United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

UKAEA (FOSTER) Fusion Industrial Internship Scheme Cohort 2

A UK Atomic Energy Authority grant that pays host organisations to run a full-time, 8-week paid summer internship in fusion or a related discipline for UK undergraduates, between June and August 2027. It covers up to £4,500 per intern, up to three interns per project, and only as the intern's stipend. UKAEA aims for two thirds of awards to go to industry hosts, but universities, charities and other not-for-profits can also apply. The host recruits the interns after winning the award.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £4,500 – £13,500
Deadline: 57 days left; 8 January
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Universities, charities, not-for-profit organisations and UK registered private companies with a UK location to host the internship
The host must be able to support a fusion-related project and provide a safe working environment for the whole 8 weeks; the UK Atomic Energy Authority Group cannot apply
UKAEA aims for two thirds (26) of awards to go to industry hosts
Each application is one discrete project with up to three interns, and a host can submit up to five applications for different projects
Each application names a supervisor employed by the host for the whole internship, not planning significant leave, who can appear on only one application
The host recruits the interns, who must be studying for an undergraduate degree at a UK university and returning to it afterwards, with the right to work in the UK and able to receive public funds; at least 3 applicants must be interviewed per position, and the advert must be shared with UKAEA before it goes live

What it funds

A student stipend for an 8-week, full-time, UK-based summer internship in work related to fusion, hybrid or in person:

Up to £4,500 per intern, for up to three interns per project
Projects in any fusion discipline, for example 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 (societal attitudes towards fusion, communication in fusion outreach, fusion and climate change)
Data and digital areas (AI and fusion diagnostics, data visualisation, cybersecurity in fusion facilities)

Only the amount the host says it will pay the intern can be claimed, and pay must meet the minimum wage. The grant is paid in arrears, in one or two claims (after week 4 and at the end), on evidence the intern has been paid and timesheets. The intern's travel to the showcase at Culham on 25 August 2027 is covered separately.

What it will not fund

Any costs other than the intern's stipend, including employer national insurance contributions
Applications from the UK Atomic Energy Authority Group

How to apply

Optionally join the webinar on 1 December 2026 at 10:00am (link on the Find a Grant page)
Complete one Find a Grant application per project, naming the supervisor and an organisation contact, by 8 January 2027
Answer the scored questions: vision (500 words), supervisor experience (250 words), suitability of the host organisation (a one-page signed letter) and intern recruitment strategy (250 words)
If successful, return the signed grant agreement, share the internship advert with UKAEA, and recruit the interns by 4 June 2027
Run the internship starting no later than 5 July 2027; the interns present a poster at the showcase at Culham on 25 August 2027

The Find a Grant page gives the closing time as 12:00pm (midday) on 8 January 2027 in its header and 4:00pm in its 'How to apply' section; aim for midday. Applications are checked for eligibility, then scored 1-5 per area and ranked by a panel of independent UKAEA experts; successful hosts face due diligence on financial standing, and universities must say whether they are under Office for Students special monitoring.

Have ready

One-page letter on headed paper, dated and signed by the head of department or equivalent, setting out the host organisation's support for the internship
Due diligence declarations (criminal convictions, tax and social security compliance, regulatory breaches and insolvency)

Successful hosts later provide evidence the intern has been paid, timesheets and recruitment statistics.

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