MML at Downing

MODERN AND MEDIEVAL LANGUAGES (MML) 

MML is easily one of the most flexible degrees available at Downing. The wide range languages (eg. French, German, Modern Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Dutch and the Classics ) on offer at both post A Level and ab initio (from scratch) means you can happily tailor the course to your requirements from the outset. That doesn't mean that once you've applied for a particular combo that's it. There are always optional extras such as the Linguistics Tripos (available after a year of MML) or “borrowed papers” from other subject areas (ie. English, History, Philosophy etc) to keep you busy.

It is rare that you will encounter someone in Downing with exactly the same language combination as you, which serves to make life all the more interesting. As a Faculty, (cunning) linguists are a tight-knit community, and in the formation of friendship groups, we tend to ignore College rivalries (apart from when there's sport or drinking societies involved, obviously!).

One element which distinguishes the course from others is the Year Abroad (the 3 rd year). But, you only need head for the Bar to find several errant linguists back from their chosen foreign clime for a quick catch-up on Downing life, we're like boomerangs… This means there are always 1 st , 2 nd and 4 th year linguists cruising around College, so, when you find yourself in the midst of an acute essay crisis, there's bound to be someone knowledgeable to give you advice/tea/chocolate!

If you'd like “official” info, check out:

1) http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/ugprospectus/courses/modmedlang.html

2) http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/ugprospectus/colleges/downing.html

Or, for more informal chat about Downing and/or MML start a thread on the forums, we like to get post!

Page last updated 12 Sep 2004 (twh23)