Meteorology and Climate with International Foundation Year

Meteorology and climate are disciplines that investigate some of the most consequential physical systems affecting human life on Earth. Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere, examining how weather systems form and develop, how heat, moisture, and energy are distributed through the air, and how short-term conditions can be forecast. Climate science takes a longer view, studying the statistical behaviour of the atmosphere and ocean system over decades and centuries, and asking how that system is changing in response to rising greenhouse gas concentrations.

Together, these fields are at the heart of how we understand and respond to the defining environmental challenge of the present century.

At the University of Reading, which is internationally renowned for its atmospheric and environmental science research, this four-year programme includes an international foundation year, making it accessible to students who need an additional year of preparation before moving into degree-level meteorological study. You will build a thorough grounding in the physics and mathematics of the atmosphere, developing skills in numerical modelling, data analysis, and the interpretation of observational data. You will engage with the science of weather forecasting, climate variability, atmospheric chemistry, and the dynamics of the Earth system, including the mechanisms of ozone depletion and climate change.

Graduates from meteorology and climate programmes work in national weather services, environmental agencies, climate research institutes, the energy sector, insurance, aviation, consultancy, and international bodies. The Met Office is a major employer, as are academic institutions and a growing range of private sector organisations that need climate expertise for risk assessment, infrastructure planning, and sustainability strategy. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate research, contributing to the scientific understanding of the atmosphere and climate that is essential for informed policy responses.