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  • Architecture
  • Art
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  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management

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  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
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  • English Literature
  • Environment

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  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
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  • Microbiology
  • Museum Studies

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  • Surveying and Construction
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  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

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  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
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  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
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  • Biomedical Sciences
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  • Classics and Ancient History
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  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise
  • Creative Writing

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  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

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  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

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  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
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  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
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  • Zoology

MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate

  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months
  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months

Gain a deep quantitative understanding of the climate system with our MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate.

This course will prepare you for a career in meteorology-related science and research, with a focus on:

  • a quantitative description of the physical processes that produce weather
  • the physical and dynamical building blocks of our climate
  • the numerical and computational methods used to construct state-of-the-art models of the climate system.

Whether you want to mitigate the impact of hazardous weather events, understand how our changing climate may affect the jet stream, or even look further afield and forecast space weather – or focus your efforts elsewhere within meteorology and climate science – we will help you develop the scientific and analytical skills you need.

Choosing MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate means you will join our world-class Department of Meteorology – the University of Reading is ranked 4th in the world for Atmospheric Science (ShanghaiRanking 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects).  

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).

As you develop your skills in computing, analytics and numerical models, your learning will be supported by: 

  • our on-campus instrumentation lab and atmospheric observatory. In addition to field trip opportunities, access to these facilities allows you to improve your practical skills. 
  • weather and climate discussions. These weekly sessions give you an insight into current UK and global weather and climate events and incorporate our real-time meteorological data. 
  • small class sizes. Our enviable staff-to-student ratio means you will receive individual support from academics. You will also be fully supported as you work on your final master’s project – our academics typically oversee no more than one student dissertation each year.

You will be taught by academics who are leaders in their fields. They will draw on their research experience to give you unique scientific perspectives into environmental issues that affect our world. Our Department is home to five Fellows of the Royal Society, as well as climate experts who contribute to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Conduct or collaborate on a research project

Your master’s dissertation is an opportunity to further our knowledge of meteorological science and research.

This allows you to: 

  • work with a leading scientist from our world-class Department of Meteorology, who will supervise you on your master’s project 
  • contribute to our understanding of issues such as climate change and hazardous weather 
  • complete a potentially publishable piece of research.

You may also have the opportunity to work on a research project in collaboration with one of our industry partners.

We are proud of our long-established relationships with more than 30 organisations in the meteorological, climate and related sectors. These include: 

  • UK Met Office 
  • Environment Agency 
  • NASA 
  • European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 
  • World Meteorological Organisation 
  • European Space Agency

Participate in field work

As part of your studies, you will have the opportunity to participate in field work that focuses on observing and predicting typical weather systems in the mid-latitudes.

Over the course of a weekend, you will understand how and why the weather varies in a particular region by building a coherent picture of its evolution. You will do this by: 

  • plotting and analysing special radiosonde ascents 
  • collecting data from an instrumented mast 
  • collecting data from instrumented walks 
  • monitoring official analysis and forecast products.

Build on your scientific knowledge

This master’s course is designed for graduates with a background in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, or closely related subjects.

It is particularly suitable for those interested in pursuing further higher education opportunities or research and development careers in industry.

Flexible study options for MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate students

You can attend this course on a full-time basis over one year, or part-time over two years. 

Overview

Gain a deep quantitative understanding of the climate system with our MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate.

This course will prepare you for a career in meteorology-related science and research, with a focus on:

  • a quantitative description of the physical processes that produce weather
  • the physical and dynamical building blocks of our climate
  • the numerical and computational methods used to construct state-of-the-art models of the climate system.

Whether you want to mitigate the impact of hazardous weather events, understand how our changing climate may affect the jet stream, or even look further afield and forecast space weather – or focus your efforts elsewhere within meteorology and climate science – we will help you develop the scientific and analytical skills you need.

Choosing MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate means you will join our world-class Department of Meteorology – the University of Reading is ranked 4th in the world for Atmospheric Science (ShanghaiRanking 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects).  

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).

As you develop your skills in computing, analytics and numerical models, your learning will be supported by: 

  • our on-campus instrumentation lab and atmospheric observatory. In addition to field trip opportunities, access to these facilities allows you to improve your practical skills. 
  • weather and climate discussions. These weekly sessions give you an insight into current UK and global weather and climate events and incorporate our real-time meteorological data. 
  • small class sizes. Our enviable staff-to-student ratio means you will receive individual support from academics. You will also be fully supported as you work on your final master’s project – our academics typically oversee no more than one student dissertation each year.

You will be taught by academics who are leaders in their fields. They will draw on their research experience to give you unique scientific perspectives into environmental issues that affect our world. Our Department is home to five Fellows of the Royal Society, as well as climate experts who contribute to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Conduct or collaborate on a research project

Your master’s dissertation is an opportunity to further our knowledge of meteorological science and research.

This allows you to: 

  • work with a leading scientist from our world-class Department of Meteorology, who will supervise you on your master’s project 
  • contribute to our understanding of issues such as climate change and hazardous weather 
  • complete a potentially publishable piece of research.

You may also have the opportunity to work on a research project in collaboration with one of our industry partners.

We are proud of our long-established relationships with more than 30 organisations in the meteorological, climate and related sectors. These include: 

  • UK Met Office 
  • Environment Agency 
  • NASA 
  • European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 
  • World Meteorological Organisation 
  • European Space Agency

Participate in field work

As part of your studies, you will have the opportunity to participate in field work that focuses on observing and predicting typical weather systems in the mid-latitudes.

Over the course of a weekend, you will understand how and why the weather varies in a particular region by building a coherent picture of its evolution. You will do this by: 

  • plotting and analysing special radiosonde ascents 
  • collecting data from an instrumented mast 
  • collecting data from instrumented walks 
  • monitoring official analysis and forecast products.

Build on your scientific knowledge

This master’s course is designed for graduates with a background in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, or closely related subjects.

It is particularly suitable for those interested in pursuing further higher education opportunities or research and development careers in industry.

Flexible study options for MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate students

You can attend this course on a full-time basis over one year, or part-time over two years. 

Entry requirements

Please note that entry requirements for 2024/25 have not yet been confirmed. The entry requirements for 2023/24 were:

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent).

Entry requirements: Normally a good honours degree (2.2 or above), or equivalent from a university outside the UK, in a mathematical/physical science or a closely related subject. Please note, prior knowledge of meteorology is not necessary for this programme. Your degree should comprise a significant level of maths and/or physics content. Prior knowledge of meteorology is not necessary for this programme.

Prepare for your master's course

For this degree you are required to have a good knowledge of physics and mathematics. 

  • Check the list of topics we recommend you to familiarise with

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score, you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Modules

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Compulsory modules:

  • Fundamentals of Weather and Climate 
  • Fundamentals of Modelling and Data Analysis 
  • Fluid Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Oceans
  • Research Project
  • Weather and Climate Discussion

Optional modules:

  • Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics 
  • Tropical and Extratropical Weather Systems Analysis 
  • Remote Sensing
  • Climate Change: Past, Present and Future 
  • Fundamentals of Ocean Circulation and Climate
  • Atmospheric Chemistry, Pollution and Transport
  • Numerical Modelling for Weather and Climate Science
  • Pre-Sessional Maths and Physics Supplement 
  • Academic English for Meteorologists

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available between May and August 2023. We suggest that you regularly revisit this webpage during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £12,550

New international students: £26,950

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

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.

Careers

Careers for MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate graduates

Many of our graduates go on to study a PhD with us. Others pursue research and development careers in industry.

A master’s in atmosphere, oceans and climate provides you with the knowledge, as well as the technical and computing skills, to carry out quantitative scientific research and projects in meteorology and related areas of environmental science.

In fact, some of our students have published their master’s research projects in mainstream scientific journals even before they graduate.

In recent years, graduates of our meteorology master’s courses have been recruited by organisations that include:

  • AIR
  • Arup 
  • BBC 
  • FUGRO GEOS 
  • MeteoGroup 
  • RMS 
  • UK Met Office.

Others pursue a diverse range of careers within: 

  • environmental measurement 
  • risk management 
  • policy development 
  • water resource management 
  • environmental consultancy 
  • energy supply 
  • flood modelling 
  • pollution prediction 
  • weather forecasting 
  • space weather forecasting 
  • insurance 
  • finance 
  • broadcast media.

Overall, 100% of graduates from Meteorology are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes postgraduate [taught] and postgraduate [research] Meteorology responders)

Work with real-time meteorological data


Breaking ocean waves

Scholarships


We have a number of scholarships available for our master's students.

Find out more in our How much will it cost section.

Take the next step


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Related Subjects


  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Climate Science

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