You must be able to read and understand specialist literature in English in order to pursue your studies. However, you will not be required to provide separate proof of your language proficiency.

You should also have an interest in natural science, not be afraid of math or physics, and be curious about how weather and climate affect our world.

Program structure and subject specializations

1st and 2nd semester

You will receive a comprehensive introduction to meteorology and climatology. You will also learn the fundamentals of experimental and theoretical physics and mathematics.

 3rd to 6th semester:

You will consolidate your knowledge in the main areas of meteorology. From the third semester onwards, you will also attend physical and meteorological lab courses to practice setting up experiments in a laboratory setting and handling measuring instruments. In addition, there are interdisciplinary mandatory elective courses (lectures and labs).

The course is supplemented by a four-week work placement, which provides initial insights into the wide-ranging field of work of a meteorologist.

The bachelor’s thesis and the final oral examination are scheduled for the sixth semester.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

A semester abroad is possible during the bachelor’s program (from the 5th semester), between your bachelor’s and master’s studies, as well as during the master’s program. We recognize all credits earned abroad to the extent possible. So there is no need to worry that a stay abroad will result in lost time or have a detrimental effect – quite the opposite!

Internships

As part of the Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, you will complete a four-week work placement, preferably from the 4th academic semester.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

Your studies will provide you with a broad scientific and interdisciplinary basis, enabling you to contribute to solving key problems in the field of weather and climate. You will acquire the ability to approach and solve complex problems creatively using an analytical mindset and systematic methods.

The following professional fields will be open to you:

Career with the German Weather Service (Deutsche Wetterdienst, DWD)

• One of the main employers for meteorologists, especially in the Rhine-Main region.
• Meteorologists work in the field of weather forecasting and in the research and development of new weather products and computational models.
• Informing and warning the public is another of the DWD’s main areas of activity.

Weather in the media

• Career at a media company, e.g. at a radio or television station.
• Preparation of forecasts based on model calculations and observations as well as presentation of the forecasts.

Industry

• Thanks to your basic scientific training, you will also find employment in companies in the chemical, aerospace, shipping, automotive and combustion technology, and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as many others.
• A degree in meteorology provides important basic skills for the evaluation of satellite data or large databases.
• Energy sector: Now more than ever, it is important to use renewable energies as efficiently as possible – and this is only possible with a sound knowledge of meteorological relationships.

Damage calculation and risk assessment for insurance companies

• Large reinsurance companies, such as Münchner Rückversicherung, now employ meteorologists who carry out computer-aided analyses and calculations to assess the risks of extreme weather events such as storms, floods, and droughts.
• Damage progression and the resulting measures are simulated and evaluated accordingly.

Jobs in administrative bodies

• Meteorologists are involved in topics such as air pollution control or plant protection.
• In the construction of buildings and roads, the work of meteorologists makes it possible to assess the potential impact on people, flora, and fauna.
• Agricultural meteorologists use current weather conditions to provide information which helps assess whether crop protection products or insecticides need to be used in agriculture.

Academia

• Work in research institutions or at universities to help the science of meteorology gain new insights.

You will also be in demand in other, perhaps not directly obvious areas as a generalist with special skills for solving complex problems.

Employment at a bank

• At banks, you can deal with options on weather-dependent events or goods as well as statistical analyses of stock market developments.
• You may also be involved in the development of new financial products based on your analytical problem-solving skills.

Financial sector

• The techniques used to understand the development of a share price are the same as those used to analyze long-term meteorological time series.

Corporate consulting

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.