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.
Introduction
The Fusion-EP master is a two-year international master where students will spend each year in a different university, located in Madrid, Gent, Stuttgart, Marseille, Nancy or 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 and finally two summer events in one of the participating universities for the thesis defense. The master is focused on Nuclear Fusion and there are two tracks to chosen from: Fusion science and Fusion technology.
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 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. For students coming for partner 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.
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. Next, during 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. 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.
