The aim of the summer school is to provide an introduction to the fundamental principles of plasma physics, together with a broad understanding of its fields of application. No previous knowledge of the subject is assumed, but familiarity with electromagnetism and applied mathematics at first degree level will be helpful. The course is directed by Dr Michael Fitzgerald and Dr Marie-Line Mayoral and is coordinated by Mr Andrew Wise. Lecturers are drawn from the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) together with leading European universities. All are renowned experts in their fields.

Included in the programme are tours of the MAST and JET tokamak facilities at the Culham Science Centre and of the laser facilities at RAL, at which one day of the lectures are held.