Complete Admissions Guide · 2027 Entry
Linguistics and Modern Languages at University of Cambridge
Official course requirements for Linguistics and Modern Languages at University of Cambridge, with 1-to-1 tutoring from Cambridge graduates.
In a nutshell
Linguistics and Modern Languages (QR91) is a four-year course combining one modern or medieval language with linguistic theory. Year 3 is spent abroad, like MML. The course is distinct from straight Linguistics (Q100) and from MML (R800) — choose based on whether you want a deep language plus structured linguistic theory.
Official course summary
What University of Cambridge publishes for Linguistics and Modern Languages.
- UCAS code
- QR91
- Degree
- BA (Hons)
- Duration
- 4 years
- Typical A-Level offer
- A*AA
- Required subjects
- A modern language
- Admissions test
- No pre-registered admissions test. Most colleges set a short at-interview language and / or linguistic-data exercise — a College admission assessment, no advance registration.
- Interview
- Expect a "linguistic puzzle" in the linguistics interview — a small data set in a language you don't speak, and questions about how it works. The language interview will involve a short text in your A-Level language.
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 Linguistics and Modern Languages applicants commonly miss.
- 01
You do not need to have studied linguistics before. Tutors test reasoning under uncertainty — Olympiad-style language puzzles (UKLO, NACLO) are excellent practice.