Fusion-EP
FUSION-EP[1] is a 2 year Master of Science programme by a consortium of 7 European universities. Its goal is the education of the next generation of scientists and engineers for the peaceful use of nuclear fusion. In order to ensure a high quality, Europe's major fusion labs are involved in the programme as associated partners. The full name of the programme is "European Master of Science in Nuclear Fusion and Engineering Physics." It was formerly supported by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European commission as an Erasmus Mundus programme[2], but still operates within its legal framework.
The emphasis is on research orientation, internationality, and student mobility. In the end, the students are awarded a joint degree of all universities. The students are selected in a joint procedure by representatives of all partners, and attend yearly meetings of all enrolled students. For each cohort, a limited number of scholarships is available to the best students from among applicants. A large percentage of graduates continue to earn PhDs in the fusion research field.
Partner universities
The partnering universities are:
- Universiteit Gent[3] (Belgium, coordinating university)
- Université de Lorraine (France)
- Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires (CEA/INSTN, France, starting 2016)
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid[4] (Spain)
- Universität Stuttgart[5] (Germany)
- KIT Karlsruhe (Germany, starting 2016)
The associated fusion research labs are
- Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Germany
- CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
- Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), France
Organisation and Curriculum
The master consists of 120 ECTS-credits including a 30 ECTS master thesis. After the application period ends in January, the steering committee selects the top students for inclusion into the programme and the award of scholarships.
For mobility, the students will stay one year each at 2 different partner countries. Each year in July, a joint meeting of all students and steering committee members takes place in one of the countries. Second year students will give their thesis defence and be graduated at this summer event. In addition, 2 advanced experimental block courses take place, at the ITER site in Cadarache, and in Prag, on the COMPASS tokamak. They are done jointly by all students, regardless of their host university.
In the first year, a solid foundation in plasma and fusion physics and technology is laid. In the second year, specialisation toward the thesis topic takes place, and the thesis is written. In each academic year, a total of 6 ECTS points is set aside for language and culture courses of the host country.
References
- ↑ Erasmus Mundus Fusion-EP, retrieved 2015-10-14
- ↑ Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses, retrieved 2015-10-15
- ↑ Ghent University: European Master of Science in Nuclear Fusion and Engineering Physics, retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ Master in Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, retrieved 2015-10-14
- ↑ FUSION-EP, The European Master in Nuclear Fusion Science and Engineering Physics, Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology, University of Stuttgart, retrieved 2015-10-14