Fusion-EP Master
The European Master in Nuclear Fusion Science and Engineering Physics (FUSION-EP) programme builds, with its wide network of universities and institutes, upon excellent competencies in the area of high-level multinational research-oriented education in fusion-related engineering physics. The programme operates in close relation to the research activities of the partners, and with a well-integrated language and cultural experience.
Contents
Background
Magnetic confinement fusion is a field aiming at delivering a sustainable, carbon-free massive energy production track within a few decades. The field has changed gear since the ITER International Organisation has been set up and started to build the ITER device in the EU. The FUSION-EP programme, created in 2006, aims at training the next generations of magnetic confinement fusion physicists and engineers. Since the academic year 2019/2020, FUSION-EP shifted the coordination from University of Gent to Aix-Marseille University in order to put forward new objectives.
Introduction
The Fusion-EP master is a two-year international master focused on Nuclear Fusion. Each student resides at two universities in two different countries, 60 credits at university A, 60 credits in university B including the 30 credits for the master’s dissertation. The universities are located in Madrid, Gent, Stuttgart, Marseille, Nancy and Prague. Moreover, there are two winter events in Cadarache to visit the ITER and WEST Tokamak, one joint experimentation and analysis session in Prague where the COMPASS Tokamak is located. Furthermore all students meet twice in the yearly summer event, once as a master 1 student and once defending the dissertation as a master 2 student.
What follows is the official introduction from the UGent website. The studies in Engineering Physics are devoted to the technical applications of physics and strongly supported by the research activities in the different laboratories within the Consortium. By combining the basic concepts of a degree in engineering with the essentials of an education as an engineering physicist, these studies seek to train engineers capable of performing or leading technical and scientific research in universities, research establishments or industry. The engineering component of the studies makes the physics engineer familiar with the analysis, design and optimization of new and existing systems, products, machines, materials etc., for which simplification to manageable system descriptions (from rules of thumb to expert systems) is essential. In the physics component the reductionist approach holds centre stage; here experiments and mathematical modelling seek to reduce physical phenomena to their very essence and to discover the physical laws applicable. Even though the approach has a more philosophical slant, the rigorous attitude is essential, and a physical theory should stand a validation by experiment. Physics engineers are trained, first and foremost, for R&D purposes. Their wide-ranging education makes them fit for all companies and research establishments where interdisciplinary R&D requires in-depth knowledge of physics. They will constitute a substantial percentage of the large number of additional researchers required for the establishment of the EU as the best centre of excellence in the world. Both components of the studies especially qualify the physics engineer to fill executive jobs at a later stage.
Applying
For the academic year starting in September 2020, fifteen scholarships, including the participation fees and a monthly allowance, will be awarded to the applicants with the highest profile. Among these scholarships, about twelve will be awarded to applicants from Partner Countries. Applying for the scholarship has to be done before 15/01/2020 on the official website of the Fusion-EP master. Students can also enroll without a scholarship, usually with alternative funding. In this case the tuition fee is €4.500 per year, so €9.000 in for the complete master, for students coming from programme countries. The programme countries are all EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey. For students coming from all other countries the tuition fee is €9.000 per year, so €18.000 for the complete master. Students who pay the complete tuition fee are fully insured, and accommodation for the 2 Summer Events, 2 Winter Events in Cadarache and the Joint experimentation and analysis session in Prague are included. Applying without a scholarship has to be done before 15/05/2020. For students who do not live in programme countries, make sure to apply for a VISA in time, without a VISA you will not be able to start the Master in September.
- Application for a scholarship until 15/01/2020
- Application without a scholarship for programme countries until 15/05/2020
- Application without a scholarship for all other countries until 15/05/2020
Universities
Each student will study in two of the following universities, one for the first year and one for the second year. With the exception of Madrid where you will study at two universities at the same time, UCM and UC3M. For the master thesis, which is written in the second semester of the second year, a third location can be chosen.
- Universiteit Gent
- Universität Stuttgart
- Université de Lorraine
- Aix-Marseille Université
- Czech Technical University
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- University Carlos III of Madrid
Educational events
During the first two weeks of December in the second year, the M2 students will spend 2 weeks in Prague at the COMPASS Tokamak for the joint experimentation and analysis session (6 ECTS). In February the M2 students spend two weeks in CEA Cadarache for a visit to the ITER Tokamak and a Joint Practicum at the WEST Tokamak (6 ECTS). During the final day of this event, the M1 students will join to watch the presentations and to get to know the M2 students. Finally, there is a summer event in July each year where all students are expected to attend the thesis defense and graduation of the M2 students.
Courses
The courses of the master depend on the chosen university. The master consists of 120 where 60 credits are taken at the first university and 60 credits at the second university. During the first year all students take general courses in nuclear fusion, physics, quantum mechanics, mathematics, electrodynamics, ... However, the exact program for the first year differs in each university. During the second year, the students have the possibility to continue with the Fusion science track or the Fusion technology track, which again differ in each university. Finally, the master thesis can be written in the second university or at a third location of choice if a thesis is found and an agreement is made with the universities.
