MSc Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

University of Reading

United Kingdom, Reading

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University of Reading

United Kingdom , Reading

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 12 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 31,650 / year

Next Intake September-2026

MSc Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

About

Help tackle the climate crisis, and gain expertise in a rapidly growing field of computer science, with our MSc Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence (AI) degree.

This course is suited to graduates from a wide range of disciplines – including science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) subjects – who are looking for a postgraduate qualification that will help them stand out in the job market.

Choose the University of Reading

Reading is a leading university for climate science and environmental sustainability:

ranked 1st in the UK for environmental and ethical performance (People and Planet University League, 2023/24)
winner of the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership, 2023
recipient of a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our world-leading research, teaching, stewardship and outreach on climate change
ranked 5th in the world for Atmospheric Science (ShanghaiRanking 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects)
named Sustainable University of the Year in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

What you’ll learn

Artificial intelligence is growing rapidly, transforming how we collect and use data. It has the potential to help solve and understand complex global challenges, including the climate crisis.

Our Master’s in Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence (AI) addresses the growing demand for graduates with an understanding of both climate science and AI, together with the business acumen to deploy that understanding effectively.

You’ll gain a thorough understanding of:

climate data science and climate modelling
causality and decision-making in climate change
good data management practices
machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)
computing using the Python programming language.

Your studies will provide the knowledge and skills required for leadership roles in the IT industry and beyond. You’ll develop the ability to:

describe the key concepts involved in climate change, including mitigation and impacts
identify and explain sources of uncertainty in climate model simulations and empirical data, and apply these concepts to decision-making
demonstrate when and how AI and machine learning can be used in climate change applications and services
apply scientific methods to real-world problems and challenges
conduct in-depth research in atmosphere, ocean and climate science.

The course will improve your understanding of climate data science and AI techniques, and prepare you for current – or future – managerial responsibilities.

Read about Alpana Chandrashekar's experiences of MSc Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Reading.

Study options

This programme can be studied full-time for 12 months, or part-time over 24 months. If you wish to study part-time, please contact our Programme Director, Dr Chris Holloway, to discuss this.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (2:2 or above) in a mathematical/physical science or a closely related subject. Your degree can be in a mathematical, physical, computational science, engineering or related subject and you should have experience in programming. Prior knowledge of meteorology is not necessary.

Applicants should explain in their Statement of Interest why this particular course is suitable for them.

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5.

Pre-sessional English language Programme

Our Pre-sessional English Programme is for international students who need to meet their degree programme English language requirements.

Our courses equip you with the skills and language needed for academic success, including critical thinking, self-reflection, learner autonomy, research skills and integrating sources. The Pre-sessional English Programme is accredited by the global association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes, which guarantees you will receive a high-quality student experience.

To find out more, visit Pre-sessional English.

English Program Requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5.

Career

Our MSc Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence (AI) degree will equip you with specialist skills and knowledge that are highly sought by employers. The UK government’s National AI Strategy notes that:

There were over 110,000 UK job vacancies in 2020 for AI and data science roles.
In 2020, there was a 16% increase in online AI and data science job vacancies, and research found that 69% of vacancies were hard to fill. (Ipsos MORI, Understanding the UK AI labour market: 2020 (2021)).
“The gap between demand and supply of AI skills remains significant and growing”. (Microsoft, AI Skills in The UK (2020) and Ipsos MORI, Understanding the UK AI labour market: 2020 (2021)).

The government’s UK Digital Strategy (October 2022) also notes that the UK is a world leader in artificial intelligence and that jobs are growing in the AI sector.

Transferable skills

Knowledge and understanding of climate science – and how artificial intelligence can be used to tackle the climate crisis – are increasingly important in the global economy. The skills provided by our MSc in Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence are highly transferable, and are valued by employers in many sectors.

Your degree could also lead to PhD study or further research in a variety of academic disciplines.

Success for University of Reading graduates

Master’s graduates from the Department of Meteorology have an excellent track record of progressing into employment. 94% of graduates from Meteorology are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation; of those in full-time employment, 93% are in graduate-level roles (three-year average, based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022-2024, Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2019/20-2021/22; includes postgraduate (taught) Meteorology responders).

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 31,650

Application Fee

GBP

How to Apply

1. Check our entry requirements

Please see our postgraduate subject finder for minimum entry requirements for the programme you are interested in; entry requirements can vary from one programme to another. International students can consult our country-specific pages for information and guidance on alternative qualification equivalencies for master’s study.

If English is not your first language, you will also need to meet our English language requirements. You can find the IELTS requirements on each course page. We also accept a range of alternative English language qualifications.

If your English ability is not at the required standard, you can choose to apply for one of our Pre-sessional English programmes. The programmes will equip you with the study skills and preparation needed for academic study in English. The length of your Pre-sessional English programme is determined by your current level of English against the English language requirements of your chosen master’s programme.

2. Application and funding deadlines

Although most master’s programmes do not formally close for applications, some programmes do have application deadlines; if your programme has a deadline it will be specified on the course page under the ‘Entry requirements’ section. For programmes that do not have a specific application deadline, places may be limited and programmes may become full. We recommend that you apply as early as possible (particularly if you are an international student) to allow time not only for us to process your application, but for you to ensure that you can meet any offer conditions, arrange your accommodation and, importantly, funding for your studies. For admission in September, we do recommend that you apply by 1 August (if you are a UK applicant) and 1 July (if you are an international applicant requiring a visa to come to the UK) however, we are happy to still consider applications after these dates.

International applicants should also see our advice and guidance on visas and immigration.

Funding deadlines

We require an offer of study for many of our master’s scholarships and bursaries. You should check deadlines for applications carefully, and each scholarship or bursary will have specific application instructions. We may add scholarships throughout the year, so it is a good idea to re-visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

3. Submit your application

You can apply for master’s programmes directly through our online application system, RISIS. For our PGCE/Teacher Training programmes, applications must be made via the Department of Education's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training portal. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation.

Various documents are needed to make your application. You should electronically upload:

full transcripts of all degree programmes taken. If these are not in English, a certified translation into English is required. Please do not mail original copies; we only require PDF copies via electronic upload,
an English language certificate (for example IELTS or TOEFL), if English is not your first language (this can also be provided after you submit your application),
contact details for two academic/professional references. Your references will automatically be invited via email to upload their reference directly once you have submitted your application. Please remind your references to check their junk/spam filters for the email and let them know that the link to the form is only valid for 20 days,
statement of purpose. Your personal statement should outline your academic performance, interest in applying to master’s study, any relevant work experience and skills gained,
a copy of your passport (for international students).

Application fee

We do not charge an application fee to apply for our master’s programmes.

4. Track your application

You can track the progress of your application using our applicant portal, Me@Reading, a personalised resource including information about your programme of study, student stories and what's happening here at Reading. It has everything you need to know, all in one place. When we have made a decision on your application, we will contact you via email. If we are able to make you an offer for a place to study, your offer will contain information about what to do next, including how to accept your offer, pay a deposit (if applicable), and any conditions you must meet to study with us.