FOSTER fusion energy summer internships for students
Apply for 8-week paid summer placements in the fusion energy industry. Students get £4,500 and work experience. Organisations can host interns from June to August 2026.
For host organisations
How to host an intern
You can apply to host a student intern through the FOSTER (Fusion Opportunities in Science, Technology, Education and Research) programme.
Applications are now closed.
We will tell you if your application was successful. If successful, we will advertise your placement on this page.
You’ll need to recruit your intern through your own recruitment process.
For students
Apply for an 8-week paid summer placement working in the fusion energy industry.
You’ll get:
- £4,500 payment
- work experience with fusion energy companies or universities
- projects in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), finance, commercial work, project management, policy or strategy
Who can apply
You can apply if you’re studying at a UK university and you’ll graduate after September 2026.
Placements run from June to August 2026.
How to apply
You’ll need to apply directly to the organisation offering the placement you’re interested in.
Improving Modelling Capability for Laser Non-Uniformity at the Centre for Inertial Fusion Studies, Imperial College London
Project type: Computational
Location: Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, SW7 2BW
Open to: Undergraduates (years 2 and 3 preferred)
Duration: 8 weeks (ideally 29 June to 24 August – some flexibility)
Application deadline: Sunday 10 May 2026
Geopolitical methods
Project type: Research
Location: University of Leicester
Open to: Undergraduate students (graduating after September 2026)
Duration: 8 weeks
Application deadline: Sunday 10th May
Computational modelling the thermal conductivity of molten salt
Project type: Computational
Location: Liverpool
Open to: Undergraduate students (graduating after September 2026)
Duration: 8 weeks
Application deadline: May 17th 2026
Cooling loop design
Project type: Research / Concept design
Location: Culham Campus, Abingdon, OX14 3DB
Open to: an undergraduate who will be returning to their studies after completion of the internship
Duration: 8 weeks
Application deadline: 13th May
Mechanical Facility Design
Project type: Research / Concept design
Location: Culham Campus, Abingdon, OX14 3DB
Open to: an undergraduate who will be returning to their studies after completion of the internship
Duration: 8 weeks
Application deadline: 13th May
Hydrodynamic instability growth in laser driven inertial fusion
Project type: Experimental data analysis
Location: University of York
Open to: Undergraduates (years 2 and 3 preferred)
Duration: 8 weeks
Application deadline: Sunday 10 May 2026
Read more about this internship (PDF, 150KB)
About the programme
From 2022 to 2024, we funded 83 students to complete placements at 20 fusion energy organisations across the UK. Some students received job offers after graduating.
In 2025, we funded 80 more placements at 14 companies and 13 universities through the FOSTER programme. There is funding for 40 placements in 2026.