FAQ

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the main UK government agency for funding academic research and training in engineering and the physical sciences https://www.epsrc.ukri.org

Students undertake a 4 year PhD, where the first year supports students to explore the research area and build strong expertise in their chosen discipline while developing the skills and knowledge to cross disciplinary boundaries effectively. Students also undertake a formal programme of taught coursework to develop and enhance technical knowledge across a range of appropriate disciplines, as well as enhancing skills. This will prepare you well for your substantial research project at the international frontier of fusion science, which is the main part of your doctoral degree.

Don’t let this intimidate you! The Fusion CDT programme is a 4 year PhD programme which gives us plenty of time in the first 6 – 12 months to teach you all you will need to know to fulfil a successful research project.

Find out more about the taught courses and other training that compliment your research project

We always have a lot of applicants for the Fusion CDT Programme and our responsibility is to choose the people we feel are best suited to the project and the supervisor. If you have achieved a good honours degree and you are enthusiastic about Fusion Energy, we will look forward to hearing from you. If perhaps you didn’t achieve the highest award or you would feel happier having some fusion energy knowledge before you apply, you may be interested in completing a Masters in Fusion Energy before you apply to the doctoral programme.

As we are a partnership of five universities you get the chance to be taught at all five partner institutions, York, Durham, Liverpool, Manchester and Oxford by world leading academics in the field, as well as by world experts from national labs such as Rutherford Appleton and UK Atomic Energy Authority. Find out more about taught modules and other training.

Joining the CDT gives you excellent opportunities to meet other researchers in fusion, whether lecturers at the universities or peers working on complementary subjects. During your first year you will learn alongside other Fusion CDT students, with teambuilding and social activities built into the programme to support you developing a network of contacts.  Find out more about Teambuilding and Collaboration

You will be paid a minimum of the equivalent to the EPSRC stipend each year. Find out more about stipends.

You will receive additional funding over your 4 year PhD to enable you to attend conferences and summer schools all over the world.

Funding will be available to fund a collaborative project which is sourced by you with the help of your supervisor. The project can be UK-based or international; it can be linked to your research or you can choose to venture into a different area – either way, you will increase your knowledge and network of collaborators.

There will be an amount of funds held by your supervisor for research consumables and equipment.

Some funds are available, awarded on a case by case basis, if you have additional costs associated with your studies (e.g. because of caring responsibilities).

Each year we link with Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and other leading universities to offer an Open Day for students interested in a PhD or Masters degree in fusion energy.
The Open Day features:

• Opportunities to meet our world leading academics and to talk to our current PhD students.
• Talks on magnetic fusion, inertial fusion, materials science and engineering.
• A chance to tour JET and MAST-U experimental facilities.

The Open Day usually takes place in November/December and more details will appear on our website and  on CCFE’s website here: https://culhamphd.uk/

We start accepting applications when the current projects are advertised in late September/October. You should receive an email acknowledging your application so you know we have received it. Depending on which partner institution you have applied to the events may differ slightly.

Plasma strand applications
If you have applied to Durham, Liverpool or York for a Plasma strand project your application will be held on file until the first closing date which is usually the 31 January, or early February. Your application will be shared with the relevant project supervisors. They will decide if you will be invited to interview and if you are, the interviews usually take place at the end of February or early March. The decision making process can be slower than we would like as there are often at least three universities involved in the process. We will contact you as soon as possible if we want to make you an offer. We will not necessarily let you know immediately if you have not been selected in the first round as we do look again at applications and interviews, and may come back to you with alternative suggestions.

Materials strand applications
Applications to Oxford, Manchester and Durham (materials strand) can be made throughout the year although Oxford and Manchester do have application deadlines which can be viewed from the link on the ‘Study with us page’. Successful applicants will be interviewed. For Oxford there will be a specific date for interviews, for Manchester and Durham you should contact the individual supervisor or the main contact for that university to find out more details if you are unsure.

The Fusion CDT welcomes part-time applications. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the usual considerations including funding and suitability for doctoral study, assessment of part-time applications will include, typically in discussion with the candidate following interview, whether the requirements of the project are compatible with the applicant’s non-PhD commitments.

Offers for part-time study can only be made when the registering university offers part-time doctoral study and when it is known that two consecutive years of the taught portion of the programme can be delivered.

If you are interested in part-time study please contact the relevant project supervisor to discuss. Please also contact the Fusion CDT programme director (Roddy Vann – roddy.vann@york.ac.uk) to discuss the taught programme.

We welcome applications from suitably qualified overseas applicants, and can award a number of fully funded studentships each year to overseas students. If you have your own funding source and meet our academic requirements we can also consider you for a place on the Fusion CDT.

Yes, if you can arrange funding from a sponsor or other funding agency, we will consider you for the Fusion CDT, provided you meet our academic standards.