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Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos

Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

 

MML with Classics

Students studying in the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos are able to combine a modern language with either Classical Latin or Classical Greek in the first and second years (Parts IA and IB).

Latin may only be taken by students who have studied to A-Level, but Greek may be studied as an ab initio language or post A-Level. The usual rules apply that students must offer one language at the post A-Level option (Option B) and may offer one language as an ab initio language (Option A).

NB: Classics Part IA and Part IB are both taught and examined over three terms, and both examinations take place at the end of the Easter Term (except for the new Part IB papers H1 and H2, which are examined at the start of Easter Term). 

This pathway is only available to students in Part IA and IB, and students returning after their Year Abroad will need to follow the usual paper restrictions for MML students in Part II, which can be found on the MML List of Part II papers. These students will only be able to continue studying their modern language in Part II. However, please note that MML Part II students are able to borrow up to two papers from other Faculties, including Classics. Please see the list of MML Part II list of borrowed papers.

A handbook for students produced by the Faculty of Classics is available for download here: Classics Handbook.

Useful information on teaching and examinations can be found here: https://www.classics.cam.ac.uk/student-information/undergraduate-students

For more information, you can also contact the Liaison Officers for MML and Classics:

  • Administrative contact: Dr  Julia  Paraizs, MMLL Joint Degrees Administrator (hml@mmll.cam.ac.uk)
  • Academic contact, MML: Dr Regina Karosou-Fokas (rk354@cam.ac.uk)
  • Academic contact, Classics: Dr Alessandro Launaro (al506@cam.ac.uk)

Part IA

Candidates for Part IA of the MML Tripos can take either Classical Greek or Classical Latin together with their modern language, see the list of MML IA papers for more information. Classical Latin is available only to candidates with A-Level or equivalent in Latin (Option B); Classical Greek is available both to candidates with A-Level or equivalent in Greek (Option B) and to beginners (Option A).

Option A (for ‘Intensive Greek’ candidates without A-Level Greek) comprises:

  • (i) GL2, a paper containing unseen passages of Greek for translation and seen passages for comment;
  • (ii) GL5, Classical Texts (questions on Greek Literature).

Please note that there are two versions of Paper GL2:

  • GL2A (Paper 2A in the Faculty of Classics) is for candidates who had no knowledge of Greek before entry to the University. It will normally be taken by candidates who have not taken at least a GCSE or equivalent in Greek. 
  • GL2B (Paper 2B in the Faculty of Classics) is for candidates who had little knowledge of Greek before entry to the University. It will normally be taken by candidates who have GCSE or equivalent but not A-Level Greek. 

In exceptional circumstances, upon the proposal of the relevant Director of Studies to the Faculty of Classics, the Language Teaching Committee may decide to recommend to the Education Committee that a candidate be allowed to take a different GL2 paper from the one which they would normally be entitled to take.  

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL6 (Translation into Greek prose and/or verse); see n.3, below.

There is no Option A for ‘Intensive Latin’ candidates without A-Level Latin.

Option B (for candidates with A-Level Greek or Latin) comprises:

For Classical Greek:

  • (i) GL1, a paper containing unseen passages of Greek for translation and seen passages for comment;
  • (ii) GL5, Classical Texts (questions on Greek Literature).

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL6 (Translation into Greek prose and/or verse); see n.3, below.

For Classical Latin:

  • (i) GL3, a paper containing unseen passages of Latin for translation and seen passages for comment;
  • (ii) GL5, Classical Texts (questions on Latin Literature).

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL7 (Translation into Latin prose and/or verse); see n.3, below. 

Notes

1. If you choose Option A in Classical Greek, you must take Option B in your modern language.

2. Paper GL5 (Classical Texts) has a special rubric for MML candidates, since they are studying only one of the classical languages.

Any Part IA candidates who intend to take in Part IB the papers available in Greek and Roman Philosophy, Greek and Roman History, Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology, or Philology and Linguistics, are strongly advised to attend in their first year the introductory lectures in these subjects (as advertised on the website of the Faculty of Classics).

Candidates will be required to answer three questions. 

3. Candidates who take either optional paper involving translation from English into Greek (GL6) or into Latin (GL7) will receive credit for a good performance but will not be in any way penalized should they perform less well.


Part IB

Please note that for Part IB, it is important that MML with Classics candidates only choose Schedule E papers featuring texts in a language they are studying. Some papers require engagement with both Greek and Latin texts in the original and are therefore not suitable for MML with Classics candidates. Language requirements for each paper are noted at the links below. 

Option A modern language with Option B Classical Greek

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL21 Greek prose and/or verse.

Option B modern language with Option A Classical Greek

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL21 Greek prose and/or verse.

Please note that there are two versions of Paper GL12:

  • GL12A (Paper A2 in the Faculty of Classics) is for candidates who had no knowledge of Greek before entry to the University. It will normally be taken by candidates who have not taken at least a GCSE or equivalent in Greek. 
  • GL12B (Paper A3 in the Faculty of Classics) is for candidates had little knowledge of Greek before entry to the University. It will normally be taken by candidates who had GCSE or equivalent but not A-Level Greek. 

In exceptional circumstances, upon the proposal of the relevant Director of Studies to the Faculty of Classics, the Language Teaching Committee may decide to recommend to the Education Committee that a candidate be allowed to take a different GL12 paper from the one which they would normally be entitled to take.  

Option B modern language with Option B Classical Greek

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL21 Greek prose and/or verse.

Option A modern language with Option B Classical Latin

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL22 Latin prose and/or verse.

Option B modern language with Option B Classical Latin

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL22 Latin prose and/or verse.