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Modern Languages and Joint Schools

Linguists at Oxford are studying in one of the largest and most successful faculties of Modern Languages in the world, consistently ranked as such in the QS World University Rankings. The study of language and literature is central to our modern languages degree courses, with literary study ranging from the medieval to the contemporary period, in both European and global settings, and across every conceivable genre. Literary study encompasses a wide exposure to the languages in question, as well as the contextual study of history, society, politics, other cultural forms, and thought. Specialist courses on fields such as linguistics, cinema, the visual arts, and advanced translation studies are also available.

Key Information

Subject Intake: Nine (including joint schools)

Course Duration: Four Years with a Year Abroad (BA).

Course Listings and Admissions Criteria

Course Listing and Admissions Criteria

Modern languages at Oxford

Course Listing and Admissions Criteria

Classics and Modern Languages

Course Listing and Admissions Criteria

English and Modern Languages

Course Listing and Admissions Criteria

History and Modern Languages

Course Listing and Admissions Criteria

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Course Listing and Admissions Criteria

Philosophy and Modern Languages


Teaching Team

The College has Fellows in French (Dr Alice Brooke) and Spanish (Professor Ian Maclachlan) as well as a number of tutors and language instructors for German, Italian, Linguistics, Portuguese and Russian.

Permanent Lecturers 

Dr Richard Ashdowne, Stipendiary Lecturer in Linguistics 

Dr Christophe Barnabé, Stipendiary Lecturer in French 

Professor Guido Bonsaver, Lecturer in Italian and Fellow of Pembroke College

Stefanie Burkert-Burrows, Non-Stipendiary Lecturer in German 

Dr Kirstin Gwyer, Stipendiary Lecturer in German 

Professor Simon Park, Lecturer in Portuguese and Fellow of St Anne's College

Dr Margarita Vaysman, Lecturer in Russian and Fellow of New College 

  

Fixed-term Lecturers and Language Instructors 

Dr Marcelo Lachat, teaches Portuguese  

Alice Laffitte, teaches French 

Sina Menrad, German Lektorin 

Dr Anja Rekeszus, teaches German 

Course Structure

Modern Languages at Merton is a vibrant and diverse cohort of tutors and students, studying a wide range of languages, periods, and literary genres. Whether you’re interested in Isabel Allende or Émile Zola, medieval Germany or modern-day Latin America, you’ll be sure to find someone at Merton to share and develop your interests. Our Tutors, Professor Ian Maclachlan and Dr Alice Brooke, combine years of experience teaching the Oxford modern languages syllabus with innovative research in modern French literature and philosophy, and colonial Spanish literature and culture respectively. 

Applicants of the modern languages degree are welcome in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, or Russian, but for the Honour School of Modern Languages one of the languages offered must be French or Spanish. Beginners may be admitted to read Italian, Portuguese, German or Russian. Merton accepts students for the Modern Languages Joint Schools in any of the above six languages above. 

All modern languages students are assigned an individual Director of Studies to guide their academic progress throughout their degree, to assist with planning their year abroad, and to provide advice on course-related queries. 

Merton students typically spend their year abroad in a diverse range of roles, studying at universities, working in internships, or acting as English-language assistants in schools and universities. Recently, for example, students have: 

  • studied in universities in Santiago (Chile), Salamanca (Spain), Bamberg (Germany), and Lyon (France); 
  • taught as English-language assistants in many parts of France, Canada (Québec), Germany, Spain and Italy; 
  • undertaken a research project in Recife (Brazil); and 
  • worked as interns: for charitable organisations in Argentina and in Haiti; for publishers and literary agents in Paris and the south of France; in a hotel in Italy; for an electronic music magazine in Paris; and for a radio station in Guatemala. 

Benefits of Studying Modern Languages at Merton

Our modern languages tutors cover a wide range of academic interests, meaning that we can offer in-house tuition on topics ranging from the conquest of the Americas and colonial literature to 20th-century French literature and philosophy. For topics not covered by college tutors, we arrange specialist tuition with world-leading experts around the University.

Our small cohorts and friendly modern languages teaching team cultivates a supportive and collegial atmosphere among students and tutors. An active Modern Languages Society organises an annual dinner alongside other social events throughout the year.

Our modern languages students consistently gain outstanding results in both the Preliminary (first year) Examination and the Final Honours School (finals). In order to ensure that all students can achieve their academic potential, Merton offers a wide range of academic, financial, and welfare support.

Generous financial support is available for undergraduates, including book and travel grants, vacation residence for those preparing for exams, and a dedicated travel grant for the year abroad.

A Graduate Mentor Scheme provides supplementary academic support to Merton undergraduates, including advice on essay planning, writing style, and language skills.

The College has two libraries with plenty of study space, dedicated collections in Modern Languages, and a book ordering service for any course-related reading not in stock.

Student Profiles

Careers

Recent Merton graduates in Modern Languages and Joint Schools have gone on to careers in law, education, development, business and finance, the civil service, interpreting and translation, and the media. Not surprisingly, their linguistic skills and cultural adaptability have often taken them to careers across Europe and beyond.