Fudan University Approved for China's First "Fusion Science and Engineering" Interdisciplinary First-Level Doctoral Degree Program

Recently, Fudan University's "Fusion Science and Engineering" interdisciplinary first-level doctoral degree program was officially approved, making the university the first higher education institution in China to establish such an interdisciplinary first-level doctoral degree program. The degree program is led by the Institute of Modern Physics (Department of Nuclear Science and Technology), and will officially begin doctoral student admissions in 2026.

Currently, global fusion R&D is transitioning from the stage of scientific exploration to the critical period of engineering verification and commercialization. China's "15th Five-Year Plan" recommendations list fusion energy as a new economic growth point for future industries. Accelerating the cultivation of high-level fusion talent has become an urgent task for safeguarding national energy security and seizing the high ground of future science and technology industries.

The Institute of Modern Physics at Fudan University has now established a complete disciplinary layout covering fusion plasma theoretical simulation, fusion artificial intelligence, fusion materials, fusion diagnostics, fusion reactor engineering, and technological applications. With the joining of Professor Xu Min, a leading scientist in the fusion field, and others, the discipline has gathered numerous international high-end talents from top universities and research institutions worldwide, forming a vibrant fusion research and education team that deeply integrates theory and engineering.

The "Fusion Science and Engineering" doctoral program has two secondary directions: Fusion Science and Experiment, and Fusion Engineering and Technology, supported by interdisciplinary strengths in physics, materials science and engineering, computer science and technology, and other advantageous disciplines.

The discipline adheres to the educational philosophy of "broad scope, solid foundation, emphasis on capability, and pursuit of innovation," building a complete curriculum system from mathematical and physical foundations to fusion frontiers, and implementing a one-on-one mentorship system with top experts. Relying on the under-construction "Chenguang" HOPE high-field high-temperature superconducting tokamak large scientific facility, doctoral students can deeply participate in the design, construction, and operation of the device upon enrollment.

The discipline vigorously promotes industry-education integration, jointly building laboratories with team-incubated companies Dongsheng Fusion and Xingji Power, providing internship and thesis practice positions, organizing enterprise visits and academic salons, and guiding students to directly confront real engineering challenges; connecting with top international platforms such as ITER, supporting students to conduct research and internships overseas, and expanding global research perspectives. At the same time, it establishes the "AI for Fusion" interdisciplinary direction, practices the "AI-native" fusion R&D approach, builds fusion digital twin and intelligent control experimental platforms, and integrates artificial intelligence into the entire chain of fusion device design, plasma control, and data analysis.

The doctoral program will begin its first doctoral student admissions in 2026 (program code 089905), establishing two doctoral student supervisory groups; in 2027, it will fully roll out a complete master's and doctoral training system. Young students with the ideal of serving the nation through fusion are welcome to join the Institute of Modern Physics at Fudan University, to jointly pursue the light of the "artificial sun" and devote themselves to building the nation's fusion energy cause.