The proposed M2 breaks down into 39 ECTS of classes/lab work/tutorials (about 400 h) and 21 internship ECTS. The education program starts with a long core curriculum of 24 ECTS, assembling course units (CU) for the related physics: electromagnetism and relativity, plasmas, tokamaks, accelerators and power lasers. This is combined with classes on technological and cross-business themes: organisation of large-scale facilities, digital techniques and simulations, common technologies, measuring, signals and relations with large-scale facilities. Lastly, a significant body of lab work is carried out in the large-scale facilities of the Saclay open space, with immersion for more than 80 hours in research teams.
As in the “Fusion sciences” M2, which is organised along the same lines, the education program lasts from mid-February to mid-March, with major research bodies:
- magnetic fusion option, at Cadarache: education programs shared with Aix-Marseille University, École Centrale de Marseille, University of Lorraine, also attended by non-French students following the Erasmus Mundus Fusion-EP course
- laser and plasma option, in Bordeaux: education programs shared with Bordeaux University;
- accelerator option, in Geneva: education programs shared with universities throughout Europe as part of the Joint Universities Accelerator School (JUAS).
In addition to this outsourced education program, the GI-PLATO M2 organises a study trip at the start of the university year, with visits and conferences within major research infrastructures nationwide. Student transportation and accommodation is taken care of by the fusion and hot plasma science Training Federation, to whose budget the partner establishments are contributors.
