ASNC at Cambridge: A few Questions, please help!

Hey! I'm thinking about applying for Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies at Cambridge.

1) For the language module, how intense is the learning to speak the language, as opposed to studying the language from a historians point of view to get evidence etc. As in I have GCSE A Grade french, and Scottish Higher A Grade french, but my language skills are not very strong.

2) How do I write my Personal Statement for ASNC with a mind to also trying to get offers from the other universities for regular History, incase Cambridge rejects me? Or are Cambridge looking for someone who is confident enough to gear their entire PS towards ASNC and go for 'all or nothing'.

3) Since Cambridge's "History" course is really flexible, and you probably could study Anglo Saxon, Gaelic tribes etc as part of your History course, is the only justification for studyign ASNC that you want to do the languages too which you can't do with " BAHistory"?

Thanks!

Reply 1

Leto

finnyounger

Hey! I'm thinking about applying for Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies at Cambridge.

1)
2)
3)

Thanks!

Your sig says Law and Politics, not History!

1) No idea, I'm afraid.

2) There's a short additional PS in the the extra application form Cambridge ask you to send (the SAQ) in which you can talk about the Cambridge course. Presumably, try and focus your 'History' PS towards aspects of Anglo Saxon, Norse and Celtic History eg. your love of the Vikings, that book on Aethelred or whatever. Perhaps include how languages are important for studying history etc. Just try and make it relevant to other History degrees. Cambridge will no doubt understand that you can't apply for their course elsewhere.

3) Not exactly. The History course has some stipulations eg. in Part I (first two years) out of five papers, you have to study at least one British political paper and one British economic/social paper and at least one paper must be pre and one post AD1750 so you couldn't focus entirely on the periods/places you like. There is, of course, much less of a focus on languages (and presumably culture) too though it is possible to learn a language from scratch and knowing a languages to AS level can widen your choice of papers marginally.

I think that's about right. Sorry I can't be of more help!

Reply 2

ussferox

finnyounger

Hey! I'm thinking about applying for Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies at Cambridge.

.......

Hey, I just finished my first year doing ASNaC, so here's what I know from my experience.

1) Well, there isn't much of a focus on speaking the languages, seeing how they're all dead (okay okay that's a bit arguable, but still). You can take unexamined versions of the modern versions of the languages where you learn to speak them (and this is helpful for reading articles for your supervision essays), but for the examined papers, the focus is being able to read the language. The paper is basically set up so half of your grade is based on how well you understand the grammar and how well you can translate, and the other half is based on your knowledge and comprehension of the literature. If you're worried about languages, just know that you only have to take one if all your other papers are the history and palaeography options, and there's always Old English, which apparently is pretty easy to pick up for non-linguists (and the lecturer/teacher for Old English is awesome). You should be fine.

2) As the person before me said, just demonstrate in your history PS that you are interested in the periods/cultures that ASNaC covers, and you should be good. You also have the extra PS for your Cambridge application and the interview to express your interests.

3) The person before me pretty much answered that too, but I'm pretty sure that the only ASNaC paper History students can borrow is 'England before the Norman Conquest'. At least, that's the only one I've ever seen any non-ASNaCs in. And ASNaC offers really cool borrowed papers for students in their 2nd and 2rd years, like Anglo-Saxon or Scandinvian archaeology and Medieval French, among others. Also, in ASNaC you can do Palaeography & Codicology, which I don't think you can do in any other course at undergraduate level at all anywhere. This helps you understand sources so much better than the average history student, and it gives you a leg up if you plan on doing grad studies.

Hope all that answers your questions. Let me know if you have any more and I'll be glad to try to help :smile:

Reply 3

M_Marian

Hi,

You said you can learn unexamined versions of the modern languages - does that mean you can do Danish/Swedish/Norwegian etc.? Couldn't see on the website but I'm interested in the modern languages as well as Medieval.

Thanks!

Reply 4

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by M_Marian

Have you considered UCL? Their Scandinavian department offers several degrees that allow you to learn Danish, Swedish, Norwegian or Icelandic alongside Old Norse.

Reply 5

M_Marian

I'm applying there too, for that reason! Just wondering if Cambridge offers anything similar?

Reply 6

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by M_Marian

I'm applying there too, for that reason! Just wondering if Cambridge offers anything similar?

Well... no, you can't study modern Scandinavian languages on the ASNaC course but they do offer lessons in modern Icelandic and modern Irish, but these are strictly extra-curricular and there is no year abroad.