Modern Language GCSE needed for Russell Group/Oxbridge?

[2020again]

How important is it to have a modern language GCSE to apply for a Russell Group university, (including Oxbridge)?

The only place I can see that requires a modern language (if you’re not studying a modern language degree) is UCL and even then they allow you to take a language course during your first year instead. So:

-Is it strictly necessary?

-Does it show some kind of all roundedness that universities look for even if what you want to study has no foreign language element?

-Even if not strictly necessary is this something the universities expect, so a student will be at a disadvantage if they do not have it? And is the position the same for Oxbridge?

Thanks very much.

The answer is no, they don't require it unless the university course requires it as in a degree in MFL . UCL is the only one who stipulates they want one.

However a lot of secondary schools push for a child taking a MFL as one of their options along with a humanity. Is there a reason for not wanting to take MFL?

Does not enjoy it and not particularly good at it compared to other subjects.

@2020again If school allow him not to take it then great. At the end of the day this about results, the best thing is to study the subjects he is good at and hopefully he enjoys them too.

Loads of schools push for the gcse in a language because it counts to the english baccalaureate (EBACC) my youngest did not take a language and she wants to study zoology at degree, so a language wouldnt mean anything in relation to getting into her uni.