Home / Programmes / Fusion Futures / FOSTER / Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education and Research (FOSTER) for Academia
FOSTER’s ambition is to increase the quality and quantity of the talent pool available to the UK fusion sector, creating new pathways for learners to enter the world of fusion, and targeted outreach to those who are traditionally underrepresented in the sector.
Barriers to fusion skills growth include an insufficiency of availability of training at Masters and PhD levels, limiting the availability of fusion-specific and highly specialist skills.
FOSTER is committed to positive partnerships with universities, not just to support the development of Masters level courses and PhD studies, but to work with institutions in reducing financial barriers to make higher level study accessible to a broad cross-section of society.
Embracing individuals from varied backgrounds and perspectives cultivates a culture of inclusivity and creativity, where new ideas and innovations can thrive.
Bursaries
Under the FOSTER Programme UKAEA is seeking to make bursaries available to UK Universities offering Masters level courses with fusion-specific content. We are calling for funding requests from institutions who believe they have an eligible course to help us gauge the most impactful application of the available funds.
Universities who are seeking to include bursaries as part of a wider L7 partnership proposal do not have to complete the questionnaire but should seek to include the relevant information in their initial proposal document and discuss this with the programme team.
In line with FOSTER’s goal to support wider, more diverse access into these eligible courses a portion of funding will be ring-fenced for students applying from typically under-represented groups.
Request funding for your institution
Any questions can be sent to FusionSkills@ukaea.uk.
Download our definition of a Fusion Masters (PDF, 222KB)
Masters Level Partnerships
FOSTER is seeking to partner with universities across the UK to enhance and embed fusion content into Masters level teaching programmes. This could be through new fusion-specific modules or courses, enhanced delivery of existing courses to increase student numbers, or vocational routes such as higher-level apprenticeships. This should also focus on supporting academic institutions in their growth, with the staff, the knowledge, and the skills to build on these provisions in the future – all while targeting at least 400 new students trained through these partnerships.
FOSTER aims to work bilaterally with universities who have made, or seek to make, fusion a significant part of their growth strategies, and are willing to match or exceed the level of investment to create an impactful new or enhanced provision which is appealing to prospective students in the short, medium and long-term.
The intention of the FOSTER programme is to provide matched support in a flexible manner that meets the needs of universities which are proposing partnerships. Such proposals may include support for new academic/staff positions, projects to be undertaken by the university, studentships, or any other form of support that the university deems appropriate to achieve agreed goals.
MSc Project Opportunities
FOSTER has an ambition to stimulate more industry-supported MSc projects. In preparation for launching an external project later in 2025, the FOSTER team is keen to hear from the fusion sector if companies and organisations already support MSc projects, and what would encourage them to support more.
Industry PhD Support Scheme
This is a competitive process which enabled fusion industry companies to bid for £40,000 awards to be used against sponsorship of PhD students. Within the process, bidders must demonstrate that PhDs undertaken through this scheme are net additional and beneficial to the wider UK fusion sector.
FOSTER is targeting at least 40 net additional PhDs during the four-year course of the programme. Applications for PhDs starting in Autumn 2025 have now closed. Applications for PhDs starting in Autumn 2026 should open in early September 2025
International Fellowship Scheme
The International Fellowships scheme is being launched to support the development of independent research skills, build international networks and create technical and academic leaders able to train the next generation of fusion talent.
The scheme aims to create two-year research opportunities at post-doctoral level, through partnerships between UK and international organisations. Fellows in areas of shared scientific interest will be hired in complementary pairs, one employed in the UK and one employed internationally, with a minimum of 12 weeks exchange to the partner organisation.
Fellows do not need to work on the same research challenge, but should work in a close enough area of interest that collaboration is enabled. Initially, partnerships will be formed between UKAEA and international organisations, with the scheme expanding to include other UK-based universities and fusion companies later in 2025.
Summer Internships
Since 2021, 83 students have participated in placements in 20 host organisations around the UK, with many receiving offers of employment after their graduation. FOSTER is investing in the Summer Internships scheme to ensure that this important project continues, giving undergraduates an invaluable opportunity to gain experience within the growing UK fusion industry.
Internships are offered to UK-based undergraduates (those graduating after the September of their placement year) between June and August. In 2025, the scheme will provide students a subsistence payment of £3,900 once they have accepted a placement at a host organisation.
