The UK is making a significant stride toward a clean energy future with a £7.8m investment over five years, aimed at revolutionising fusion energy training and research.
This funding, a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the University of York, and the University of Edinburgh, will be distributed through UKAEA’s Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education and Research (FOSTER) Programme.
The initiative seeks to cultivate the next generation of specialists crucial for delivering fusion energy to the national grid.
This investment is not just about funding; it’s a commitment to building a robust and diverse skills ecosystem for the UK’s burgeoning fusion sector.
Nick Walkden, Head of Fusion Skills Operation and Delivery at UKAEA, explained: “The UK academic landscape has long been a global leader in fusion education and training at master’s degree level.
“These new collaborations leverage existing strengths and allow us to build new provision at this level to meet the future demands of the fusion sector as it continues to grow and drive towards the delivery of a fusion pilot plant.”
What is fusion energy and why does it matter to the UK?
Fusion energy is the power source of the stars and the Sun. It’s created by combining light atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes, at incredibly high temperatures and pressures to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a massive amount of energy in the process.
This is the opposite of nuclear fission, which involves splitting heavy atoms. Fusion is a tantalising prospect for energy production because it offers the potential for a nearly limitless, safe, and clean power source.
For the UK, developing fusion energy could be a game-changer. It promises to provide a long-term, secure, and low-carbon energy supply, reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to its net-zero emissions targets.
A successful fusion energy programme could also establish the UK as a global leader in a key technological field, driving economic growth, creating high-skilled jobs, and enhancing scientific and industrial capacity.
The UK’s commitment to advancing fusion energy training is a direct reflection of this potential, recognising that a skilled workforce is the foundation for turning this scientific possibility into a practical reality.
Boosting postgraduate opportunities and expanding access
The new funding will create a wealth of new opportunities for students, particularly at the postgraduate level.
A core goal is to enhance and expand Level 7 (master’s degree) qualifications in fusion and related fields.
The University of York will use its portion of the investment to grow its fusion energy training provision, funding new teaching positions to deliver dedicated master’s degree programmes. This expansion will not only increase the number of students receiving specialised fusion energy training but will also create new research opportunities for both undergraduate and PhD students.
The university will also expand its well-regarded Fusion Industry School and create a new massively open online course (MOOC), making foundational fusion education accessible to the public and inspiring a new wave of interest in the UK’s fusion sector.
Simultaneously, the University of Edinburgh will leverage its expertise in theoretical physics to tackle the complex challenge of developing and containing fusion plasmas.
They will establish a new Centre for Plasma Theory, bringing together their Schools of Mathematics and Physics and Astronomy to create a focal point for interdisciplinary fusion energy training.
The university will also develop a fusion stream within its existing MSc programmes and, crucially, provide scholarships to widen access and remove financial barriers for students from all backgrounds.
This ensures that the brightest minds, regardless of their financial situation, can contribute to the UK’s fusion ambitions.
Dr Moritz Linkmann, Director of Graduate School in Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, added: “Speaking on behalf of both the School of Mathematics and the School of Physics and Astronomy, we are very excited to enter this new collaboration with UKAEA.
“It will enable us to develop expertise specific to the sector across disciplines that will inspire and be reflected in our teaching and our research.
A nationwide strategy for a skilled workforce
The FOSTER Programme’s mission is to build a comprehensive fusion skills ecosystem with international reach.
This new investment is a crucial step in a broader strategy to address skills gaps and improve fusion energy training across all levels of education, from primary school to PhD.
By expanding postgraduate provision and fostering collaborations with top universities, UKAEA is laying the groundwork for a future where a steady pipeline of skilled experts can deliver fusion energy to the grid.
The success of this investment will be measured not just in research papers, but in the creation of a generation prepared to power the future.
