How we teach you

Teaching in Meteorology is delivered through a combination of lectures, supporting examples classes and laboratory work both indoors and outside using the facilities of the Reading Atmospheric Observatory. During Part 1, most students will spend 50% of their time studying meteorology topics, the remaining time being spent studying maths and options including geology and soil science. In Part 2, the relative amount of meteorology increases, whilst maths is maintained. You will have the option to study a foreign language in Part 2. In the final year you will concentrate on meteorology and you will undertake an individual research project under the guidance of a member of academic or research staff. This will involve a considerable amount of independent work, and gives an opportunity to study a subject in depth and to learn transferable skills including scientific writing and time management.

Skills training is embedded throughout the different modules that you will study. At Part 1 there is a compulsory course teaching basic computing and web page design as well as introducing programming. This is needed for numerical modelling modules in Part 2 and for many of the projects completed in the final year. Career skills and presentation skills are also developed in a module in Part 2, whilst oral and written skills development culminates in the project in the final year.

A wide variety of assessment methods is used throughout the programme, including unseen written examinations, essays, laboratory reports and projects, with oral and poster presentations. If you are following the BSc course, Part 2 contributes one third of your final assessment and Part 3 contributes the remaining two thirds. If you are following the MMet course, Part 2 contributes 20% with Part 3 and Part 4 contributing 40% each.