Linguistics and Modern Languages, BA (Hons)

Linguistics and Modern Languages at Cambridge

On this course, you will learn about the language, culture and history of most European, and many non-European, countries. You'll study one modern language in depth. Alongside this, you will also explore how the scientific study of language can help us understand the human mind and creativity.  

The range of topics available to study across linguistics and modern languages means you can develop your own curiosity about how these areas intersect.

Language options

You’ll choose one language to study on the course, most of which you can study without any previous knowledge of the language.

If you want to study French, you must have taken it at A level, IB Higher Level or equivalent. If you have already studied your chosen language at A level or equivalent, you will study at a more advanced level.  

You can choose to study:

• French and Linguistics (if you’re taking it at A level or IB Higher Level)
• German and Linguistics
• Italian and Linguistics
• Portuguese and Linguistics
• Russian and Linguistics
• Spanish and Linguistics

No matter what your proficiency when you arrive, you leave with a high level of competence in your chosen language. All language classes are taught by highly proficient speakers, often first language users.  

You can say which language you’re interested in when you apply to study the course. You may be able to change this choice before or shortly after you start on the course.

It may be possible to take an introductory course in another language in your second and fourth years. Check the course outline for details.

Year abroad

In the third year, you’ll spend at least 8 months abroad in one or 2 countries where you’ll usually do one of 3 things:  

• attend courses at a university abroad 
• become an English-speaking assistant at a school  
• complete an internship with a firm

Study of Linguistics

In addition to your chosen language, you will also study Linguistics. Areas of study will range from language in general to individual languages and language families. You’ll apply mathematical and digital techniques to explore language acquisition, pathology and evolution.  

Your studies in Linguistics will be varied. You may:

• study rhythm in speech and how this is used by poets
• learn how we can record brain responses to language
• explore creativity in young children as they acquire the grammar of their language
• evaluate the outputs of large language models (AI systems) on translation tasks

Teaching and facilities

Teaching

We are a large and diverse faculty, whose members are international renowned experts in their fields.

Facilities

Our facilities include:  

• well-stocked Faculty library  
• Psycholinguistics/Neurolinguistics laboratory with eye-tracking and EEG equipment
• Language Technology laboratory
• Phonetics laboratory  
• Media Centre, which has equipment for film studies  
• bespoke language teaching and learning materials at the University's Language Centre 

You'll also have access to the impressive Cambridge University Library, one of the world’s oldest university libraries.

Course costs

When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).

Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students.

Find out more about general study costs.

Other additional course costs for Linguistics and Modern Languages are detailed below. If you have any queries about these costs, please contact the Faculty.

Books and set texts

All required reading is held in University and College libraries or available online, but you may choose to buy some books, such as language text books or literary texts for close study. The costs for these books will vary but will typically be up to £50 per year. Some Colleges may provide grants for purchasing books.

Printing and photocopying

You may need to do some printing and photocopying. The use of the printers in the Faculty costs 5p per A4 sheet in black and white, and 20p per A4 sheet in colour (subject to change).

Field trips and study abroad

Year abroad in Year 3: you will be expected to cover daily living costs and any travel costs associated with study abroad, at a level that would have been incurred whilst studying in Cambridge. Visit our tuition fees page to find out more about tuition fees for study abroad. For most UK/EU students and most year abroad activities, the normal student loans are available to cover maintenance costs and fees. Find out more about study abroad costs on the Faculty website. 

Your future career

Fluency in a foreign language and an understanding of foreign cultures is in great demand on the job market. Employers also value the experience, independence and cross-cultural awareness gained during time spent studying abroad, even if you don’t work directly with languages in your job.  

As a graduate you’ll have a range of jobs open to you. Recent destinations of graduates from our related courses include:  

• BBC World Service  
• international law firms  
• UNICEF  
• KPMG  

Potential future career paths for LML graduates could include:

• Diplomatic relations
• the language technology industry
• the EdTech industry  
• the advertising industry
• forensic investigation
• speech therapy
• voice and accent coaching for actors
• data science
• language teaching
• translation and interpreting