History vs History & Modern Language

Hello all,

I'm a Year 12 student currently looking at the courses that I would like to pursue my undergraduate course at university. I love history and it is a true passion of mine but I also enjoy German, which I did in GCSE and am currently doing at A-Level alongside History of course.

I only discovered recently of the joint degree involving History and a Modern Language, which sounds amazing to me but I can't seem to find much info on the courses. I would appreciate any insight into the History & Modern Language degree and find out more in terms of how it differs from a sole history degree.

I'm eyeing Oxbridge and would like to do anything to increase my chances of being admitted. Is there less competition for the History & Modern Language course?

Reply 1

Wired_1800

20

Original post by Godwinson

Hello all,

I'm a Year 12 student currently looking at the courses that I would like to pursue my undergraduate course at university. I love history and it is a true passion of mine but I also enjoy German, which I did in GCSE and am currently doing at A-Level alongside History of course.

I only discovered recently of the joint degree involving History and a Modern Language, which sounds amazing to me but I can't seem to find much info on the courses. I would appreciate any insight into the History & Modern Language degree and find out more in terms of how it differs from a sole history degree.

I'm eyeing Oxbridge and would like to do anything to increase my chances of being admitted. Is there less competition for the History & Modern Language course?

I dont know the details but I would think that History would be a more popular course because fewer people would know or even be interested in studying History and a Modern Language.

For Cambridge, you can compare the stats here:
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics

Personally, I suggest that you consider Cambridge as one of your options. If you do, consider Jesus or Girton. Good luck.

Reply 2

ageshallnot

21

Original post by Godwinson

Hello all,

I'm a Year 12 student currently looking at the courses that I would like to pursue my undergraduate course at university. I love history and it is a true passion of mine but I also enjoy German, which I did in GCSE and am currently doing at A-Level alongside History of course.

I only discovered recently of the joint degree involving History and a Modern Language, which sounds amazing to me but I can't seem to find much info on the courses. I would appreciate any insight into the History & Modern Language degree and find out more in terms of how it differs from a sole history degree.

I'm eyeing Oxbridge and would like to do anything to increase my chances of being admitted. Is there less competition for the History & Modern Language course?

I'm puzzled that you can't find much information on these courses. What are you trying to find out?

Reply 3

Godwinson

OP

10

Original post by Wired_1800

I dont know the details but I would think that History would be a more popular course because fewer people would know or even be interested in studying History and a Modern Language.

For Cambridge, you can compare the stats here:
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics

Personally, I suggest that you consider Cambridge as one of your options. If you do, consider Jesus or Girton. Good luck.

Wired, thanks for the recommendations. May I ask why you would suggest Jesus or Girton?
I'm very new to Oxbridge stuff and barely know the admissions process, let alone the colleges! The only college I do know is Girton because my German teacher went there. He was very keen with me applying to Girton but I do keep hearing that Girton is miles away from campus!

Reply 4

Godwinson

OP

10

Original post by ageshallnot

I'm puzzled that you can't find much information on these courses. What are you trying to find out?

Sorry, maybe I didn't express it properly. I'm after opinions from people who have taken the History & Modern Language courses?

Reply 5

ageshallnot

21

@Oxford Mum Is there a section on this in your magnum opus?

Reply 6

Wired_1800

20

Original post by Godwinson

Wired, thanks for the recommendations. May I ask why you would suggest Jesus or Girton?
I'm very new to Oxbridge stuff and barely know the admissions process, let alone the colleges! The only college I do know is Girton because my German teacher went there. He was very keen with me applying to Girton but I do keep hearing that Girton is miles away from campus!

I liked Girton and Jesus.

I suggest that you follow the Cambridge UG applicants there here:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6848346&page=35

You can ask questions and follow the discussions.

If your German teacher studied at Girton, I would suggest that you choose Girton because he may give firsthand knowledge of the College.

Cambridge does not have a campus, so don't be worried about Girton’s location. The key is getting into Cambridge.

Reply 7

Oxford Mum

21

Original post by Godwinson

Wired, thanks for the recommendations. May I ask why you would suggest Jesus or Girton?
I'm very new to Oxbridge stuff and barely know the admissions process, let alone the colleges! The only college I do know is Girton because my German teacher went there. He was very keen with me applying to Girton but I do keep hearing that Girton is miles away from campus!

There is such a thing as "Girton calves" which you are supposed to develop when you are cycling all the way from Girton into the city. :wink:

Reply 8

Oxford Mum

21

Original post by Godwinson

Hello all,

I'm a Year 12 student currently looking at the courses that I would like to pursue my undergraduate course at university. I love history and it is a true passion of mine but I also enjoy German, which I did in GCSE and am currently doing at A-Level alongside History of course.

I only discovered recently of the joint degree involving History and a Modern Language, which sounds amazing to me but I can't seem to find much info on the courses. I would appreciate any insight into the History & Modern Language degree and find out more in terms of how it differs from a sole history degree.

I'm eyeing Oxbridge and would like to do anything to increase my chances of being admitted. Is there less competition for the History & Modern Language course?

Yes, you can study history and a modern language at Oxford (never knew that)

https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/ba-history-and-modern-languages

Here is Oxford Demystified, with many hints on application, mythbusting, schemes etc

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6100480

Plus you will find individual subject chapters. I don't have a chapter featuring your actual degree, but I do have separate history and German chapters.

Ironically, I do know a lot about German at Oxford, because my elder son studied German sole. My son wrote the German chapter. I wrote the MLAT section for him.

When we bumped into the Exeter College rector, Dame Frances Cairncross, and told her which degree he wanted to study, she said "that's a good one". By that, she meant, "that's easy to get into". When I was younger, all linguists tended to study French and German. Now, Spanish seems all the rage, conjuring up images of sun sea and sombreros. As a result, many German departments have closed down (for example at sons' local comprehensive/academy). So if the subject is not on offer in schools, nobody from those schools will apply for German.

The interview rate for applicants is very high (over 90%) etc etc. History is a different ballgame and your chances will lessen if you want to bring history into the mix. But I am just giving you some info to chew on, there!

The same degree is available at Cambridge

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/history-and-modern-languages

Again, I do not have a history and ML chapter in Cambridge Demystified, but I do have separate languages and history chapters.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6467286

Have a look at both subject web pages and the relevant chapters, and make your choice.

Reply 9

Oxford Mum

21

Original post by Godwinson

Sorry, maybe I didn't express it properly. I'm after opinions from people who have taken the History & Modern Language courses?

I'm afraid finding someone on TSR who has taken the course would be a rarity. Most people use TSR to get into Oxford then leave for their essay filled, college formals ridden lives.

That means your left with me, but I'm not a bad old stick.