Historians have to be aware of genre, plot and rhetorical techniques in the creation both of their sources and their own arguments, while linguists need to appreciate the social and political concerns that are woven into literary works. Oxford has a long and enduring commitment to the teaching of European history and European languages, leading to a particularly rich environment in terms of staff expertise, library resources, language training and overseas contacts. The fullness and variety of the curriculum means that students can combine papers from the two faculties in stimulating ways. The two parts come together most directly in a bridge essay, where students can make their own innovative contributions. In recent years history has experienced a ‘linguistic turn’ while literary studies have undergone a ‘historical turn’, making this combination of subjects stronger than ever. Knowledge of the past contextualizes literary artefacts, while the forensic literary skills of the linguist are vital for interrogating historical documents. This degree brings these two skill sets together. Employers value language skills combined with the many transferable skills of a History and Modern Languages degree. Recent graduates from this course are employed in international institutions such as the UN and the EU, by NGOs as well as by national governments. They work in the media, publishing, law, banking, Fconsultancy, teaching, research, commercial industry and many other sectors. History and Modern Languages is a four-year course with a compulsory year abroad in your third year. Students are encouraged to travel and speak their specialist language in the vacations, and travel grants and scholarships may be available to assist.