Modern Greek and Turkish

Modern Greek and Turkish is an unusual and intellectually rich combination that brings together two languages and cultures whose relationship has been one of the most complex and consequential in the history of the Eastern Mediterranean. Modern Greek carries the inheritance of a literary tradition stretching back to antiquity while also being the living language of a contemporary European state. Turkish is the language of a country that straddles Europe and Asia, with a rich Ottoman literary heritage, a large diaspora community, and growing significance in geopolitics and regional economics.

At Oxford, this four-year programme takes both languages to a high level, developing reading, writing, and speaking skills alongside deep engagement with the literary, cultural, and historical contexts in which each language is embedded. You will engage with modern Greek literature and culture, with Ottoman and Turkish literary traditions, and with the historical relationship between Greek and Turkish-speaking societies, from the Byzantine period and the Ottoman Empire through to the twentieth century and the contemporary relationship between Greece and Turkey. Oxford's tutorial system means your progress in each language is closely guided, and you will develop the ability to analyse texts and argue about cultural questions with precision.

Graduates with this combination are sought in diplomacy, European institutions, journalism, area studies research, translation and interpreting, international organisations, and cultural bodies with interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and South-Eastern Europe. The rarity of the combination is a significant professional asset. Further study in Byzantine studies, Ottoman history, modern Greek, Turkish, or comparative literature is a natural direction for those wishing to pursue scholarship or specialist professional roles.