COVID-19 update
Find out about how we'll be delivering our courses in 2020.
Full Time: 5 Years
With this MMath Mathematics and Meteorology with a Placement Year you will develop your knowledge of mathematics within an environmental context, and improve your employability with a year in industry.
Modern weather forecasting and climate prediction rely upon accurate numerical modelling of the atmosphere and oceans. This course will enable you to develop your mathematics skills whilst gaining a broad knowledge of meteorology and environmental physical science. You will spend roughly equal amounts of time studying each subject and will gain valuable industry experience through a year-long work placement. This degree is ideal if you are considering a career applying mathematical techniques to environmental problems.
In mathematics you will study the theory and application of differential equations, underpinned by a knowledge of calculus, analysis and linear algebra. You will be given plenty of support to help you get the most out of your studies, including small group problem-solving tutorials and materials to help you manage the transition to university-level mathematics. Additionally, you can get involved with the Department's Staff Student Forums and the Student Teaching and Learning Group, which enable you to have a direct input into the student experience.
In meteorology you will explore the inner workings of weather systems from a physical and dynamic viewpoint. The course is theory-based and will cover subjects such as atmospheric physics, numerical methods, climate change, and weather and climate fundamentals. In the second year you will also take a skills module, which is designed to improve your transferable skills and enhance your employability.
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. 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.
In the final year of the degree you can develop your knowledge by exploring areas of interest in greater depth. Half of the modules in this year are optional and include subjects from both areas of the course such as water waves, fluid mechanics and oceanography. During this year you will complete either a meteorological or mathematical research project.
This programme will meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation, awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, when it is followed by subsequent training and experience in employment to obtain equivalent competences to those specified by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for taught masters degrees.
It is also approved by the Royal Meteorological Society as appropriate academic training for meteorologists seeking the qualifications of Chartered Meteorologist (CMet) or Registered Meteorologist (RMet).
This course is approved by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and enables you to apply for Chartered Mathematician status following graduation.
Placement
Between your second and final year you will carry out a paid industrial training placement, lasting around 12 months. Placements can be located anywhere in the UK, and occasionally take place abroad.
You could take on a wide variety of roles such as statistician, analyst, actuarial intern and radiation protection scientist. You will also have the chance to work for a range of national and international organisations such as Microsoft, IBM, SAP or the NHS.
You will be given advice and support for finding the ideal placement, as well writing a CV and interview skills, by the Mathematics Department's dedicated placements officer.
For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.
For more information, please visit the Department of Maths and Statistics website.
Typical offer A Level ABC | IB 30 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £20,830 per year
* UK and EU fee changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. 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.
Placement Year fees
If you spend a full year on placement – including professional and research placements and industrial experience – you’ll pay a discounted tuition fee for that year.
For Home/EU students, the discounted fee is subject to parliamentary approval and is currently capped at £1,385.
For International students, the discount is 15% of your normal tuition fee.
For more information, please contact placements@reading.ac.uk.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries 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.
* UK and EU Fee Changes
Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.
The tuition fee will remain £9,000 per year for the full duration of this course if you start in the 2016/17 academic year or have accepted an offer but deferred your entry until the 2017/18 academic year. This is unlike other institutions who are planning to raise fees midway through courses.
For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. 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 and other EU countries 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.
What career can you have?
This course will make you ideally placed for a career applying mathematical techniques to environmental problems. For example, you could carry out flood modelling or pollution prediction for organisations such as the Environment Agency.
As a mathematics graduate, you can choose to work as a mathematician for public sector organisations, such as health authorities or the Office for National Statistics, or areas of the private sector including commerce and information technology. Furthermore, you can move into a range of related careers such as accountancy, financial analysis, engineering, computing or actuarial work.
Your meteorological knowledge will enable you to 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.
Alternatively you can choose to further develop your skills by moving into research, teacher training or postgraduate studies.