Climate and Atmospheric Science MRes

Course overview

Experts in atmospheric science and climate are highly sought after by industry, governments and not-for-profit organisations to address the climate crisis and provide predictions and solutions for the future.

Our Climate and Atmospheric Science Masters by Research degree (MRes) is for those of you who are passionate about taking on these challenges in climate. It’ll prepare you with the relevant knowledge and skills you’ll need to be one of the scientists delivering those solutions.

You’ll gain an excellent grounding in physical science, data analysis and research, along with practical and communication skills – all of which will prepare you for a career in climate, atmospheric or environmental sciences. You’ll have the opportunity to gain a broad overview of the key research areas in climate and atmospheric science such as air quality, weather and climate extremes, polar meteorology, climate and agriculture, atmospheric chemistry, aerosol science and paleoclimate. You’ll also develop highly transferable skills in these subjects, with a strong emphasis on quantitative data analysis, numerical modelling, experimental fieldwork and scientific communication.

Because this degree is an MRes, there’s a large focus on learning through research projects, which gives you the flexibility to pursue your own research interests, building the skills that’ll enhance your employability in a scientific career. It's also excellent preparation for a PhD.

You'll study in our School of Earth and Environment, which is home to several research centres and a wealth of expert academics and researchers who are leading groundbreaking research programmes and contributing to international assessments that inform policy. This means you’ll be learning the latest science alongside active changemakers, giving you the extensive skill set and in-depth understanding you’ll need to pursue a career in industry, government or academia.

Why study at Leeds:

• Learn the latest innovations in climate and atmospheric science from researchers at the forefront of their fields who are based in our globally-renowned Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS) , National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and Priestley Centre for Climate Futures. We are actively working to tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges and this work feeds directly into your course.
• Advance your research skills and be regarded as a researcher within the School of Earth and Environment, expected to work closely with academic and research staff, attend seminars and other events, and present your research at the annual ICAS Science Conference along with academics and doctoral researchers.
• Tailor your course to suit your career or research aspirations, choosing from our diverse selection of optional modules.
• Access research-grade equipment that’ll assist your project work, including the University’s Research Computing facility, the Cohen Geochemistry labs, MetLab and electron microscopes, depending on your chosen topic.
• Develop hands-on practical experience and research skills through an introductory residential trip, usually to Dale Fort Centre in South Wales.

Course details

This course is designed to provide you with an optimum combination of specialist scientific knowledge and transferable skills that are required for a career as a research scientist in atmospheric science or climate in industry or in a university. You’ll have the opportunity to align the course to your career aspirations, through a range of optional modules that build on the world-leading research conducted across the university.

The MRes in Climate and Atmospheric Science is delivered over 12 months.

In semester 1 you will learn key skills including field measurement, scientific communication and computer programming. In semester 2 you will learn more advanced data analysis skills such as in statistics and machine learning methodologies.

Through two optional module choices you will gain subject knowledge in air quality, atmospheric dynamics, climate change, cryosphere or biosphere.

You will spend 50% of your time applying your expertise to an independent research project. You will decide on your project topic and supervisor in semester 1, write a research proposal early in semester 2 and begin to conduct your research shortly afterwards. This is your opportunity to make your own contribution to the field of climate and atmospheric science. 

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Climate and Atmospheric Science MRes in the course catalogue

Compulsory modules

Observing Weather and Climate: Advanced Field Skills – 15 credits

You’ll become an expert in advanced practical environmental field skills for use in research and industry. You’ll be supported to design, build and install field instrumentation; generating, analysing and communicating primary data in the context of published findings. The module includes a residential field course and further hands-on practical work upon returning to Leeds.

Advanced Data Analysis and Visualisation for Environmental Applications – 15 credits

Learn the computer programming skills required to analyse and plot environmental data sets, beyond what could be done using software such as Excel. You'll build the skills required to write your own computer programs and edit the code of others to enable you to pursue your own research.

Scientific Quality and Discourse – 15 credits

Acquire the skills you need to maximise the scientific significance and quality of your research, thereby enabling you to meet the high standards required by the best international peer reviewed journals and conferences. The module covers all the key elements of scientific communication in written, verbal and graphical forms.

Machine Learning and Statistics – 15 credits

Discover how to use statistical methodologies in your research, including basic significance testing, regression, and non-parametric statistics. You’ll learn how to use machine learning models such as deep learning to aid your research.

MRes Research Project – 90 credits

From day one, we will support you in becoming a researcher in this field, producing an original piece of research through your dissertation project.

Throughout the 12-month duration of the course, you'll work on your research project alongside an academic supervisor from the School of Earth and Environment dependent on your choice of research topic or theme. Your project work will be supported through modules in which you'll learn valuable research skills such as practical research skills, scientific communication skills and quantitative research.

You’ll present your work in the style of a peer-reviewed journal article and orally through a presentation.

Optional modules

Atmospheric and Ocean Climate Change Processes – 15 credits

You’ll be taught about global climate change, climate modelling and the physical coupling and feedback of significant atmospheric and ocean processes responsible for the observed rapid changes in the Earth’s climate.

Ice in the Earth System – 15 credits

Explore the primary controls of cryospheric change, and identify the feedbacks that are accelerating these changes in a warming climate. You’ll develop skills in remote sensing to assess changes in the cryosphere and forecast its future evolution. By critically examining these data you will also gain understanding of their limitations and how uncertainty in predictions is handled in practical terms.

Terrestrial Biosphere in the Earth System – 15 credits

Gain an understanding of the interactions between the terrestrial biosphere, climate and atmospheric composition. You will understand the important physical, biological and chemical processes through which terrestrial ecosystems affect and are affected by climate. The module will also explore the policy implications of ecosystem – climate interactions.

Dynamics of Weather Systems – 15 credits

Learn the principles in meteorology, with an emphasis on a physical understanding of the evolution of weather systems and on practical techniques of weather prediction, including those used by forecasters and other professionals.

Air Quality Drivers and Processes – 15 credits

Explore the complexity of air pollutants and the processes controlling them in in both urban and rural environments. The module explores the various sources of pollution, including secondary pollutants formed through atmospheric chemistry, and appropriate mitigation and control strategies. Links between climate change and air quality are also covered.

Air Pollution Modelling at Regional Scales – 15 credits

You’ll gain understanding of the theory and application of regional and continental scale air quality modelling. You’ll analyse output from regional simulations in India and China and investigate pollution processing and policy interventions.

Learning and teaching

You'll be taught through research project supervision, classwork, research seminars, lectures, poster presentations, fieldwork and tutorials.

The research project offers the opportunity to conduct a significant piece of independent research with the potential to generate a peer-reviewed journal article. This aims to teach the key transferable skill of communicating results professionally and efficiently and increase the frequency of publication of students’ research.

You'll also benefit from working alongside current PhD students and research fellows.

You'll be assigned a personal tutor, who will contact you throughout the year and offer pastoral guidance and advice on next steps after you graduate.

Active research environment

The School of Earth and Environment is home to five globally-renowned research institutes, which are at the heart of our active research environment – working to tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. Throughout your degree you'll be taught by experts who are leaders in their fields and be directly engaged with their cutting-edge research.

Academics and researchers teaching on this course are often based in or working with:

• National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), one of six research centres funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), providing its core atmospheric research.
• Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS) is the UK’s most diverse academic institute for atmospheric research.
• Priestley Centre for Climate Futures (PICF) a world-leading centre for policy-relevant, solution-driven climate research.
• Space Hub Yorkshire is a coordinator of Space activity across the Yorkshire region, a source of Space expertise, and a facilitator of new collaborations.

Industry links

Students on this programme will carry out research-directed work, implementing new developments and joining existing and new collaborations with agencies such as the Met Office, British Antarctic Survey, the Environment Agency, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, JBA Consulting and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science. Many students perform field projects in conjunction with international field campaigns.

Specialist facilities

You'll be based in the School of Earth and Environment which is home to world-class research, teaching and laboratory facilities. You’ll also have access to dedicated computer facilities many throughout your studies.

Dependent on your project topic, you may have access to facilities such as the Cohen Geochemistry labs, MetLab, electron microscopes and the ARC4 HPC cluster.

Programme team

You'll be taught by staff from across the School, primarily from the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science.

Whilst working on your project, you'll have the opportunity to work with one of over 50 supervisors specialising in your chosen topic from across the School of Earth and Environment.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Your dissertation project accounts for a significant part of your assessment.

You’re also assessed on work you do in course, for example through field notebooks, project proposals, seminars, submission of a computer project and a literature-based survey.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or above in a physical science such as (but not limited to) physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geophysics, atmospheric or environmental science, meteorology or oceanography.

Whilst it is preferred that you have studied at least one year of university-level mathematics, it is not essential and additional courses are available as part of this course to support your learning.

Applicants with any of the following will be considered on a case-by-case basis:

• A bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons), or equivalent, where applicants can demonstrate relevant work experience or aptitude in a relevant specialist field.
• Professional qualifications and relevant experience.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

30 June 2025 – International applicants

12 September 2025 – UK applicants

Click below to access the University’s online application system and find out more about the application process.

If you're still unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Earth and Environment

Contact us

School of Earth and Environment Postgraduate Admissions Team

Email: apply-masters@see.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,250 (Total)

International: £33,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

Standard travel and accommodation costs associated with compulsory field trips are covered by the University. However, you must pay for some subsistence, incidental or personal expenses such as suitable clothing, footwear and any related visa costs associated with overseas travel.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

Climate change couldn’t be more pertinent than it is in society today. Organisations and governments rely on the expertise of people who can help understand the impact of climate on a regional or global scale in order to create solutions for the future. It’s the skills and in-depth understanding you’ll gain in this field from this course which will prove invaluable to employers worldwide, in both the public and private sectors.

Highly numerate graduates with training in independent research are widely sought after. Our graduates have strong employment prospects – securing jobs with national agencies, environmental consultancies, wind-power companies and the insurance sector.

Plus, University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research, meaning our graduates are highly sought after by some of the most reputable companies in the field.

Our graduates have secured positions including:

• Wind Energy Resource Surveyor, OwnEnergy, USA
• Catastrophe Modelling Analysts, Willis, UK
• Beamline Associate, Argonne National Laboratory, US
• Air Quality Scientist, Golder, UK
• Environmental Consultant, Haskoning UK Ltd., Peterborough, UK
• Research Meteorologist, JMA, Japan
• Graduate Environmental Consultant, CH2M
• Graduate Environmental Advisor, Costain Group
• PhD Student, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one — that’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers. The University's Careers Service is one of the largest in the country, providing a wide range of resources to ensure you are prepared to take your next steps after graduation and get you where you want to be.

• Dedicated Employability Officer — gain quality advice, guidance and information to help you choose a career path. From CV and cover letter writing to supporting you with job applications, our School’s dedicated Employability Officer is on hand to help maximise your capabilities through a process of personal development and career planning.
• Employability and networking events — we run a full range of events, including careers fairs and industry talks in specialist areas and across broader industries, with employers who are actively recruiting for roles, giving you the opportunity to network and engage with industry sponsors. 
• Employability skills training – to support your transition to the workplace, we embed training in a range of key transferable skills valued by employers such as research and data analysis in all our programmes.
• MyCareer system — on your course and after you graduate you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
• Opportunities at Leeds — there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Find out more about careers support.