United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

UKAEA (FOSTER) Fusion Sector Access Bursaries Cohort 2

A grant to UK universities to run four fixed-value £10,000 living-cost bursaries (£40,000 per university) for home students on fusion-specific Master's courses in academic year 2027-28. It is delivered by UKAEA's FOSTER skills programme to widen participation: the university recruits students who meet at least one widening-participation criterion, such as disability, care experience, being first in family to go to university, or identifying as a woman or non-binary. Up to four universities will be funded. Students cannot apply directly; the university applies, one application per eligible course.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £40,000
Deadline: 22 days left; 9 November
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

UK-based universities that host a Master's (level 7) course with at least 40 credits (CATS) of taught fusion-specific content in academic year 2027-28, and that are not already receiving FOSTER scholarship or bursary support for that course
The university applies, recruits the students, and verifies that each meets UKAEA's eligibility (a UK home student meeting at least one widening-participation criterion); students cannot apply to UKAEA themselves
Universities submit one application per eligible course and may submit several if they have more than one
Successful applicants face due diligence on financial standing and must say whether they are under Office for Students special monitoring measures

What it funds

Four bursaries of £10,000 each per university, towards the living costs of UK (home) students enrolled on an eligible fusion Master's course in academic year 2027-2028
Bursaries go to students who meet at least one widening participation criterion: home postcode in IMD deciles 1-3 before a first degree; refugee status; previously eligible for free school meals; care leaver (three months or more in local authority care); disability; ethnic minority background; military veteran or child of a military family; bereaved of or estranged from both parents and under 25; caring responsibilities; dependent children; first in family to go to higher education; or identifying as a woman or non-binary

payments are made to the university in arrears, in three claims (by end of November 2027, beginning of March 2028 and end of July 2028), each on evidence of enrolment, participation and completion.

What it will not fund

Courses with fewer than 40 credits of taught fusion-specific content (fusion-specific Master's projects cannot count towards the 40 credits)
Courses already receiving other student scholarship or bursary support from the FOSTER programme in academic year 2027-2028
Students who are not UK (home) students
Bursaries not filled by students recruited by the close of August 2027 (they are withdrawn)

How to apply

Optionally join the UKAEA webinar on 19 October 2026 at 13:00 (Microsoft Teams link on the grant page)
Complete the Find a Grant application form for each eligible course, with contacts for a supervisor, an escalation point and an organisational (commercial) contact
Answer the due diligence questions (convictions, tax compliance, regulatory breaches and insolvency, Office for Students monitoring status)
Answer the four scored questions: fusion content of the course (500 words), marketing approach (500 words), industry links (500 words), and access and inclusion, including how students will be assessed (700 words)
Submit by 12:00 midday on 9 November 2026
A panel of independent UKAEA experts scores and ranks applications; the FOSTER programme approves the final decision, which is not subject to appeal

submission confirms that the host organisation has formally agreed to support the application.

Have ready

A full breakdown of the course, detailing the modules, topics covered and delivery method
The university's applicable access and inclusion policies

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