Student placements and work experience

We are passionate about inspiring young people and students to pursue a career in fusion energy. We offer summer placements, year 10+ work experience and a summer school!

Scientists looking at screens in the MAST Upgrade control room

Undergraduate and masters placements

Two researchers holding a meeting at UKAEA

UKAEA hosts a variety of placements each year for undergraduates and integrated Master’s students at UK universities, across various disciplines in the organisation:

  • Summer placements (8-12 weeks)
  • Industrial placements (6-12 months)

These placements provide students with the opportunity to build on their knowledge and provides them with exposure to the Fusion industry, as well as gaining invaluable experience in the workplace. Placements are a fantastic pipeline for the student to join UKAEA upon degree completion, either through the Graduate Scheme or as a direct entry.

What is the recruitment process?

Below is an overview of the process and timelines when applying for either a summer or industrial placement at UKAEA.

When applying for a summer or industrial placement opportunity, please be aware that you must meet the below criteria to be eligible: 

  • Be in full time education at a UK university and returning to university following the placement.
  • Have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement.
  • Be able to work the full-time hours of 37.5 per week.
  • For an industrial placement, you must be required or have requested to take a placement year.
  • If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact EarlyCareers@ukaea.uk.

For further information on Master’s and PhD placements, which are generally set up in collaboration with university courses with which we have special partner arrangements, please refer to the Postgraduate Opportunities page: Postgraduate opportunities | UKAEA Careers.

Typical opportunities

South East Physics Network

South East Physics Network (SEPN) offers placements to those working in a physics discipline. The recruitment process is driven via the collaborating universities and will be advertised locally.

EUROfusion

EUROfusion offers placements that are generally arranged directly with universities.

UK Atomic Energy Authority

Occasionally,  there are opportunities funded through collaborations between UKAEA and external organisations and institutions, who will directly advertise them.

Work experience 2024

Applications for places at UKAEA’s Experience Programme 2024 are now closed.

Details of how to apply for places in 2025 will be published on this page in the Autumn of 2024.

UKAEA only offers Work Experience to students in academic years 10 and 11 for one of two pre-set weeks in the summer.

UKAEA does not currently offer Work Experience to Students in academic years 12 and 13.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact WorkExperience@ukaea.uk

Two staff holding a meeting at UKAEA
Faiz Rahman, UKAEA Graduate Mechatronics Engineer

Case study

Faiz Rahman joins UKAEA’s graduate scheme after completing his student placement

Graduate Mechatronics Engineer

Before Faiz was a graduate, he took part in a student placement with us at UKAEA in the very department that he works in now. After graduating he chose to return to our team, already safe in the knowledge that UKAEA was where he wanted to be.

current opportunities

Browse some of our current job vacancies below.

Unix System Administrator

UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire or Rotherham, Yorkshire

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