BSc Meteorology and Climate

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).

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.