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Why study meteorology?

AuthorDarcy Nathan, editor
Posted on

A degree in meteorology puts you at the frontline of tackling climate change and extreme weather. Skilled meteorologists are in growing demand, offering a career full of purpose and opportunity

What is meteorology?

Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere and how it behaves, including predicting the weather. As a meteorologist, you help governments and industries prepare for natural hazards like floods, storms, and wildfires.

Your skills are valuable across sectors such as:

In these roles, you help organisations adapt to changing weather patterns and become more climate resilient.

Demand for meteorologists is rising as the UK experiences more frequent extreme weather. 2022, 2023, and 2025 were among the warmest years on record, with 2025 being the hottest so far. Met Office forecasts suggest temperatures in 2026 will remain unusually high, more than 1.4°C above historical averages.

Your expertise will be increasingly important in:

  • improving early warning systems
  • protecting infrastructure
  • supporting climate adaptation.

What does a meteorologist do?

Daily work varies depending on your role, but typically involves a mix of data analysis, forecasting, and communication:

  • analysing weather data from satellites, radars, and monitoring stations
  • communicating findings to the public, businesses, or government organisations
  • monitoring and assessing risks from extreme weather
  • producing forecasts and reports for media or public bodies
  • using computer models to predict weather patterns.

Operational roles may involve shift work, including nights, weekends, or public holidays, to provide timely updates during severe weather.

What do undergraduate courses involve?

To become a meteorologist, you'll need a degree - but it doesn't have to be in meteorology. You can enter the field with subjects such as:

For example, on the BSc Environmental Science at The University of Manchester, you can choose a pathway such as:

  • atmospheric and climate science (most relevant to meteorology)
  • ecology, evolution, and conservation biology
  • pollution and environmental processes.

If you choose the climate-focused route, you'll gain a strong foundation for a career in meteorology. You'll study topics like:

  • air quality
  • climate change
  • pollutant transport
  • weather forecasting.

The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) lists relevant undergraduate courses. If you want to specialise, some BSc degree options include:

What A-levels do I need?

You'll usually need at least one science A-level. Maths and physics are preferred, especially for technical courses. For example, the BSc at University of Manchester typically requires ABB at A-level, including one science subject.

Without maths or physics, you can still enter through a related degree, but options may be limited.

Should I study a Masters in meteorology?

A Masters degree isn't always required, but research roles often need it. Postgraduate study can:

  • deepen your knowledge
  • help you specialise
  • offer valuable industry connections
  • show your dedication to employers.

Professor Holloway, meteorology programme director at University of Reading, explains 'an MSc in meteorology prepares students for careers in academia, research, operational weather forecasting, climate modelling, environmental consultancy, insurance risk forecasting, and government or private-sector roles in climate risk and resilience.'

The University of Reading offers a one-year MSc Applied Meteorology. To apply, you'll need a Bachelors degree (2:2 or above) in a related subject such as physical science or mathematics. Core modules include:

  • atmospheric physics
  • computing
  • forecasting systems
  • measurements and instrumentation
  • weather and climate discussion.

Optional modules cover climate change, tropical weather, flood preparation, and hazardous weather analysis. Tuition fees are £13,100 and postgraduate loans are available.

The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) offers Registered Meteorologist (RMet) or Chartered Meteorologist (CMet) status, a valuable way to demonstrate skills and experience.

'Our MSc in Applied Meteorology and Climate is approved by RMetS and is a first step towards becoming professionally accredited as either an RMet or CMet. These accreditations are a valuable way to demonstrate your skills and experience when pursuing a career in meteorology,' explains Professor Holloway.

Other relevant Masters courses in the UK include:

Search for postgraduate courses in meteorology.

Can I study a short course?

While there are no accredited short meteorology courses, options for learning the basics or exploring vocational pathways include:

Even if you're just starting out, online learning can help you build knowledge and get a feel for the field before committing to a degree.

What skills do I need?

To become a meteorologist, you'll need a strong foundation in:

  • the basics of how weather systems work
  • maths
  • physics.

Professor Holloway explains, 'meteorology students need good maths and physics skills. During the course, they also develop programming and data analysis skills and learn to work with computer models of weather and climate.'

He also explains that you'll build scientific:

  • communication skills
  • reasoning
  • writing.

Meteorologists often work with other scientists, emergency services, and industries like energy and transport, so teamwork and interpersonal skills are essential and valued by employers.

Do I need work experience?

Yes, hands-on work experience is essential. It helps you:

  • build practical skills
  • explore different specialisms
  • make your CV stand out when applying for graduate roles.

Internships are short-term placements - usually a few weeks to a few months - that give you a taste of day-to-day work in meteorology. They can be paid or unpaid and help you:

  • develop technical skills such as programming, data analysis, and report writing
  • gain exposure to roles like forecasting, climate research, and data science
  • strengthen your CV and boost your chances of securing a graduate role.

Options for internships include:

  • Carbon Brief - a three-week paid climate journalism internship in London, producing articles, newsletters, and graphics. Applications open April to May each year.
  • Met Office Summer Internships - three months in Exeter for penultimate or final-year STEM students, covering forecasting, climate research, or tech projects. Applications open in winter.
  • Moody's - technical internships focused on catastrophe modelling, flood/storm risk, and climate analytics.
  • WeatherQuest Summer Placements - for meteorology or computing sciences students assisting with operational forecasting and bespoke weather reports for sectors like media, energy, and agriculture on a rolling basis.

Placements are usually part of your degree and last nine to 12 months. They give you in-depth, hands-on experience and the chance to contribute to real research or operational work.

They're also a strong pathway into graduate jobs - many students go on to programmes like the Met Office Graduate Development Scheme.

Meteorology industry placements include:

  • Met Office Industrial Placements - monitor weather networks, analyse data, and support research (around £27,000 a year; applications open in autumn)
  • BP - one year internships for students in the penultimate year of a degree in meteorology, climate science, geography, maths, physics, and earth science which include meteorology modules.
  • WeatherQuest Year-in-Industry - experience forecasting, client reporting, and data analysis.

Research placements are typically shorter and focus on scientific projects.

For example, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Summer Research Placements offer the two-to-three month placement supporting Antarctic weather and climate research. These placements help you:

  • gain hands-on experience in areas like climate modelling
  • develop your understanding of scientific methods and data analysis
  • expand your connections with academics and research institutions.

If you want a lower-commitment option, volunteering or virtual work experience can still give you valuable experience. These opportunities help you:

  • boost your profile within the meteorology community
  • develop communication and professional skills
  • gain certificates or references to support future applications.

Examples include:

What jobs can I do with a meteorology degree?

A meteorology degree opens up careers across sectors. You could:

Common career paths for meteorology graduates include:

  • operational weather forecaster - producing forecasts for the public or organisations
  • sustainability consultant - advising businesses on environmental strategy
  • renewable energy manager - optimising wind, solar, and power operations
  • weather-risk forecaster (insurance) - modelling floods, storms, and other hazards
  • weather or climate researcher - studying patterns and extreme events.

Who can I work for?

You can work across a range of organisations:

  • Media - organisations like the BBC, presenting forecasts across TV, radio, and online.
  • Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - also hire meteorologists to advise on sustainability and climate resilience.
  • Public sector - the Met Office and agencies like the Environment Agency, focusing on forecasting and extreme weather monitoring.
  • Private sector - insurance and finance companies in climate risk, energy firms in renewable forecasting and power trading, and environmental consultancies in climate resilience, air quality, and flooding.
  • Research and academia - specialising in climate science, numerical weather prediction, and atmospheric modelling. This often requires an MSc or PhD.

As the UK moves towards a low-carbon economy, and the industry becomes more data-driven, there are increasing opportunities to specialise. New roles are emerging in:

What can I earn as a meteorologist?

Salaries vary depending on your:

  • experience
  • role
  • sector.

You'll typically start in an entry-level position, such as a trainee forecaster or data analyst, where you build core skills in forecasting, modelling, and data interpretation.

As you gain experience, you can progress into more senior roles - such as senior meteorologist or specialist positions in areas like extreme weather analysis or renewable energy forecasting. From there, you might move into leadership roles, managing teams or major projects, or branch into related fields like:

  • climate policy
  • consultancy
  • research.

Here's what you can expect to earn at each stage:

Role Typical annual salary
Entry-level meteorologist £20,000 to £25,000
Qualified operational meteorologist £30,000 to £42,000
Specialist/private-sector roles £50,000 to £75,000
Senior technical or management roles £80,000 to £120,000

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Written by Darcy Nathan, editor

Prospects · March 2026