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Professional & Technical Skills in Fusion - PHY00058M

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  • Department: Physics
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2026-27

Module summary

This module prepares you for the Team Project and a career in fusion. The module involves a multi-pronged approach to personal and professional development and will start by asking you to self-identify your skill development needs. In this module you will actively develop the competencies needed to succeed in a multidisciplinary workplace, and explore the importance of individual and team accountability, ethics and professional conduct. Central to this is individual study of contemporary literature in an area of fusion, and working with a group or Team to understand a more complex project.

Related modules

Co-requisite module: Fusion: from Concepts to Technologies

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2026-27

Module aims

Subject content aims:

This will involve three complementary activities:

  1. Undertake a critical analysis of literature by:

  • engaging in a ‘Journal Club’ where on one occasion you lead a discussion on a paper of your choice, followed up with a state-of-the-art and discussion briefing. This is a short (2-page) document to highlight discussion outcomes.

  • Engage in an extended search and critical analysis of literature, further developing the skills introduced in the Journal Club, to produce a literature review summarising a subfield within fusion science and technology.

  1. Work within a Team to:

  • Identify a scientific or technical goal with clear hypotheses that can be tested.

  • Establish a plan to achieve this goal by dividing the project into work packages with tasks, milestones and deliverables. Establish project timeline (Gantt chart) and risk register.

  • Allocate roles, taking account of ED&I, within your Team for project management, research, technical development, innovation, entrepreneurship or marketing.

  1. Undertake a self-assessment & reflective practice:

  • Use your initial skills development statement to reassess what skills you would like to develop, highlighting how these will enhance your career aspirations.

  • Draw a realistic plan to learn these skills.

  • Identify how your skills are complemented and strengthened by the skills available across your Team.

  • Comment on how you have included and developed your understanding of individual and team accountability, ethics (including equality, diversity and inclusion, ED&I) and professional conduct.

  • Write cover letters, CV’s and prepare for interviews.

Graduate skills aims:

  • Critically evaluate peer-reviewed research and technical literature.

  • Synthesise an argument that draws on several (potentially contradicting) sources.

  • Communicate research or technical knowledge via written and oral presentations.

  • Respond to questions and/or defend a point of view relating to a scientific or technical study.

  • Understand the necessity of planning and clear communication routes for the successful operation of a project and efficient deployment of a Team.

  • Appreciate the need for professionalism.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Complete an evidence based review on a technical subject that represents and balances various arguments to establish a robust conclusion or opinion.

  • Identify and evaluate how a team can effectively manage a complex problem.

  • Explain the efficacy of reflective practice, the need for continuous learning and how this leads to better decision making.

Graduate skills learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Place technical reviews and establish their relative importance within the fusion landscape.

  • Tailor and communicate scientific, technical and contextual information to a variety of audiences.

  • Manage accountability and traceability in all decisions.

  • Communicate with employers across the fusion and high-technology industries.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The portfolio assessment will consist of:

  • A paper review (2 pages) based on a chosen paper & presented to the Jornal Club.

  • A project plan consisting 1 page summary, Gantt chart and risk register.

  • An application for a job or PhD position (1 page cover letter + 1 page CV).

  • A self-assessment and reflective practice summary (1 page).

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Module feedback

Marks for all summative assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision.

You may receive formative feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Progress of the module can be discussed with the module leader or GTA and your supervisor.

Indicative reading

None


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.