Undergraduate · Oxford History and Modern Languages
Oxford's joint History and Modern Languages course asks an applicant to be two kinds of student at once: a historian who writes an argument-driven essay before interview, and a linguist who is ready for a text-and-grammar interview. It runs for four years with a compulsory year abroad and ends with a dissertation that must bring the two halves together. Its intake is small. The decision is whether you want the combination itself, rather than either half with a little of the other.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
Taken from Oxford's History and Modern 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.
Oxford says the course combines a single European language with a broader humanities education, with a compulsory year abroad, usually in the third year, and a final-year dissertation that brings history and modern languages together.
The A-level requirement is AAA and the IB requirement is 38 points including core points with 666 at Higher Level.
Applicants would usually be required to have the language to A level or equivalent, and Oxford highly recommends History to A level, Higher Level in the IB or equivalent. B1 proficiency may be considered where the language is not taken in a qualification.
All candidates submit one argument-driven essay on a historical topic, written as part of normal school work. There is no pre-interview language test in the cycle described.
The Modern Languages interview normally has three parts: a text, a grammar exercise and your personal statement. If shortlisted you may be asked about your submitted essay.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on Oxford's History and Modern Languages course page, which describes 2027 entry. Oxford's History written-work page, the Modern Languages faculty pages, fees, the contextual-offer details and the 2028-entry values were not read and are not stated.
The course
In the first year Oxford sets European and World history, with four period options, beside practical language work and two literature papers; the first University examinations are six written papers. In later years the history side offers a period or theme paper and either a special subject or a choice of British history, further subject and thesis papers, while the language side adds a period of literature and a wider choice of options. A compulsory bridge essay, and the dissertation, are where the two sides meet. Final examinations are between six and nine written papers, one to four submitted essays and an oral examination in the language. Oxford adds that history options range from the declining Roman Empire to the present and include North American, Latin American, Asian and African history.
Choosing between degrees
Avandy's Oxford History and Modern Languages guides cover the standalone courses. Use this page to decide whether the combination is the point.
you want to read documents with a linguist's eye and literature with a historian's context, and you are happy to give up some depth in each. Oxford presents the bridge essay and dissertation as the place the two meet.
you want the widest history syllabus and are not ready to commit to a language and a year abroad.
literature, culture and language are your priority and history would be a distraction from them.
Entry rules
The A-level standard is AAA and the IB standard is 38 points with 666 at Higher Level. Oxford expects the language to A level or an equivalent for post-A-level routes, highly recommends History, and lists beginners' routes for some languages. The written work is one argument-driven historical essay produced in ordinary school work; it is a different requirement from the pre-interview tests used elsewhere at Oxford, and there is no pre-interview language test in the cycle described. The interview assesses language ability and aptitude for literary study; Oxford says tutors look for intellectual curiosity, independent thought and the ability to relate and conceptualise ideas. Oxford's page reports an interview rate of 84%, a success rate of 25% and an intake of 19 for the three-year average to 2025; these are historical figures, not a prediction.
A decision framework
This is Avandy's own framework, not Oxford's.
The essay must be argument-driven and part of your normal schoolwork. You may be asked to discuss it at interview.
The interview tests reading, grammar and, where you study the language, a short conversation.
The final-year project is designed to join the two halves. If it sounds like a compromise rather than a reward, a standalone degree may fit better.
Planning for 2028 entry
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.
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Oxford has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Check Oxford's course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
Choose the language, select a historical essay from your schoolwork, and prepare for a text-and-grammar interview.
Support
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, language and history mentoring and ethical interview practice; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not supply interview questions. No outcome is promised.
Questions
AAA at A level, or 38 IB points including core points with 666 at Higher Level. This is Oxford's wording for 2027 entry.
Yes. Oxford says all candidates submit one argument-driven essay on a historical topic, written as part of normal school or college work.
Oxford highly recommends History to A level, Higher Level in the IB or an equivalent. It also expects the language to that level for post-A-level routes.
Oxford says there is no pre-interview language test for Modern Languages and Joint Schools courses in the cycle described. Language ability is assessed in the interview.
Yes. Oxford says students spend a compulsory year abroad, usually in the third year.
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
Tell us about the student's curriculum, which language they would study, their history coursework and whether a year abroad suits them, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.
