Tests for students applying to study Modern Languages
Students who apply for any course including a Modern Language are required to take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests (MLAT). The MLAT is a booklet containing several separate tests in different languages and subjects: the tables below show which specific test or tests from the booklet 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
| French | German | Russian | Spanish | |
| Test(s) | F | G | R A | S |
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
| Czech | French | German | Mod. Greek | Italian | Port. | Russian | Spanish | |
| Czech | FC | G C | M C | I C | Pt C | R C | S C | |
| French | F C | F G | F M | F I | F Pt | F R | F S | |
| German | G C | F G | G M | G I | G Pt | G R | G S | |
| Modern Greek | C M | F M | G M | M I | M Pt | R M | S M | |
| Italian | C I | F I | G I | M I | I Pt | R I | S I | |
| Portuguese | C Pt | F Pt | G Pt | M Pt | I Pt | R Pt | S Pt | |
| Russian | R C | F R | G R | R M | R I | R Pt | R S | |
| Spanish | S C | F S | G S | S M | S I | S Pt | R S |
Courses combining two modern languages, including one beginners' language
| Beginners' Czech | Beginners' German | Beginners' Modern Greek | Beginners' Italian | Polish* | Beginners' Portuguese | Beginners' Russian | |
| Czech | C A | C A | C A | C A | CA | ||
| French | F A | F A | F A | F A | F A | F A | F A |
| German | G A | G A | G A | G A | G A | G A | |
| Modern Greek | M A | M A | M A | M A | M A | ||
| Italian | I A | I A | I A | I A | I A | ||
| Portuguese | Pt A | Pt A | Pt A | Pt A | Pt A | ||
| Russian | R A | R A | R A | R A | R A | R A | |
| Spanish | S A | S A | S A | S A | S A | S A | S 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 take up Polish from the first year. Applicants for a language with Polish 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: | French | German | Modern Greek | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish |
| Test(s) | F | G | M | I | Pt | R | S |
| Linguistics with: | Beginners' Modern Greek | Beginners' Italian | Beginners' Portuguese |
| Test(s) | A | A | A |
Classics and Modern Languages
| Czech | French | German | Modern Greek | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish | |
| Classics I | C | F | G | M | I | Pt | R | S |
| Classics II | C | F | G | M | I | Pt | R | S |
| Beginners' Czech | Beginners' Modern Greek | Beginners' Italian | Beginners' Portuguese | |
| Classics I | A | A | A | A |
All candidates are also required to take the Classics Admissions Test.
English and Modern Languages
| English and: | Czech | French | German | Modern Greek | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish |
| Test(s) | C | F | G | M | I | Pt | R | S |
| English and: | Beginners' Czech | Beginners' Modern Greek | Beginners' Italian | Beginners' Portuguese |
| Test(s) | A | A | A | A |
All candidates are also required to take the English Literature Admissions Test.
European and Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | Hebrew | Persian | Turkish | |
| Czech | C | C | C | C |
| French | F | F | F | F |
| German | G | G | G | G |
| Modern Greek | M | M | M | M |
| Italian | I | I | I | I |
| Portuguese | Pt | Pt | Pt | Pt |
| Russian | R | R | R | R |
| Spanish | S | S | S | S |
History and Modern Languages
| History and: | Czech | French | German | Modern Greek | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish |
| Test(s) | C | F | G | M | I | Pt | R | S |
| History and: | Beginners' Czech | Beginners' Modern Greek | Beginners' Italian | Beginners' Portuguese |
| Test(s) | A | A | A | A |
All candidates are also required to take the History Aptitude Test.
Philosophy and Modern Languages
| Philosophy and: | Czech | French | German | Modern Greek | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish |
| Test(s) | Ph C | Ph F | Ph G | Ph M | Ph I | Ph Pt | Ph R | Ph S |
| Philosophy and: | Beginners' Czech | Beginners' Modern Greek | Beginners' Italian | Beginners' Portuguese |
| Test(s) | Ph A | Ph A | Ph A | Ph A |