MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate

Accreditation
This course is approved by the Royal Meteorological Society as appropriate training for meteorologists seeking the qualification Chartered Meteorologist.

Course aims

The aim of the Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate MSc course is to provide the scientific background for research and other careers across a broad spectrum of meteorology-related science. It focuses particularly on a quantitative description of the physical processes that produce weather, the ways weather systems combine to form climates and the techniques used to simulate weather systems and climate on computers.

You will acquire the knowledge and the technical and computing skills to equip you to carry out quantitative scientific research and technical projects not only within meteorology but also within related areas of environmental science.

Course content

The course consists of a taught element and a dissertation. Within the taught element there are a number of compulsory (C) and optional (O) modules. Many modules are partly or completely assessed by course work and assessment also involves formal examinations.

Full details can be found in the course module table.

Transferable skills

You will gain useful, transferable skills and experience while studying this course, including:

• Presentation skills (written and oral)
• Teamworking
• Solving numerical problems related to environmental science
• Reviewing and synthesizing information in a specific field of interest
• Practical measurement skills
• Writing computational software to solve mathematical equations.

Part-time/Modular arrangements

This course can be taken part-time over a period of two years.

An agreement has been reached with the UK Met Office whereby staff are able to select Spring term modules on a part time basis as part of their graduate training programme.

Entry requirements

Entrants to this course are normally required to have obtained a good honours degree in a physical, environmental or engineering science. 'A' level physics or mathematics is usually required. Students with other qualifications may be admitted subject to a satisfactory performance in a preparatory course in the preceding year or completion of a self-teaching package in maths and physics. Prior knowledge of meteorology is not essential.

Career prospects

The Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate MSc has an excellent record in placing graduates in relevant employment.

Of the 16 students graduating in the years 2008 and 2009, 13 are working in meteorology or related disciplines. This figure includes 2 employed as forecasters, 9 working on PhD projects and one involved with risk assessment

This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge base for a wide range of careers including:

• Research and forecasting posts in national meteorological services (including the UK Met Office)
• Research work and technical posts in universities
• Research and technical posts in other environmental science institutes such as the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
• Research posts in environmental science consultancy firms
• Forecasting and analysis in meteorological consultancies

Offers

Formal offers will be issued by the Postgraduate Office, Faculty of Science. The offer may be conditional on meeting certain requirements such as standard of degree (for those who have yet to graduate), funding and English proficiency.

Registration

All students will be initially registered for MSc/Diploma. They will be allocated to either the MSc or Diploma on the basis of their performance in examinations and course-assessed work prior to the Summer Term.

For a full description of the degree course please download MSc/Dip Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate