Official Course Summary · 2027 Entry
History and Modern Languages at University of Cambridge
Official course requirements for History and Modern Languages at University of Cambridge, with 1-to-1 tutoring from Cambridge graduates.
In a nutshell
History and Modern Languages (HML) is a four-year course combining the History Tripos with a modern language. Year 3 is spent abroad in a country where the language is spoken. You take roughly half history, half language papers across the four years.
Official course summary
What University of Cambridge publishes for History and Modern Languages.
- UCAS code
- VR19
- Degree
- BA (Hons)
- Duration
- 4 years
- Typical A-Level offer
- A*AA
- Required subjects
- A modern language
- Recommended subjects
- History
- Admissions test
- No pre-registered admissions test. Most colleges set short at-interview language and history tasks — College admission assessment, no advance registration.
- Interview
- Tutors expect strength in both halves. Be ready to read a short historical primary source closely, and to discuss a short text in your A-Level language. The course is genuinely a joint degree, not a single subject with a side language.
- Official course page
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/history-and-modern-languages
Always verify these details on the official University of Cambridge course page before applying — entry requirements and assessment formats can change between cycles.
Insider tips
Things History and Modern Languages applicants commonly miss.
- 01
You must already have an A-Level (or equivalent) in your chosen language — HML does not run an ab initio language route. For ab initio routes choose MML (R800) or AMES (T620).
- 02
A clear "why both" answer matters: tutors look for applicants who can articulate why history and language belong together for them, not just that they happen to be good at both.