year language degree
Oxford says the course combines a European language with Arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish, drawing on two faculties.
Undergraduate · Oxford European and Middle Eastern Languages
Oxford European and Middle Eastern Languages: two language families, one degree
Oxford's European and Middle Eastern Languages course pairs a European language with Arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish, with intensive language learning in the first year and a year in the Middle East. The European language is usually expected at A-level; the Middle Eastern one is learned from the start. No written work or pre-interview test is required. The decision is whether you want both language families rather than one.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What Oxford asks for in European and Middle Eastern Languages
Taken from Oxford's European and Middle Eastern 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; Oxford's 2028-entry requirements and dates are awaiting publication.
AAA, or IB 38 with 666
The A-level requirement is AAA. The IB requirement is 38 points including core points, with 666 at Higher Level.
The European language is expected
Applicants would usually be expected to have it to A-level or another academic equivalent; B1 proficiency on the CEFR may also be considered.
No test, no written work
Oxford says there is no pre-interview language test in the cycle described and that no written work is needed.
A year in the Middle East
In the second year students attend an approved course of language instruction in the Middle East.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on Oxford's European and Middle Eastern Languages course page, which describes 2027 entry. Oxford's faculty pages, the language-specific options and course codes, fees, the contextual-offer details and the 2028-entry values were not read and are not stated.
The degree
Cultural links between two language families
Oxford says the course takes advantage of cultural links between a number of European and Middle Eastern languages. In the first year students take two language papers and one literature paper in the European language, and intensive language learning in the Middle Eastern language, with an oral and aural examination for Arabic. The second year is spent abroad, and the final years return to the European language and further papers.
Is it the right degree?
EMEL against its neighbours
Several Oxford courses offer languages, with different balances.
Choose EMEL if
you want one European and one Middle Eastern language, and are ready for intensive learning of the second from scratch.
Choose Modern Languages if
you want European languages and literature alone. Avandy's Oxford Modern Languages guide covers it.
Choose Asian and Middle Eastern Studies if
you want the region and its languages without a European language. Avandy's guide to it covers that.
Entry rules
AAA, the European language, no test and no written work
A-level applicants need AAA; IB applicants need 38 points including core points with 666 at Higher Level. Applicants would usually be expected to have the European language to A-level or an equivalent, and candidates without it may be considered with B1 proficiency. There is no pre-interview language test in the cycle described and no written work. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed online, normally in three parts. This page states no scores.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Oxford's.
Which pair of languages?
One European language and one of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish.
Are you ready for intensive learning from scratch?
The Middle Eastern language is learned intensively in year one.
Is a year in the Middle East feasible?
It is part of the second year.
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 Oxford has not yet published for that cycle. Each item below carries one of two labels. Last verified for 2027 entry means Oxford published it for the previous cycle and it may change. Awaiting publication for 2028 entry means Oxford has not yet published it.
Grades, the subject expectations, the test and written-work position and the interview arrangements: last verified for 2027 entry
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Oxford has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
The UCAS deadline, interview dates and any test or written-work arrangements: awaiting publication for 2028 entry
Check Oxford's course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
What to do now
Confirm the subject expectations, read the course structure and plan your preparation around it.
Support
Independent support with course choice and preparation
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Oxford 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, subject mentoring and ethical interview practice; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not supply interview questions or write submitted work. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What does Oxford European and Middle Eastern Languages require?
AAA at A level, or IB 38 points including core points with 666 at Higher Level, in Oxford's wording for 2027 entry.
Do I need the Middle Eastern language already?
The page describes intensive language learning in the first year; the expectation it states is for the European language.
Is there an admissions test?
Oxford says there is no pre-interview language test in the cycle described.
Do I submit written work?
No. Oxford says no written work is needed.
Where is the year abroad?
In the second year students attend an approved course of language instruction in the Middle East.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Oxford's wording for the 2027 application cycle. Check the course page again when Oxford publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Oxford European and Middle Eastern Languages
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their European language level, which Middle Eastern language interests them and their readiness for intensive language learning and a year abroad, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.