Science

Master of Science in Meteorology

The Master of Science in Meteorology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in meteorology, atmospheric science, and climate studies. The programme provides specialised training in weather forecasting, climate modelling, atmospheric dynamics, and environmental meteorology.

Core areas include atmospheric dynamics, synoptic meteorology, climatology, weather forecasting, climate modelling, atmospheric physics, satellite meteorology, agricultural meteorology, hydrological meteorology, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, practicals, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Earth and Climate Science. UoN is a public university offering the programme over a minimum of four semesters and a maximum of twelve semesters, with each semester comprising 15 weeks.

Students develop competencies in meteorology, atmospheric science, weather forecasting, climate analysis, environmental meteorology, and research. The programme includes 6 core units, 6 electives, and a research project, preparing graduates for forecasting, research, and advisory roles.

UoN charges KES 801,000 total for the programme (~KES 400,500/year). Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class degree in Meteorology or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as meteorologists, weather forecasters, climate scientists, atmospheric researchers, aviation meteorologists, agricultural meteorologists, and lecturers in meteorology across meteorological departments, aviation, agriculture, research institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Atmospheric Dynamics and Thermodynamics
Synoptic Meteorology and Weather Forecasting
Climatology and Climate Modelling
Satellite and Radar Meteorology
Agricultural and Hydrological Meteorology
Atmospheric Physics and Radiation
Numerical Weather Prediction
Climate Change Analysis and Adaptation
Research Methods in Atmospheric Sciences
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Atmospheric Dynamics
Synoptic Meteorology and Weather Forecasting
Climatology and Climate Modelling
Atmospheric Physics and Radiation
Satellite and Radar Meteorology
Agricultural and Hydrological Meteorology
Numerical Weather Prediction
Climate Change Analysis
Research Methods in Atmospheric Sciences
Thesis Research

Certifications

WMO Professional Certification
KMD Professional Registration

Specializations

Synoptic Meteorology and Forecasting

Focuses on synoptic meteorology, covering weather systems, analysis, forecasting, prediction, and managing weather forecasting.

Climatology and Climate Change

Examines climatology, covering climate, variability, change, modelling, and managing climate studies.

Agricultural Meteorology

Covers agricultural meteorology, covering weather, crops, climate, advisory, and managing agricultural meteorology.

Hydrological Meteorology

Focuses on hydrological meteorology, covering rainfall, hydrology, water, forecasting, and managing hydrological meteorology.

Aviation Meteorology

Examines aviation meteorology, covering weather, aviation, safety, forecasting, and managing aviation meteorology.

Satellite and Remote Sensing Meteorology

Covers satellite meteorology, covering satellites, remote sensing, imagery, analysis, and managing satellite meteorology.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 400,500
Private, up to: Ksh 295,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Atmospheric Dynamics
Synoptic Meteorology and Weather Forecasting
Climatology and Climate Modelling
Atmospheric Physics and Radiation
Satellite and Radar Meteorology
Agricultural and Hydrological Meteorology
Numerical Weather Prediction
Climate Change Analysis
Research Methods in Atmospheric Sciences
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Atmospheric Dynamics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines equations, motion, circulation, stability, and managing atmospheric dynamics.
Synoptic Meteorology and Weather Forecasting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers weather systems, analysis, charts, forecasting, and managing synoptic meteorology.
Climatology and Climate Modelling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines climate, variability, change, modelling, and managing climate studies.
Atmospheric Physics and Radiation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers radiation, thermodynamics, clouds, precipitation, and managing atmospheric physics.
Satellite and Radar Meteorology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines satellites, remote sensing, imagery, radar, and managing satellite and radar meteorology.
Numerical Weather Prediction
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers models, data, assimilation, prediction, and managing numerical weather prediction.
Agricultural and Hydrological Meteorology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines weather, crops, climate, rainfall, hydrology, and managing agricultural and hydrological meteorology.
Climate Change Analysis and Adaptation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers variability, extremes, impacts, adaptation, and managing climate change analysis.
Aviation Meteorology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines weather, aviation, safety, forecasting, and managing aviation meteorology.
Boundary Layer Meteorology and Air Pollution
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers boundary layer, turbulence, pollution, dispersion, and managing boundary layer meteorology.
Tropical Meteorology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines tropical weather, monsoons, cyclones, convection, and managing tropical meteorology.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised research project on a meteorology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and atmospheric science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Synoptic Meteorology and Forecasting
Focuses on synoptic meteorology, covering weather systems, analysis, forecasting, prediction, and managing weather forecasting.
Climatology and Climate Change
Examines climatology, covering climate, variability, change, modelling, and managing climate studies.
Agricultural Meteorology
Covers agricultural meteorology, covering weather, crops, climate, advisory, and managing agricultural meteorology.
Hydrological Meteorology
Focuses on hydrological meteorology, covering rainfall, hydrology, water, forecasting, and managing hydrological meteorology.
Aviation Meteorology
Examines aviation meteorology, covering weather, aviation, safety, forecasting, and managing aviation meteorology.
Satellite and Remote Sensing Meteorology
Covers satellite meteorology, covering satellites, remote sensing, imagery, analysis, and managing satellite meteorology.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Meteorology programme combines lectures, practicals, computational sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover atmospheric dynamics, synoptic meteorology, climatology, and satellite meteorology. Atmospheric dynamics sessions examine equations, motion, circulation, stability, and managing atmospheric dynamics. Synoptic meteorology sessions cover weather systems, analysis, charts, forecasting, and managing synoptic meteorology. Climatology sessions cover climate, variability, change, modelling, and managing climate studies. Atmospheric physics sessions cover radiation, thermodynamics, clouds, precipitation, and managing atmospheric physics. Satellite meteorology sessions cover satellites, remote sensing, imagery, analysis, and managing satellite meteorology. Agricultural meteorology sessions cover weather, crops, climate, advisory, and managing agricultural meteorology. Hydrological meteorology sessions cover rainfall, hydrology, water, forecasting, and managing hydrological meteorology. Numerical weather prediction sessions cover models, data, assimilation, prediction, and managing NWP. Computational sessions provide hands-on experience with meteorological software, data analysis, and weather modelling. Practicals provide hands-on experience with weather observation, data interpretation, and forecasting techniques. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current issues in meteorology. Guest lectures from experienced meteorologists, climate scientists, and KMD professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research project on a meteorology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is the premier meteorology training programme in Kenya, linked to KMD and WMO.
Programme covers both theoretical and applied meteorology including climate change and aviation.
Graduates are eligible for WMO professional certification and KMD professional registration.
Growing demand for meteorology professionals in aviation, agriculture, and climate adaptation.

Against it

Only one university (UoN, public) confirmed offering this programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme fees are high at KES 801,000 total (~KES 400,500/year).
Programme requires a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology or science discipline, limiting access.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public401k to 401k

401k at University of Nairobi401k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 296k

150k at Kabarak University296k at USIU-Africa

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN MSc Meteorology ~400K/yr (earthclimatesciences.uonbi.ac.ke). USIU ~295K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN may offer scholarships for eligible students. WMO may offer research grants for meteorology research. Some government agencies, aviation companies, and international bodies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UoN Scholarship
WMO Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UoN Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 400,500Kenyan
University of Nairobi offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
WMO Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000
WMO may offer research grants for meteorology research and training.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN accepts Upper Second Class in Meteorology, Lower Second Class with two years of experience, pass degree with five years of experience, or a science degree with a Postgraduate Diploma in Meteorology. Contact UoN for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, practical reports, computational exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering atmospheric dynamics, synoptic meteorology, climatology, and atmospheric physics.
Practical and Computational Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through forecasting exercises, data analysis, computational modelling, and demonstrating meteorology skills.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Supervised research project on a meteorology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and atmospheric science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Meteorology through the Department of Earth and Climate Science. The programme meets CUE guidelines for postgraduate training in meteorology. Graduates are eligible for WMO professional certification and KMD professional registration.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Meteorology through the Department of Earth and Climate Science. The programme meets CUE guidelines for postgraduate training in meteorology. Graduates are eligible for WMO professional certification and KMD professional registration.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Meteorologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts meteorological analysis and forecasting, overseeing weather, climate, analysis, and managing meteorological services.
Weather Forecaster
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages weather forecasting operations, overseeing prediction, analysis, communication, and managing weather forecasting.
Climate Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts climate research and analysis, overseeing modelling, variability, change, and managing climate science.
Aviation Meteorologist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides aviation weather services, overseeing forecasting, safety, briefings, and managing aviation meteorology.
Agricultural Meteorologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides agricultural weather advisory services, overseeing crops, climate, advisory, and managing agricultural meteorology.
Meteorology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches meteorology at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GRADS
SoftwarePrimary
GRADS for meteorological data analysis and visualisation, covering data, analysis, visualisation, and managing meteorological data.
Python
Software
Python for atmospheric data analysis and modelling, covering data, analysis, modelling, and managing computational meteorology.
WRF Model
Software
WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model for numerical weather prediction, covering modelling, simulation, prediction, and managing NWP.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for atmospheric data analysis and computation, covering modelling, analysis, simulation, and managing computational meteorology.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Meteorology is just about reading weather forecasts.
Meteorology covers comprehensive atmospheric dynamics, climate modelling, satellite meteorology, and research beyond just reading weather forecasts.
This programme is only for weather presenters.
Meteorology skills are valuable for aviation, agriculture, hydrology, climate research, and environmental management beyond just weather presenting.
Climate change is just about global warming.
Climate change covers comprehensive variability, extremes, impacts, adaptation, and modelling beyond just global warming.
Weather forecasting is just about looking at charts.
Weather forecasting uses numerical models, satellite data, radar, and computational methods beyond just looking at charts.
Meteorology careers are limited in Kenya.
Kenya's growing aviation, agriculture, disaster management, and climate adaptation sectors create demand for meteorology professionals.
Satellite meteorology is just about looking at cloud images.
Satellite meteorology covers comprehensive remote sensing, data analysis, atmospheric profiling, and numerical assimilation beyond just looking at cloud images.