Climate Science

Exploring the science of the atmosphere is not only essential for weather forecasting, but for solving some of the biggest environmental challenges.

Choose the University of Reading

• Ranked 5th in the world for Atmospheric Science (ShanghaiRanking 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects).
• Winner of the Times Higher Education (THE) Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership award in 2023. 
• Named Sustainable University of the Year in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Are you keen to use the principles of physics and mathematics in new ways to help find solutions to the critical problems we face in the natural environment? If so, by undertaking a degree with the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology, you will join other talented scientists who are committed to pushing frontiers.

In order to fully understand complex issues such as climate change, ozone depletion, atmospheric pollution and even space weather, an in-depth scientific knowledge of the physics of the atmosphere, oceans and space is key.

The Department's research spans the spectrum from the smallest examples of atmospheric turbulence to large-scale climate patterns such as jet streams and El Niño. Furthermore, our undergraduate courses are accredited by the Royal Meteorological Society.

Choose a meteorology degree and explore all aspects of meteorology and climate, including atmospheric science and oceanography. You'll join a department that provides an excellent student learning experience.  

Many of our excellent teaching staff are world leaders in their fields and a number are authors on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or Fellows of the Royal Society.

Our teaching involves an exciting mixture of lectures, laboratory classes, practical weather forecasting and fieldwork.