The University of Reading is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world. It is a global university that enjoys a world-class reputation for teaching, research and enterprise. The University was established in 1892, received its Royal Charter in 1926, and has developed into a leading force in British and international higher education. It aim to deliver a world-class student experience, through research-led teaching and has an excellent graduate employability record. The University of Reading has a particular strength in atmospheric sciences and in the last two years has grown this significantly with strategic investments in Professorial and Research staff.
The Department of Meteorology, which celebrated its 40th birthday in 2006, is internationally renowned for its excellent teaching and research in atmospheric, oceanic and climate science. Established in 1965, it is the only UK university which offers a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in meteorology. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 75% of the department’s research was graded as world leading or internationally excellent. This was the highest-graded UK department focusing on the fundamental science of weather and climate.
The status of its dynamic and productive research environment is reflected in the long-standing presence of staff from the UK Met Office, and major elements of the NERC funded National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO). The department is also part of the Met Office Academic Partnership. It is a major part of the University’s Walker Institute for Climate System Research. It also works closely with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) located close to the University.
