Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic
If you're fascinated by medieval history, literature and languages, and you relish the prospect of doing your own research using original source materials, this course - unique in the UK to Cambridge - will appeal to you.
| UCAS code | QQ59 BA/ASNC |
| Duration | Three years |
| Colleges | Available at all Colleges |
| 2011 entry | Applications/places: 2 Number admitted: 24 |
| Open days and events 2012 | Department open day - 27 June, booking recommended, see the Department website College open days (arts) Cambridge Open Days - 5 July, 6 July |
| Related courses | |
| Contact details | 01223 335079 asnc@hermes.cam.ac.uk www.asnc.cam.ac.uk |
Overview
A voyage of discovery
The history and culture of Anglo-Saxon England, Celtic languages and literature, or Viking exploits - Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic (ASNC) allows you to explore a range of cultures, and to look at history, language and literature side by side.
ASNC focuses on the history, material culture, languages and literature of the peoples of Britain, Ireland and the Scandinavian world in the earlier Middle Ages.
ASNC students discover medieval history while learning one or more languages and reading great works of literature in the original languages, such as the Old English poem Beowulf, the epic medieval Irish tale Tàin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley) and Icelandic sagas. Exactly which areas you study and to what depth is largely up to you, and to support your learning Cambridge has rare and exceptional resources to offer in the University Library, the College libraries, and in the Fitzwilliam and other museums.
What are we looking for?
No previous knowledge of the subject is expected or required; all languages are taught from scratch and we don't assume that students have studied early medieval history or literature at school. However, we do require passion and commitment, and look for evidence of your general ability in arts and humanities subjects.
After ASNC
This unusual and challenging degree develops your powers of argument and sharpens your powers of analysis. It equips you for a wide range of careers where intellectual and analytical skills are important.
Former Asnacs (as they like to be called) can be found in a wide range of careers. Some take advantage of the specialist opportunities open to them and do research and teaching in schools and universities, or work in museums and libraries; while many others go into careers including journalism, banking, law, the Civil Service, industry and business.
Course outline
Teaching is provided through lectures, classes, seminars and supervisions and you can expect between 10 and 15 hours of lectures and classes per week during Part I.
Years 1 and 2 (Part I)
In the first year, you study the various disciplines which form the core of ASNC studies. There are no compulsory papers - you choose six subjects selected from a range of 10, and take an examination in four of them and departmental tests in the other two:
Historical subjects
- Anglo-Saxon History
- Scandinavian History
- Gaelic History (Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man)
- Brittonic History (Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, the Pictish kingdoms and the North Britons)
Historical subjects
- Anglo-Saxon History
- Scandinavian History
- Gaelic History (Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man)
- Brittonic History (Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, the Pictish kingdoms and the North Britons)
Language and literature subjects
- Old English
- Old Norse
- Medieval Welsh
- Medieval Irish
- Insular Latin
Palaeography (the study of manuscripts and handwriting)
In your second year, you may continue to study your chosen subjects and take an examination in all six of them. Alternatively, you have the option to replace up to three of your first-year subjects with a dissertation and/or one or two papers 'borrowed' from related courses. Borrowed papers cover subjects from English, Archaeology, and Modern and Medieval Languages.
Year 3 (Part II)
This is where you develop and use the skills you learned in Part I, exploring your chosen fields and applying your newly-acquired knowledge in original and imaginative ways.
You study four subjects selected from a range of 17 including, for example:
- The Conversion of Scandinavia
- Beowulf
- Advanced Medieval Irish Language and Literature
- Germanic Philology
These are designed to give you the opportunity to pursue more detailed study in your chosen areas. Students may replace one of their four Part II ASNC papers with a borrowed paper. The range currently includes Medieval English Literature, Historical Linguistics, Anglo-Saxon Archaeology, Scandinavian Archaeology and a subject borrowed from the Faculty of History. Students may also replace one of their Part II subjects with a Part I paper that they didn't offer for the examinations at the end of their second year.
You also write a dissertation of between 9,000 and 12,000 words on a specific subject of your own choice within the scope of the course.
Entry requirements
Typical offers require
A Level: A*AA
IB: 40-42 points, with 776 or 777 at Higher Level
For other qualifications, see our main Entrance requirements pages.
Course requirements
Essential: no subject specific subjects
Desirable: A Level/IB Higher Level languages and/or humanities subjects
In terms of A Level subjects, Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic applicants have varied backgrounds. Combinations normally include English, History, or a modern or ancient language, but we do not have any particular requirements and are simply looking for evidence of academic ability in the general area of the humanities, and for languages.
Check College websites for College specific requirements. See also Entrance requirements and our Subject Matters leaflet for additional advice about general requirements for entry, qualifications and offers.
Admissions tests and written work
The table below sets out the ways in which each College assesses applicants for this subject. For more information about these methods of assessment and why we use them, see the main Admissions tests and written work pages.
| College | Assessment of applicant for this subject |
|---|---|
| Christ's | School/college essay |
| Churchill | School/college essays |
| Clare | School/college essay |
| Corpus Christi | School/college essay |
| Downing | School/college essay |
| Emmanuel | School/college essay |
| Fitzwilliam | Interview only |
| Girton | Interview only |
| Gonville & Caius | School/college essay |
| Homerton | School/college essay |
| Hughes Hall | Test at interview |
| Jesus | School/college essay |
| King's | School/college essay |
| Lucy Cavendish | Test at interview; Pre-interview reading |
| Magdalene | School/college essay |
| Murray Edwards | Interview only |
| Newnham | School/college essay |
| Pembroke | School/college essays |
| Peterhouse | School/college essay |
| Queens' | School/college essay |
| Robinson | School/college essay |
| St Catharine's | School/college essay |
| St Edmund's | Interview only |
| St John's | School/college essay |
| Selwyn | School/college essay |
| Sidney Sussex | School/college essay |
| Trinity | School/college essay |
| Trinity Hall | School/college essay |
| Wolfson | Test at interview |
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for this course, please see our Applying section for more details.
Further Resources
Find out more about Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic at Cambridge
- Course website - Explore ASNC in more detail on the course website.
Improve your knowledge of Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic
- Preparatory reading - Guidance on preparatory reading for students interested in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic.
- Experience ASNC languages - Hear recordings of people speaking some of the ancient languages studied in the ASNC tripos, and even try your hand at a grammar quiz, if you dare!
Tools to help you with your Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic application
- Application information - A detailed guide to applying to study ASNC at Cambridge.
Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic and your future
- Transferable skills - A guide to the transferable skills you can develop during the course of an ASNC degree.
- Graduate profiles - Some recent graduates reflect on their experience studying ASNC at Cambridge and on their subsequent careers.
The student experience
- Student profiles - Some current students describe their experience of studying ASNC.