We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
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.
Reading is a leading university for climate science and environmental sustainability:
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:
Your studies will provide the knowledge and skills required for leadership roles in the IT industry and beyond. You’ll develop the ability to:
The course will improve your understanding of climate data science and AI techniques, and prepare you for current – or future – managerial responsibilities.
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.
Our MSc in Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the first, and currently only, postgraduate course of its kind in the UK.
Your studies will draw on expertise from the Department of Meteorology, Department of Computer Science, the Walker Institute, and the triple-accredited Henley Business School.
The University of Reading is an award-winning leader in climate science and environmental sustainability. We are actively engaged in tackling the challenges of climate change and making a global impact.
In the UK, we are ranked 3rd for research power in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (Times Higher Education, Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of the latest Research Excellence Framework, 2021).
Our Whiteknights campus is set to house the largest cluster of weather and climate scientists in the world, following an agreement to build a new state-of-the-art international headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
Experts from ECMWF will be located alongside the University's Department of Meteorology, as well as staff from the UK Met Office, National Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, and National Centre for Earth Observation.
Our Department of Computer Science offers expertise in data science and AI, as well as advanced computing for environmental science. 100% of the University’s research impact in Computer Science and Informatics has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions).
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by academics at the University to tackle challenges in climate and environmental sustainability, much of which is in collaboration with the Met Office and the ECMWF.
Students at the University of Reading have access to real-time meteorological and climate data, including World Meteorological Organization standard measurements. You’ll be able to incorporate this data into your projects.
You will also have access to datasets from the latest climate model simulations, including those used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports.
The University of Reading is located in the Thames Valley, a major UK tech hub. The region currently boasts more than 150 companies and start-ups working in the AI sector. In 2023, Reading was ranked second in Data City’s list of “AI hotspots” in the UK.
Our MSc Climate Change and AI course features bespoke research projects, many conducted in conjunction with industry. These projects provide insight into how AI and machine learning can be used to develop real-world solutions to the challenges arising from climate change. Recent projects undertaken by Reading students include:
The University is also home to the Thames Valley AI Hub (TVAI Hub), a community of academics, researchers, technicians, clinicians, and business strategists. The hub enables its members to learn, collaborate, and develop business opportunities in the artificial intelligence sector.
The Department of Meteorology’s networking day enables you to establish contacts in your chosen field, and learn more about what it's like to work in different sectors of meteorology and climate risk. Organisations that attend the event include instrumentation companies, private and government forecasters, catastrophe and insurance companies, and research organisations.
We regularly invite guest speakers to deliver lectures to our students. Previous speakers and topics have included:
Our interdisciplinary Walker Institute also runs a Welcome Session for MSc Climate Change and AI students, providing opportunities to connect with a network of collaborators working on food security and other climate risk indicators.
