There are several available options if you wish to attend a summer school on plasma physics and fusion energy. Some are introductory and targeted at bachelor's and master's level or new PhD students, and others require more specialized knowledge beforehand. Below, you will find a list of selected European summer schools with links to their websites.
Introductory summer schools
Culham Plasma Physics Summer School last two weeks and is a large introductory summer school aimed at master's students and early PhD students that covers a variety of topics in plasma physics. It includes a tour of JET and MAST Upgrade.
The next summer school will take place in 2026 at The Culham Science Centre near Oxfordshire.
The Carolus Magnus Summer School lasts two weeks and is one of the larger European summer schools. It gives a broad introduction to topics in plasma physics and fusion energy and is primarily intended for PhD students as well as for master's students who will become PhD students after the present academic year.
The next summer school will take place in 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.
The IPP Summer University for Plasma Physics and Fusion Research lasts one week and is aimed at master's students. It covers a variety of topics in plasma physics and fusion energy and includes a tour of ASDEX Upgrade.
The next summer school will take place in 2026 at The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP).
This 5-day summer school covers a variety of topics in fusion energy as well as the engineering challenges of fusion energy. Additionally, there are visits to the labs and facilities situated at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
The next summer school will take place in 2026 at KIT.
The JT-60SA International Fusion School (JIFS) covers plasma physics, engineering and tokamak operation including dedicated lectures on the JET DT campaigns and first integrated commissioning of JT-60SA. The programme is complemented with 2-days of practical exercises, a visit to JT-60SA, a social programme to connect the European and Japanese students and opportunities for the students to present their current research.
The next edition of JIFS will take place in 2026 at the QST Naka site in Japan.
The Kudowa Summer School covers a variety of topics in fusion energy, plasma physics and diagnostics and is primarily aimed at PhD students.
The next summer school is planned to take place in 2026 at The Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) in Poland.
PlasmaSurf is a 6-day summer school on plasma physics, intense lasers and nuclear fusion, tailored for BSc/MSc engineering and physics students. In addition to the lectures, the summer shool has a number of outdoor activities - including surfing!
The next summer school will take place in 2026 at The University of Lisbon.
Specialized summer schools
The ITER International School is a 5-day programme with the goal of giving young scientists and engineers a taste of nuclear fusion. The summer school is primarily aimed at PhD students, postdocs and research staff working in fields relevant to the ITER program. Every year the summer school has a new main topic. The 2025 summer school had the topic Integrated Modelling in Magnetic Fusion Plasmas.
The next edition of the ITER International School will take place in 2026.
SUMTRAIC is a 2-week experimental training course in plasma physics and, in particular, in magnetic confinement fusion devices. The majority of the training course consists of group work on a relevant scientific project.
The next summer school will take place in 2026 at The Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague.
PhDiaFusion is a summer school on diagnostics in fusion plasma devices. The 2025 edition of the PhDiaFusion Summer School of Plasma Diagnostics covered innovative plasma diagnostic solutions towards a fusion reactor, with a focus on the synergy between public and private initiatives.
The next summer school will take place in 2027.
Advanced summer schools
Festival de Theorie is an inter-disciplinary workshop and research program which for 4 weeks aims to bring together leading researchers in plasma physics, astrophysics, statistical physics and neutral fluids. The workshop can serve as educational training for PhD students and postdocs. The 2025 edition had the theme Turbulent Boundary Layers.
The date of the next edition of Festival de Theorie is currently not decided upon.
Non-European summer schools
The above links to a list of summer schools compiled by ITER – including non-European summer schools not mentioned here.