Climate Physics

The Master’s program in Climate Physics at Utrecht University offers you a unique combination of theoretical courses and practical training in all aspects of the Earth’s climate. You’ll study the physics, dynamics, and chemistry of the atmosphere, oceans, and cryosphere – as well as explore their interactions.

The Master’s program in Climate Physics at Utrecht University trains you to be a highly skilled researcher by focusing on the fundamental physical processes that make up the Earth’s climate system. The complex nature of the work requires advanced mathematical skills right from the start.

Key facts

• You will build on this foundation by adding specialised theoretical, observational, and computational knowledge and skills relating to the atmosphere, meteorology,oceans, cryosphere (ice), and biosphere. Moreover, your instructors will encourage you to develop a critical attitude towards your research results and your underlying assumptions.
• Teaching staff
• Our teaching staff include leading experts from the five research fields encompassed by theInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU):

• Ocean Circulation and Climate

• Physical Oceanography of the Coastal Zone

• Atmospheric Dynamics and the Hydrological Cycle

• Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry

• Ice and Climate
• program Objective
• The MSc in Climate Physics is a two-year research Master’sprogramthat provides students with the knowledge and skills to evaluate the fundamental physical processes thatregulate the Earth’s climate system, including the dynamics of the planet’s atmosphere, ocean, and climate.
• Career Prospects
• Graduates receive the title of Master of Science (MSc) in Climate Physics.Most graduates findPhD positionsat the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU) or at other institutes in the Netherlands and abroad.
• The analytical and computing skills and critical academic attitude towards research acquired during this Master’s program are valued outside the academic world as well.
• Professional Careers
• Of our graduates who elect to pursue professional careers, 10% find employment in operational meteorology and the remaining 40% find employment in other careers.
• The last category includes such positions as an ABN AMRO bank trainee, a Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) researcher, and a high school teacher. These examples demonstrate that you’ll be able to apply the academic skills you acquire in a variety of professions and career paths.

Accredited by the NVAO - Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.

Courses include:

• Atmospheric Composition And Chemical Processes

• Boundary Layers, Transport And Mixing

• Current Themes In Climate Change

• Dynamical Meteorology

• Dynamical Oceanography

• Earth System Modeling

• Ice And Climate