Tests for students applying to study Modern Languages

Students who apply for most courses including a Modern Language are required to take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests (MLAT). The MLAT is an online test containing separate tests in different languages and subjects: the tables below show which specific test or tests from the online test are required for your course.

For full details about how to register and how to prepare, please see the MLAT page.

If you are applying for a joint course, please remember that a test may also be required in your other subject. See our tests page for details.

Test codes:
A  Language Aptitude test
C  Czech
F  French
G  German
M  Modern Greek
I  Italian
Ph Philosophy test
Pt  Portuguese
R  Russian
S  Spanish

eg French and Spanish: F S. Candidates must take both the French test and the Spanish test from the Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT).

Single language courses

 TypeFrenchGermanRussianSpanish
Test(s)
FGR A

Applicants for single language courses will need to take a test in the language for which they have applied. Applicants for the single language course in Russian will also need to sit the Language Aptitude Test.

Other single language courses are also available in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

Courses combining two modern languages

 LanguageCzechFrenchGermanMod.
Greek
ItalianPort.RussianSpanish
Czech F CG CM CI CPt CR CS C
FrenchF C F GF MF IF PtF RF S
GermanG CF G G MG IG PtG RG S
Modern GreekC MF MG M M IM PtR MS M
ItalianC IF IG IM I I PtR IS I
PortugueseC PtF PtG PtM PtI Pt R PtS Pt
RussianR CF RG RR MR IR Pt R S
SpanishS CF SG SS MS IS PtR S 

Courses combining two modern languages, including one beginners' language

LanguageBeginners' CzechBeginners' GermanBeginners' Modern GreekBeginners' ItalianPolish*Beginners' PortugueseBeginners' Russian
Czech  CA
FrenchFF AF A
GermanG G AG A
Modern GreekM  M A
ItalianI  I A  
PortuguesePtPt Pt Pt   Pt A
RussianRR A 
SpanishSS AS A

* We generally expect students applying for Polish to be beginners, though those with experience are also very welcome to apply.

Students who take a language with Polish will start studying Polish from the first year. Applicants for a language with Polish or with Beginners' Russian will need to take the Language Aptitude Test.

For courses with Arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish, see European and Middle Eastern Languages below.

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Linguistics with:FrenchGermanModern
Greek
ItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish
Test(s)Pt 

Candidates for Modern Languages and Linguistics with a Beginners’ Language do not need to sit the MLAT.

Classics and Modern Languages

 SubjectCzechFrenchGermanModern
Greek
ItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish
Classics ICFGMIPtRS
Classics IICFGMIPtR

S

All candidates are also required to take the Classics Admissions Test. Candidates for Classics and Modern Languages with a Beginners’ Language do not need to sit the MLAT.

English and Modern Languages

English
and:
CzechFrenchGermanModern
Greek
ItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish
Test(s)CFGMIPtR

S

Candidates for English and Modern Languages with a Beginners’ Language (except Beginners' Russian) do not need to sit the MLAT.

European and Middle Eastern Languages

LanguageArabicHebrewPersianTurkish
CzechCCCC
FrenchFFFF
GermanGGGG
Modern GreekMMMM
ItalianIIII
PortuguesePtPtPtPt
RussianRRRR
SpanishSSSS

History and Modern Languages

History
and:
CzechFrenchGermanModern
Greek
ItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish
Test(s)CFGMIPtR

S

Candidates for History and Modern Languages with a Beginners’ Language do not need to sit the MLAT.

All candidates are also required to take the History Admissions Test (HAT).

Philosophy and Modern Languages

Philosophy
and:
CzechFrenchGermanModern
Greek
ItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish
Test(s)Ph CPh FPh GPh MPh IPh PtPh R

Ph S

The Philosophy test is included as a section within the MLAT. Candidates for Philosophy and Modern Languages with a Beginners’ Language need to take only the Philosophy section of the MLAT.