What is it all about?

The bachelor's degree program in Meteorology and Climate Physics combines a sound basic education in physics with a special focus on the physics of the atmosphere. In the first three semesters, the program is therefore almost identical to the bachelor's degree program in Physics: you will deal intensively with classical experimental and theoretical physics, modern physics and mathematics. You will also take your first courses in meteorology and climatology.

From the fourth semester onwards, you will deepen your knowledge in key areas of meteorology, including theoretical meteorology, synoptics (meteorology), numerics and statistics, circulation and composition of the atmosphere. A meteorological lab course and a seminar on weather forecasting give you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge in practice.

The program prepares you optimally for a further master's degree. You will lay the foundation for a wide range of career paths beyond the well-known field of weather forecasting, for example in the preparation of environmental reports, risk assessment of natural hazards in the insurance industry, the energy industry or in numerical simulation.

Program structure

During your studies, you have various subjects, which consist of one or more modules. A module deals with a specific topic and consists of one or more courses. In the module handbook for your degree program, you will find a description of the modules and their subject assignment as well as a study plan. This gives you an orientation as to which courses you should attend in which semester in order to complete your studies within the standard period of study. It takes into account a balanced distribution of courses over the individual semesters. It also ensures that you are first taught the important basics before moving on to more advanced topics. Your individual course of study may differ from this.

In the first part of your studies (semesters 1-3), as in all degree programs at the Department of Physics, you will undergo basic physical and mathematical training, consisting of the following subjects

• Classical Experimental Physics with the modules Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Optics & Thermodynamics as well as the practical course Classical Physics 1,
  
• Theoretical and Modern Physics with an introductory module and the modules Mechanics and Modern Physics for Meteorologists and
• Mathematics and Computer Science with Advanced Mathematics I-III and Programming.

In addition, you will take the subject

• Fundamentals of Meteorology and Climate Physics, as part of which you take the module examination Introduction to Meteorology and Climate Physics at the end of the second semester.

From the third semester onwards, your curriculum will be expanded to include the subjects Theoretical and Applied Meteorology and you will gradually deepen your basic knowledge of meteorology and climatology.

In addition to an introductory and an advanced module in Theoretical Meteorology (semesters 3-5), you will complete a large number of lectures, exercises and a further practical course in Applied Meteorology (semesters 3-6), e.g. on topics such as meteorological measurement, numerics & statistics and synoptics (meteorology).

In the sixth semester, your curriculum includes the module Circulation & Composition of the Atmosphere, which provides further in-depth study of the fundamentals of meteorology and climate physics . At the same time, you will complete your bachelor's thesis at the end of your studies. You can find out more about this below.

Internship

The bachelor's degree program in Meteorology and Climate Physics at KIT does not include a mandatory internship. However, you can complete a voluntary internship during your studies, as long as it is related to your program content. If the internship covers at least half of the lecture period, you can apply for a semester of leave at the Students Office.

Stays abroad

The bachelor's degree program in Meteorology and Climate Physics gives you the opportunity to gain valuable international experience. For example, you can spend a semester abroad studying at a partner university without paying tuition fees and earn credits that can be recognized when you return to KIT.

Information on existing exchange programs, such as ERASMUS+ or the Eucor network, can be found on the website of the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research as well as at the International Students Office of KIT, which also offers other programs for all KIT students.

Bachelor's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will write a bachelor's thesis in which you demonstrate that you can work on a subject-specific problem independently and within a limited period of time using scientific methods. The maximum processing time is six months. You can write your thesis in German or English.

The bachelor's thesis also includes a presentation, which must take place no later than four weeks after submitting the thesis.

With a bachelor's degree in Meteorology and Climate Physics, you will have career prospects in the well-known field of weather forecasting (at national and private weather services) as well as in the field of environmental assessments (e.g. at engineering firms that prepare studies on wind power locations or the impact of urban development on air quality) and in the insurance and energy industry, where you can, for example, assess the risk of natural and environmental disasters or make weather forecasts with regard to securing the power supply. You can also work for banks and companies that develop software or carry out numerical simulations of all kinds.

Characteristic features of Meteorology and Climate Physics B.Sc. at KIT

• anchoring of the degree program at the Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK) of the KIT Department of Physics with a strong research focus
  

• close integration of theoretical, experimental and practical aspects of meteorology on the basis of a sound basic education in mathematics and physics
  

• bridge courses and semester-accompanying courses at the MINT-Kolleg
  

• possibility of decelerated studies through participation in courses at the MINT-Kolleg
  

• consecutive English-language master's program
  

• atmospheric research at KIT among the top universities worldwide (8th place in the Shanghai ranking)
  

• small study program enables small study groups, close contact with lecturers and personal advice
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• orientation week before the start of lectures
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• Lernraum app
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network

Higher education entrance qualification (HZB)

Germans and persons of equal status to Germans (i.e. EU/EEA nationals and non-EU/EEA nationals with a German higher education entrance qualification) are entitled to study at KIT if they have one of the following qualifications:

1. General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
2. (relevant) subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification (not Fachhochschulreife)
3. Delta examination of the University of Mannheim (for holders of a Fachhochschulreife)
4. recognized advanced vocational training (e.g. master craftsperson) or vocational training, professional experience and aptitude test for those with professional qualifications

For further options, see §58 of the "Landeshochschulgesetz" (State Higher Education Act).

Please note: German nationals with a foreign school-leaving qualification must have the relevant "Regierungspräsidium" (regional authority) certify that their qualification is equivalent to the German Abitur.

For non-EU/EEA nationals with a foreign school-leaving certificate (hereinafter also referred to simply as non-EU/EEA nationals), the school-leaving certificate from some countries is recognized as a direct university entrance qualification in Germany. In many cases, however, in addition to the school-leaving certificate, a university entrance examination and/or a successful year of study in the home country and/or the "Feststellungsprüfung" must be proven with valid documents in order to be allowed to study a bachelor's degree in Germany. You can find the country-specific regulations in the DAAD admissions database or on the Anabin website (in German only) of the "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen" (Central Office for Foreign Education). Further information is available from the International Students Office.

Language requirements and certificates

For the bachelor's degree program in Meteorology and Climate Physics, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language, which must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Proof of sufficient German language skills

Your higher education entrance qualification (HZB) is sufficient proof of your German language skills,

• if you obtained it at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,

• if you are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or

• if you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country on the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Kultusministerkonferenz (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany).

If you did not obtain your higher education entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution, you must provide a separate language certificate - regardless of your nationality. Only the following are accepted

• the passed „Prüfungsteil Deutsch“ of the Feststellungsprüfung,
• the passed DSH with the overall result DSH-2,
• the passed TestDaF level 4 in all four parts of the exam (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression, oral expression) or
• a comparable, recognized certificate of sufficient German language skills.

To find out which other recognized certificates can be accepted as comparable by KIT, please contact

• as a German or German-equivalent applicant: Studierendenservice
• as an applicant with non-EU citizenship: International Students Office

Please note:
Language certificates are extremely important application documents that can prevent your enrollment if you do not submit them on time. Therefore, check early on in the application process whether you have the necessary language certificates for your degree program and, if necessary, plan to take one of the language tests mentioned above. The deadline by which you must submit language certificates corresponds to the enrollment deadline stated in your admission offer. In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of this deadline. The extension can be granted until the start of the lecture period at the latest.

Additional necessary requirements for enrollment

For Germans and those with German equivalent status, an additional necessary requirement for enrollment is proof of participation in a study orientation test (e.g. www.was-studiere-ich.de) or a study orientation consultation in accordance with §7 of the "Landeshochschulgesetz" (State Higher Education Act), e.g. by the Student Advisory Service (ZSB) of KIT. Non-EU/EEA nationals do not have to provide this proof.

• all year round Information events of the Student Advisory Service (ZSB) on your desired degree programs, application and admission as well as starting your studies
  
• Try out KIT - clarify your interests and support your study decision by taking advantage of the diverse summer offers or participating in taster lectures.
  
• Campus Day: experience the campus live (together with your family) in spring and make your first personal contacts with the departments and their students
  
• Studieninformationtag: visit KIT on the state-wide study information day in November and experience the lecture hall feeling for the first time
  
• topMINT: you don't know yet what you want to study and need to bridge the summer? Take advantage of our orientation semester before you start your studies.
  
• Use our central online portal studienstart.kit.edu with all the important information and services you need to prepare for your studies and your first semester at KIT. Be it preparatory courses, study-related courses or mentoring programs.
  
• Orientation phase before the start of lectures - from students for students to get to know KIT, your fellow students and your student council. You will receive specific information on this when you enrol.
  
• You will be welcomed by KIT with a colorful supporting program at the welcome event for first semester students. You will receive the invitation after your enrollment.
  

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Physik
• Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft Physik

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