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.
New arrangements for 2024 admissions tests and beyond are still to be confirmed but will be communicated as soon as possible and no later than the start of the new admissions cycle in early Spring.
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
| Type | 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
| Language | 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
| Language | Beginners' Czech | Beginners' German | Beginners' Modern Greek | Beginners' Italian | Polish* | Beginners' Portuguese | Beginners' Russian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech | C | C | C | C | CA | ||
| French | F | F | F | F | F A | F | F A |
| German | G | G | G | G A | G | G A | |
| Modern Greek | M | M | M | M | M A | ||
| Italian | I | I | I | I | I A | ||
| Portuguese | Pt | Pt | Pt | Pt | Pt A | ||
| Russian | R | R | R | R | R A | R | |
| Spanish | S | S | S | S | S A | S | 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 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: | French | German | Modern Greek | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test(s) | F | G | M | I | Pt | R | S |
Candidates for Modern Languages and Linguistics with a Beginners’ Language do not need to sit the MLAT.
Classics and Modern Languages
| Subject | 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 |
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: | Czech | French | German | Modern Greek | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test(s) | C | F | G | M | I | Pt | R | S |
Candidates for English and Modern Languages with a Beginners’ Language do not need to sit the MLAT.
All candidates are also required to take the English Literature Admissions Test.
European and Middle Eastern Languages
| Language | 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 |
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.
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 |
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.
