UKAEA Fusion Internship Scheme

Host organisation eligibility

The opportunity is open to universities, charities, not-for profit organisations and UK registered private companies with a UK location to host the internship.

The host organisation must have the capability to support a fusion related project and provide a safe working environment during the 8-week internship (taking place between 1st June and 31st August 2026).

Host organisations will be responsible for recruitment of interns after successful application to the scheme.

UK Atomic Energy Authority Group are not eligible to apply for this scheme

Supervisor eligibility

A supervisor can only be named on one application.

The supervisor will be employed at the host organisation for the duration of the internship

The supervisor will not be planning significant leave during the internship

Intern eligibility (to be recruited by Host Organisation once successful)

The recruited students must be studying an undergraduate course at a UK university and be returning to their studies after completion of the internship.

Interns must have legal right to work in the UK and be able to receive public funds.

Sanctions 

UK Atomic Energy Authority will not fund you, provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with yourselves, which could expose UK Atomic Energy Authority or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from UK Atomic Energy Authority to UK Sanctions. This includes, any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner, associated person or sub-contractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage the host organisation to welcome intern applications from a diverse range of undergraduates to increase participation.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• Support for people with caring responsibilities

• Flexible working

• Alternative working patterns

Scope

The fusion internship scheme intends to provide students with visibility and awareness of opportunities within the fusion sector to encourage students to consider future careers, helping to reduce a national skills gap.  Participants will increase their employability by gaining hands-on, real-life experience and expanding their networks.

Proposed projects can be in any fusion discipline.  The following is a non-exhaustive list of areas projects would be accepted in:

• Technical and scientific areas

  • Plasma simulation

  • Materials for fusion reactors

  • Diagnostic development

• Engineering and technology areas

  • Remote maintenance feasibility

  • Tritium handling safety review

• Economic and policy areas

  • Cost benefit analysis

  • Fusion supply chain mapping

  • Regulatory framework review

• Public perception area

  • Societal attitudes towards fusion

  • Communication in fusion outreach

  • Fusion and climate change.

• Data and digital area

  • AI and fusion diagnostics

  • Data visualisation

  • Cybersecurity in fusion facilities

The project should be a discrete work package which is achievable in the time available (8-weeks).

Duration

The internships must start no later than 7 July 2026 and have a duration of 8-weeks.

Funding available

£4,500 is available per intern, for a maximum of three interns per project. Therefore, the maximum award value per project is £13,500.

This can only be used as a student stipend for the 8-week internship; it cannot be used to cover any additional costs.

Assessment process

Your application will be assessed using the following process, noting that all elements of your application form will be shared with the assessors

Eligibility criteria

At the point of the application submission, each will be assessed on the following eligibility criteria:

• Maximum of five applications per host organisation

• Maximum of three interns per application

• Host organisation eligibility under the scheme requirements

• Supervisor can only be named on one application 

The application must meet the aims and criteria of the scheme

Applications which do not meet these criteria will be rejected with feedback on why it could not proceed. 

Expert Panel

A panel of independent UK Atomic Energy Authority and UK Industrial Fusion Solutions experts will assess the application against the assessment criteria and discuss in a panel meeting. The panel will agree scores and rank your applications, against the assessment criteria, alongside other eligible applications, after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority FOSTER (skills) program will approve the final funding decision. This decision is final and not subject to appeal. 

Due Diligence

Successful applications are subject to further due diligence. The purpose of this due diligence exercise includes, but is not limited to, confirmation of the satisfactory financial standing of the host organisation. If the host organisation is a university, you will be asked to confirm whether the university is under special monitoring measures by the Office for Students.

Timescale

We aim to complete the assessment process and communicate grant outcomes by mid-March 2026. The host organisation will then have to recruit a suitable intern to start the internship no later than 7 July 2026. 

Feedback

Written feedback will be provided where possible for unsuccessful applications.

Using generative articicial intelligence (AI) in peer review

Assessors are not permitted to use generative AI tools to develop their assessment. Using these tools can potentially compromise the confidentiality of the ideas that applicants have entrusted to UK Authority Energy Authority.

Assessment areas

• Vision

• Supervisor experience

• Suitability of the host organisation

• Intern recruitment plan

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the Find a Grant application form and include a named supervisor with contact details. Submission confirms that the host organisation has formally agreed to support the application.

If a host organisation wishes to submit multiple projects, it must complete one application per discrete project, up to a maximum of five applications. Each application may request up to three interns for that project. Depending on overall demand, we may adjust the number of interns allocate to each project and will do so in consultation with the host organisation.

Deadline

We must receive you completed application by 4:00pm on 24 February 2026. Applications received after this time will not be considered.

Processing personal data

UK Atomic Energy Authority will need to collect some personal information to process your application, which will be collected via Find a Grant platform. We will need to share the application (including personal information that it contains) with DESNZ as our delivery partner. 

We will handle the personal data in line with UK Data Protection Legislation and manage it securely. For more information please read the UKAEA privacy notice.

Publication of outcomes

If your application is successful, we will publish the summary, host organisation and application process for potential interns on the UK Atomic Energy Authority website.

Application questions:

Non assessed: Due diligence information

•  Criminal Convictions Disclosure

Indicate if, within the past five years you, your organisation or any other person who has powers of representation, decision or control in the organisation has been convicted anywhere in the world of any of the offences below:

o   Participation in criminal organisation

o   Corruption

o   Fraud

o   Terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities

o   Money laundering or terrorist financing

o   Child labour or other forms of trafficking in human beings

• Tax and Social Security Compliance

Has it been established, for your organisation by a judicial or administrative decision having final and binding effect in accordance with the legal provisions of any part of the United Kingdom or the legal provisions of the country in which the organisation is established (if outside the UK), that the organisation is in breach of obligations related to the payment of tax or social security contributions

• Regulatory Breaches and Insolvency Status

Indicate if, within the past three years, anywhere in the world any of the following situations have applied to you, your organisation or any other person who has powers of representation, decision, or control in the organisation:

o   Breach of environmental regulations

o   Breach of social obligations

o   Breach of labour laws

o   Bankrupt or is the subject of insolvency or winding-up proceedings, where the organisation's assets are being administered by a liquidator or by the court, where it is in an arrangement with creditors, where its business activities are suspended or it is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure under the laws and regulations of any State.

o   Entered into agreements with other organisations aimed at distorting competition.

• University Monitoring Status

If your organisation is a university, indicate if the university is under special monitoring measures by the Office for Students.

Non assessed: Summary information

• Summary

Word limit: 200

 In plain English, provide a summary of your application. We will make this summary publicly available on external facing websites if successful, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information.

• Number of Interns (maximum allowed is three)

State number of interns you require for the proposed project. 

 Non assessed: Contact information

• Supervisor

Provide the supervisor name, department and email address. This will be used for correspondence regarding the application

• Organisation contact

Provide name, department and email address of the person accountable for the grant if successful within your organisation.

If you are in an university this could be a contact from your research office or equivalent. This will be used for correspondence about your grant.

Assessed Application questions and criteria 

Responses to the application questions will be scored 1 – 5 in each area. 

• Vision:  

Word limit: 500

What are you hoping to achieve during the 8-week summer internship? Also specify how many interns you are seeking for the project.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how the proposed internship project:

o   Is relevant and timely to the UK fusion industry

o   Is discrete and feasible within the 8-week timeline

o   Will develop the interns and promote awareness of career opportunities in the sector.

•  Supervisor experience

Word limit: 250 

Why are you the right individual to supervise the internship?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how you have:

o   The relevant experience to deliver the proposed work

o   The appropriate leadership and management skills to supervise and support the interns

o   Contributed to developing a positive work/research environment

• Suitability of the host organisation

1 page letter which is headed, date and signed by head of department or equivalent.Provide details of support from the host organisation. 

What the assessors are looking for in your response

o   Your suitability as a host for the proposed internship

o   Commitment to the internship

o   Any support (funding or in kind) that will be provided to support the internship

• Intern recruitment strategy 

Word limit: 250 

How will the intern(s) be recruited?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Details of your approach to recruiting the intern(s) which demonstrates:

o   Transparency and fairness

o   Supporting widening access.

Related content 

Video highlighting success of 2025 scheme 

If you have any further queries, please contact internships@fusionskills.ukaea.uk

Updates

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