Physics with Climate Science

Physics with climate science is a combination that speaks directly to one of the most pressing challenges of the present century. Climate science demands the tools of physics, from atmospheric thermodynamics and fluid dynamics to remote sensing and computational modelling, and physicists who understand climate systems are equipped to contribute to both the scientific understanding of change and the development of the technologies that might address it. This degree develops the rigour of a physics training while directing significant attention to the Earth's climate, its measurement and its future.

At the University of Leicester, you will study how advanced space and airborne technology can improve our ability to predict weather and the impact of pollution, developing an understanding of the physics that underpins both the natural climate system and our capacity to observe and model it. The programme runs for three years full time, with a sandwich year in industry, a year abroad and integrated work placement opportunities, giving you an unusually rich set of structured experiences alongside the academic content. The placement year allows you to apply your skills in a professional scientific context before your final year, which is valuable in a field where interdisciplinary and applied research are increasingly central.

The typical entry tariff is 120 points.

You will develop mathematical fluency, computational skills and experimental competence alongside conceptual understanding of climate dynamics, atmospheric physics, oceanography and the radiative processes that govern energy flow through the Earth system. The combination makes you genuinely unusual in the graduate market: someone with the quantitative foundations of a physics degree and the specific expertise that climate and environmental employers need.

Graduates move into careers in meteorology, climate modelling, environmental science, space science, energy, consultancy and public policy. Research roles in universities and national laboratories are also open to well-qualified graduates, and postgraduate study in climate science, atmospheric physics, environmental modelling or space science is a natural progression for those wishing to specialise further.