Climate and Atmospheric Science MRes

Our Climate and Atmospheric Science Masters by Research degree will prepare you in the physical sciences and mathematics for a research career in climate, atmospheric or environmental sciences. It ideally bridges the gap between undergraduate studies in physical/natural sciences and engineering, and study for a PhD or a career in research.

Gain a broad overview of physical problems in climate and atmospheric science, together with a sound physical understanding of natural processes. Alongside this, develop highly transferable skills to conduct research in these subjects with a strong emphasis on quantitative data analysis and physical and numerical modelling.

A career in scientific research is always interesting – sometimes exciting – but might not suit everyone. This course provides an excellent opportunity to get a taste of postgraduate research study and decide whether it is really the career for you.

Interact with academics who are at the forefront of major global issues. Leeds is a leading centre of excellence across both the physical science of the climate and atmosphere science, and the resultant socio-economic impacts and processes. The University is home to a number of research centres, related to the subject.

Course highlights

• Gain practical research skills through a 10 day introductory fieldtrip to the Isle of Arran.

• Through your research project you will produce an original piece of research on a topic of your own interests.

• Interact with researchers at the forefront of their fields and based in research centres and institutes such as; National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS) and Priestley International Centre for Climate Change (PICC).

• Develop your research skills and be regarded as a researcher within the School of Earth and Environment, expected to work closely with ICAS staff as well as presenting at the annual ICAS Science Conference along with academics and doctoral researchers.

• Continue on to a PhD, or move into a research role in industry or government. Highly numerate graduates with training in independent research are widely sought after in many sectors.

Specialist facilities

You will be based in the School of Earth and Environment which is home to world-class research, teaching and laboratory facilities, and dedicated computer facilities many of which will be available to you 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. Due to the courses close links with NCAS you could also have access to high-spec meeting and presentation rooms based in their building on the edge of campus.

Find out more about our facilities.

Programme team

You will be taught by staff from across the School, primarily from the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science. Your programme leader is Dr Ryan Neely who also teaches as well as regularly supervises your research project and provides tutorial support.

The programme delivery team also includes Professor Ken Carslaw, Dr Ruza Ivanovic and Dr Cathryn Birch. Whilst working on your project you will have the opportunity to work with a supervisor specialising in your chosen topic from across the School of Earth and Environment.

Active research environment

The School of Earth and Environment is home to five world-leading 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 will 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 International Centre for Climate Change (PICC) a world-leading centre for policy-relevant, solution-driven climate research.

• Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM) is a research centre that studies processes in the Earth's polar latitudes that may affect the Earth's albedo, polar atmosphere and ocean circulation, and global sea level.

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 Meteorological Office, British Antarctic Survey, the Environment Agency, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science. Many students perform field projects in conjunction with international field campaigns.

From day one we will support you in becoming a researcher in this field and to produce your original piece of research through your dissertation project.

Throughout the 12 month duration of the course you will work on your research project alongside an academic supervisor who will be chosen 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 will learn valuable research skills such as practical research skills, scientific communication skills and quantitative research.

You will also have the opportunity to learn to use Python and attend additional seminars on more advanced programming techniques, ultimately learning how to use programming to produce a tool to help with your research and to display your project.

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

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

You will be taught through classwork, research seminars, lectures, tutorials, poster presentations, fieldwork and tutorials.

The dissertation project offers the opportunity to conduct a significant piece of 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 will also benefit from working alongside current PhD students and research fellows.

You will be assigned a personal tutor, who will maintain contact with you throughout the year and offer pastoral guidance. They will help you to settle into the university and clarify any procedures, as well as helping you prepare for employment on graduation. You will also receive administrative support from SEE’s dedicated Student Education Support office.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.

You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.

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.

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.

Preferably, you will have also studied at least one year of university-level mathematics, though additional courses are available as part of this course.

Applicants with a 2:2 will be considered on a case by case basis where they can demonstrate relevant work experience or aptitude in a relevant specialist field. Graduates from other disciplines and those with professional experience in the sector will also be considered.

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). 

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

29 July 2022 – International applicants

9 September 2022 – UK applicants

Applications for 2022 entry will open on Friday 1 October 2021. From that date this page will contain a link to take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're 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 Taught Admissions Policy 2022

Fees

• UK: £11,500 (total)
• International: £25,750 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit 
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

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

Additional cost information

Because we recognise the value of field experience the school heavily subsidises or covers the transport and accommodation costs for all compulsory taught field courses.

We hope to run our fieldwork activities as planned for the 22/23 academic year, but it might not be possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continually reviewing the situation and will communicate any decisions to applicants and offer holders at the earliest possible opportunity.

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 about additional costs

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.

A degree from Leeds and the experience you'll gain here will give you the edge to find the career you want. Your course will give you the experience and knowledge that employers are looking for to help you secure a job.

The University of Leeds is in the top ten five most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2021 report.

Climate change is happening and we need people to help understand how it’s going to impact people on a regional and local basis. We need people with the right skills to answer these questions within this field, and that’s exactly what graduates of this course will be able to do.

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

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

Read profiles of our alumni to find out more about where some of our graduates are working.

Further study

A high proportion of our students choose to go on to further PhD study in climate or atmospheric science both in the UK and internationally. The Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science hosts a range of PhD programmes, offering opportunities for students graduating from this MRes course.

Careers support

At Leeds we help you to prepare for your future from day one. Our Leeds for Life initiative is designed to help you develop and demonstrate the skills and experience you need for when you graduate. We will help you to access opportunities across the University and record your key achievements so you are able to articulate them clearly and confidently.

You’ll have access to the wide range of careers resources and support from your Careers Service. You’ll have the chance to attend industry presentations, book appointments with qualified careers consultants and take part in employability workshops and webinars. Our careers fairs provide further opportunities to explore your career options with some of the UKs leading employers.

You will also have full access to the University’s Careers Centre, which is one of the largest in the country.

There are also plenty of exciting ways you can volunteer during your time at Leeds. Find out more at the Leeds University Union website.