Skip to main content

Applying for Modern Languages at Oxford involves a number of different steps. These steps are all taken into consideration by admissions tutors when making decisions. 

The best thing to do if you are thinking of applying is to familiarise yourself with these steps as early as possible and make sure you take note of any key deadlines. For example, the UCAS deadline for all Oxford courses is 15 October (rather than the usual deadline of late January). This is to account for all the other steps of the Oxford admissions process. 

A guide on how to apply to Oxford is available here and you can find a helpful timeline for all elements of the admissions process here. 

Below are more specific points about the application for modern languages degrees. You can also refer to the University's specific course pages to find out more for your individual course. 

Step 1: Choose your course and college
  • Our course finder is the best way to explore the various course combinations we offer, including joint degrees such as History and Spanish.
  • You can then find out which colleges offer the course(s) you are interested in applying for here.

Please note: it is not obligatory to choose a college. You may decide instead to make an open application. Around 20-30% of students do this each year. More information about choosing a college or making an open application can be found here. 

Step 2: Submit your UCAS application

Your UCAS application comprises of:

  • Personal details about you
  • Your predicted or actual grades
  • Your teacher reference(s)
  • Your personal statement

Our main piece of advice for the personal statement is to highlight why you are interested in the language(s) you are applying to study and what you have done beyond your school work to engage with the language(s) or cultures where the language(s) is/are spoken. This could be anything: reading short stories, poems, or a novel by a writer you like or whose ideas you are interested in; watching a foreign film or TV series; listening to podcasts; watching YouTube videos. All of these things can be carried out either in the target language or via English (e.g. reading translations, using subtitles).

Throughout the admissions process, tutors are looking for motivation for and commitment to the degree, as well as intellectual curiosity and critical engagement.  

More guidance about the UCAS application and personal statement can be found here. 

Step 3: Take Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT)

The Modern Languages Admissions Test is is a computer-based test made up of 10 sections:

  • a section for each of the 8 languages we offer in the Faculty;
  • a section called the Language Aptitude Test, for those applying for Russian on its own or as a beginner, and courses with Polish;
  • and, a Philosophy section, for those applying to study Philosophy and Modern Languages.

Each language section now consists of 20 multiple choice questions, and 10 English-translation questions.

Each section is 30 minutes long, except for the Philosophy section which lasts an hour. You only need to sit the parts of the test which are required for your degree combination. You can find out which sections you need to take here. Some course combinations do not require applicants to sit the MLAT (e.g. Linguistics and Beginners' German).

To prepare for the MLAT, we recommend you use the practice materials and past papers available and try at least one past paper in timed conditions. There is no pass mark for the MLAT.

Further information about the MLAT and practice materials can be found here, while general guidance about admissions tests can be found here. Please note: You will need to register to take the test by a certain date (usually late September/early October) and you may need to register for multiple tests (e.g. if applying for History and Modern Languages).

Step 4: Submit written work

General guidance on the submission of written work is available here.

For Modern Languages, applicants are expected to submit:

  • a short piece of writing (a few hundred words) for each of the languages you intend to study at post-A-level (or equivalent) standard;
  • one slightly longer piece (no longer than 2000 words) in English that you have written for another A-level (or equivalent) subject (e.g. History or English).

Submitted written work should be completed as part of your normal school work where possible and should be marked by a teacher. You will also submit a cover sheet (filled in by both you and your teacher) for each piece of written work, providing more information about the circumstances under which the work was produced.

If you are applying for a beginners' language, you do not need to submit any written work for this part of the degree course. 

Step 5: Attend (an) interview(s)

Interviews take place in early December. You will find out if you have been shortlisted for interview approximately a week beforehand.

All interviews now take place online and last approximately 20-30 minutes.

Interviews are designed to simulate a tutorial. They vary in structure/content depending on the academic tutor(s) leading them, but these are common elements:

  • You may be given a short piece of writing to look at during the interview;
  • You may be asked to read it aloud; then you’ll be asked questions on it;
  • You may be asked about your wider reading, and about the personal statement you have made on the UCAS form;
  • Some of the interview may be conducted in the foreign language(s).

There is typically a separate interview for each language/subject you are applying for. For a variety of reasons, you may be interviewed by more than one college.

In essence, the interview is a chance to show tutors why you are interested in the course, where your key interests lie and what you would be like to teach. Tutors will be assessing your:

  • intellectual curiosity;
  • ability to respond to and explore new ideas;
  • critical engagement with unseen texts;
  • motivation for and commitment to the course;
  • language proficiency (or aptitude/potential for those starting a language from scratch).

Tutors also know that interviews can be nerve-wracking for students and will factor this in to the process. They are looking to get the best out of every student they interview and want you to do well. While it can be scary, try to relax and treat the interview as an opportunity to showcase your skills, interests, and motivation, and to have an interesting conversation with an expert in the subject(s) you love.

General guidance and further interview resources can be found here. 

Final decisions are communicated via UCAS and the individual colleges in the January following the interviews. Tutors make their decisions based on all aspects of the admissions process. 

Full information on the application process is available from Oxford University's Admissions website: