[Einheri]

You'll be up against applicants who live and breathe the subject. If you're just applying because you think it's 'cool' then I think your chances are slim. I applied for a related subject (Viking Studies, UCL and Nottingham) having read the Heimskringla, the Eddas, most of the sagas, Beowulf, The Nibelungenlied, et cetera and having a working, if basic, knowledge of Old Norse and modern Norwegian, and having a pretty solid grasp of the history and major archaeological finds - just to warn you that that's the kind of applicant you'll be going up against for a subject like ASNC. They won't assume knowledge because they need to teach everyone to the same level in the first year, but they'll expect you to be passionate and have a knowledge of the period.

[ussferox]

(Original post by Einheri)
You'll be up against applicants who live and breathe the subject. If you're just applying because you think it's 'cool' then I think your chances are slim. I applied for a related subject (Viking Studies, UCL and Nottingham) having read the Heimskringla, the Eddas, most of the sagas, Beowulf, The Nibelungenlied, et cetera and having a working, if basic, knowledge of Old Norse and modern Norwegian, and having a pretty solid grasp of the history and major archaeological finds - just to warn you that that's the kind of applicant you'll be going up against for a subject like ASNC. They won't assume knowledge because they need to teach everyone to the same level in the first year, but they'll expect you to be passionate and have a knowledge of the period.

I agree with this for the most part. I applied to ASNC and got in without knowing or having read as much as all that, but I had been reading a lot about Anglo-Saxon art and medieval Irish literature. You don't have to be totally gung-ho or immersed in the subject before you get there, but you do have to be able to demonstrate a tangible interest. And if in your PS or interview you say you've read something or know about something in particular, make sure you do, because they'll ask you about it.

Also, if you haven't even read a little bit about something covered in the ASNC tripos, why would you even be interested? If you're thinking of applying just to get in and then change subjects, first of all that's pretty ****, and secondly, they'll pretty much see through that. And keep in mind that the course is about much more than just the Anglo-Saxons. If you want, you can totally avoid classes/lectures on the Germanic side of things and focus instead on Irish and Welsh...

[Einheri]

(Original post by ussferox)
If you want, you can totally avoid classes/lectures on the Germanic side of things and focus instead on Irish and Welsh...

Is the reverse also true? Could a student put all focus on the Anglo-Saxon and Norse cultures? The Celtic and Insular Latin components put me off applying for undergrad but I'm considering the MPhil as I'll graduate in a year. I know the MPhil can be pure ASN, but I didn't think that this was also the case with the BA.

[DismantlingTina]

I knew I was interested in the period and had read a little on each aspect before applying, but certainly not to the extent that people are posting on here. Before my interview I read Beowulf, some of the Eddas, some Norse Mythology, and parts of books about the Druids, the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. I just had fun dabbling to be honest! I don't feel a comprehensive knowledge is necessary but a few interesting talking points you've got hold of should see you through the interview.

So in short, no, I didn't have tonnes of knowledge and I still got in somehow.

[ussferox]

(Original post by Einheri)
Is the reverse also true? Could a student put all focus on the Anglo-Saxon and Norse cultures? The Celtic and Insular Latin components put me off applying for undergrad but I'm considering the MPhil as I'll graduate in a year. I know the MPhil can be pure ASN, but I didn't think that this was also the case with the BA.

Yeah, it's definitely true. My year group is actually heavily Germanic. For a BA, the way you would avoid Celtic areas is by taking Old English, Anglo-Saxon History, Scandinavian history, Old Norse, Palaeography/Codicology, and Insular Latin in your first year. Unlike when you were probably applying for undergrad, the tripos is currently organised so that you can do Insular Latin (or any other paper) for two terms in the first year without being examined on it, so you don't have to devote much time or studying to it, and then you can just drop it forever after that. You could then replace it with, for example, Anglo-Saxon archaeology.

[Richard_Parker]

I'd read Beowulf, the Prose Edda and a few Sagas.
I also knew I was going to apply for ASNAC, so I did my A-level c/w on the Orkneyinga Saga, using Anglo-Saxon, Celtic and Viking source material so when they asked for an essay to read they could see I was interested.
However, my grades weren't the best in the world, and my only language qualification is a German GCSE grade B.
I even applied after final A-level results because my AS-levels were poor.
So, I would say impetus on interest in the subject is fairly high, as I'm pretty sure it compensated for my not-perfect grades.

[Athelstan]

(Original post by Richard_Parker)
I'd read Beowulf, the Prose Edda and a few Sagas.
I also knew I was going to apply for ASNAC, so I did my A-level c/w on the Orkneyinga Saga, using Anglo-Saxon, Celtic and Viking source material so when they asked for an essay to read they could see I was interested.
However, my grades weren't the best in the world, and my only language qualification is a German GCSE grade B.
I even applied after final A-level results because my AS-levels were poor.
So, I would say impetus on interest in the subject is fairly high, as I'm pretty sure it compensated for my not-perfect grades.

Thanks for the help mate! Since your post to me 3 weeks or so ago I've been inspired. I've read beowulf, a 'collection of oldest poems in English' and 2 books on the Cambridge introductory reading list; "Golden Age of Saxon Art" and JR Campbells "The Anglo Saxons" So I'm gettign there....?

Yous ay you got in with "not the best in the world grades"? where they better than mine, coz im really really worrying about them.

At GCSE I only got A*, 7A, and 1 B (maths)
AS I got 95-100% UMS in all my modules

But my total for A level is 361/400, 364/400, and 374/400. That's 90%, 92% and 94%.

I've not got an A* but I'm banking on the fact that I have Higher UMS than people with a star.

[Richard_Parker]

I got 10A* GCSE and 1B
final A2 I'm not sure
I think I got a 95%, 92%, 85% and then a 78% (that was in physics though)

[Athelstan]

Hey, I have an Interview for Anglo Saxon Norse and Celtic at Cambridge. Can anyone help me by suggesting potential questions. Ie on the language, literature and history elements?

[Ishilde]

Hello!
Thought I should ask
I've been given an offer for ASNaC at Homerton College (after being pooled, but I received a phone call the same day, thank goodness!)
Anyone else so lucky? I'd kind of like to get in touch with people...

[MC armani]

Hi,

Just wondered if any current or past student could tell me a little about this course.

For ASNAC, I imagine most students are interested in other periods in history. Do you ever feel restricted by the course, or are you able to take modules from other periods as well?

I applied for general history this year, but I've done some reading on Anglo-Saxon history and have found it very interesting and would be keen to study the period in more depth than an ordinary history course might allow.

Also, how do you find the workload. From looking at the course page, I see you not only study the history, but also medieval languages and palaeography (which presumably entails literary analysis and that sort of thing?).

Is this difficult to balance? Does it mean you have three times as many essays per week than one has for history? Is it manageable?

If anyone could give a 'week in the life' scenario, it would be much appreciated as well.

Cheers.

[Wodeford]

What sort of jobs can you get with a degree in that?

[RadioHawk]

i'd find that quite interesting actually
if i had thousands to burn...
eternal youth
and another degree for a proper job

[Kerny]

An Anglo Saxon, Norse or Celtic Warrior, Priest, Guru, perhaps even a regimental leader or warlord if you really go for it.

[BiscuitGirl]

Any ASNACs for applying for 2012 entry?

[Tom Grant]

Hardly fair comments about the employment prospects that ASNaC can provide. What does the study of History provide, for example, which is more directly relevant to the job you aim to get? By your logic Kerny, unless you're going to be a curator or a teacher, History is useless. No, it serves to simply demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skill. ASNaC does this but with the added strain of languages. Mainly however, it's a Cambridge humanities degree and is thus universally respected.

I'm applying for 2012 entry

[BiscuitGirl]

Yesss, there is someone else! I was watching this thread slip further and further down the board and just resigning myself to being the only one on here. What college are you applying to?

[PatrickD]

(Original post by BiscuitGirl)
Yesss, there is someone else! I was watching this thread slip further and further down the board and just resigning myself to being the only one on here. What college are you applying to?

I know someone who is applying for ASNaC this year if that helps, although he isn't exactly the 'social' type if you understand what I mean.

Out of interest, what other courses have you applied for and how did you manage to balance your PS between specifically ASNaC and and your other choices (History, for example). Or did you apply for Viking Studies at UCL/Nottingham?

The guy I know only applied to Cambridge and if that plan fails he's just going to do Open University courses in French and German!

The idea of ASNaC actually really appeals to me and if I hadn't taken the three sciences and more places offered similar courses (to have a back up course) I might have considered it. As it is, I've applied for NatSci at Cambridge and hope to go into industry/research afterwards. ASNaC is the sort of degree I'd love to do just for the fun of it though!

[BiscuitGirl]

(Original post by PatrickD)
I know someone who is applying for ASNaC this year if that helps, although he isn't exactly the 'social' type if you understand what I mean.

Out of interest, what other courses have you applied for and how did you manage to balance your PS between specifically ASNaC and and your other choices (History, for example). Or did you apply for Viking Studies at UCL/Nottingham?

The guy I know only applied to Cambridge and if that plan fails he's just going to do Open University courses in French and German!

The idea of ASNaC actually really appeals to me and if I hadn't taken the three sciences and more places offered similar courses (to have a back up course) I might have considered it. As it is, I've applied for NatSci at Cambridge and hope to go into industry/research afterwards. ASNaC is the sort of degree I'd love to do just for the fun of it though!

Hah, well in fairness I'm not *good* at being social off the internet, so if we both get in we can blink awkwardly at each other across the ASNAC common room.

Yeah, I've only applied to Cambridge too. Long story short, I thought I could hang on to my deferred place for English at another uni while reapplying. Turns out no I can't, so I'm hoping against hope Cambridge a) give me an offer or b) let me know either way enough in advance of the January deadline for me to email a separate PS to other unis. If that happens, I'm applying for English courses with elements of linguistics, or options to take old languages. The Cardiff course is my second choice (English Lit, with modules in Old English and Old Norse in the second year, plus you can take an elective in Ancient History in your first year), and I know they had places in clearing this year, so that's the main reason I'm not absolutely panicking right now.

Oh man, I know what you mean about not having any other similar courses to apply for. That's the reason I didn't apply last year - I just couldn't see a way of writing a decent PS for ASNAC and English that wouldn't get funny looks from one course or the other. Turns out that I was pining for the fjords too much to be entirely happy with a pure English course, so I'm reapplying.

Best of luck for your NatSci application! Out of interest, what Physics board were you with for A level? (I like to find other poor sods who took OCR-B like me, to share my pain.)

[Tom Grant]

Hey everyone! This thread is for all those who received an offer to study Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic at Cambridge in 2012, and just generally for ASNaC discussion I suppose!

The kind of information could include; what college do you hold an offer at? What were your application experiences like? (personal statement/interview etc) What sort of offer do you hold? (conditional - if so what conditions - unconditional). I also hope this will be a great way for future applicants to learn about the whole application process. I had a little trouble finding reliable testimony! It's also a good way for offer holders to meet one another, which can help break the ice!

I'll start off. My name is Tom Grant, and I hold an unconditional offer at King's. I'm currently on a gap year, and my offer is such because I completed my A-levels last year and achieved three A*s and a B in History, R.S., English Lit. and Business & Economics respectively. Notice I studied no languages, so don't let a lack of aptitude in languages put you off applying! Similarly, bad GCSEs aren't as horrific as they seem. I achieved 5 As, 5 Bs and 2 Cs, which by Oxbridge standards is not great. Really, all the weight is placed on the interview, A-level grades (or predicted) and references from your school. The whole process was a little daunting, as my secondary school and family isn't traditionally academic and my application was a leap of faith. But the personal statement can be based very much on a history degree, though focused perhaps on earlier periods. The interview, as with any Cambridge degree, is tricky. But ASNaC being the small subject that it is, the interview was a lot friendlier than I'd imagined. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic about my place and it all went rather smoothly!

Post away offer holders, though current undergrads are welcome to offer some of their wisdom, and prospective applicants their inquiries!