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2023/24
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BSc Meteorology and Climate

  • UCAS code
    F790
  • Typical offer
    ABB
  • Year of entry
    2023/24 See 2024/25 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years

On our BSc Meteorology and Climate course you will tackle the biggest issues facing the planet today, including ozone depletion and climate change, alongside world experts in the UK’s only dedicated meteorology department.

Explore all aspects of meteorology and climate, including atmospheric science and oceanography, whilst learning from world-leading researchers – the University of Reading is ranked 4th in the world for Atmospheric Science (ShanghaiRanking 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects). By taking BSc Meteorology and Climate at the University of Reading, you'll be joining a course of study approved by the Royal Meteorological Society. You'll also benefit from the Department's close links to industry and a range of opportunities to enhance your employability.

As part of our small, specialist department, you will benefit from an enviable staff to student ratio. Many of our excellent teaching staff are world leaders in their fields and a number are Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) authors and Fellows of the Royal Society. We also have a Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science, and the University is one of only 19 institutes in the UK to have been awarded one of these prestigious positions by Her Majesty the Queen. The Department of Meteorology has also scored 100% for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2022. 

Teaching is divided between lectures and practical work, but the ratio depends on options selected. You will have the opportunity to carry out a range of experiments using our extensive fluid dynamics and instrument labs, and atmospheric observatory. During your final year you will have the option of attending a summer field study trip; in recent years students have gone to the Lake District, but the location of the field class is subject to change. You will also complete an independent research project on a topic of your choice, perhaps focusing on the currents of hurricanes and typhoons or the effect of climate change on crops.

This course is approved by the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) and is your first step towards becoming professionally accredited as either a Registered Meteorologist (RMet) or Chartered Meteorologist (CMet).

Placement

The Department benefits from a specialist placement officer and strong links with industry, and many students carry out work experience during the summer vacation. Popular destinations include the Met Office, Meteogroup and EDF Trading.

You could also opt to undertake a placement year between your second and third year, which can be arranged during your studies.  

For more information, please visit the Department of Meteorology website.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*

New international students: £24,500

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

A degree in Meteorology and Climate will provide you with a range of transferable skills, including teamwork, presenting, computing, data set analysis, numeracy, scientific writing and the ability to work to deadlines.

This degree will prepare you for work as a forecaster or research scientist at a national organisation, such as the UK Met Office, or a commercial company. Financial businesses are increasingly employing weather forecasters to advise traders of the possible outcomes of the weather on prices of commodities, and a number of our graduates now work in this area. Additionally you can choose to become a broadcast meteorologist, and appear regularly on TV or radio. You may decide to move into a career within environmental and physical sciences or mathematics, such as flood modelling or pollution prediction. You will also be well-placed to pursue further study and develop more specialist skills.

In addition to careers related to the weather and climate, your transferable skills will allow you to move into other sectors such as teaching, banking and accountancy. Overall, 100% of graduates from Meteorology are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation [1].

[1] Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes postgraduate (taught) and postgraduate (research) Meteorology responders.