Mach das nächste Jahr möglich!
Für das nächste Jahr ist unser Ziel, komplett auf eigenen Beinen zu stehen. Von den insgesamt 20.000,00 € für ein komplettes Jahr haben wir bisher 16.737,92 € gesammelt. Deine Spende macht den Unterschied! Unterstütze freies Wissen und Forschung, die die Gesellschaft weiterbringt!
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Catalyse your Master's thesis
The Chaotic Catalyser Scholarship (CCS) supports four selected Master's theses each semester with €1,500 each. Our aim is to promote research into technologies with a social vision, to encourage the use of open data and to publish the results themselves without access restrictions. We want to support and promote scientific work that offers added social value.
We don't care what subject area you come from or what subject you are studying. If your subject uses, investigates or analyses information technologies to bring about positive change, we are interested!
We have your back
It's not just a financial burden that often weighs on us during our studies. Sometimes it's conflicts in supervision, getting stuck in research, a block in writing or a lack of experience with the methodology. We will support you as best we can during your work. Before, during and after your master's thesis.
CC BY 2.0 - Leah Oswald
Get more out of your thesis
CC BY 2.0 - Leah Oswald
Wouldn't it be a shame if your Master's thesis ended up gathering dust in a drawer? We want to get more out of your results. After you've submitted your thesis, we'll help your message find a stage, your words our magazine, your art our event, or your voice a podcast. We are looking for people who not only want a degree, but also want to make a difference with their topic.
Apply Now!
It doesn't take much to apply with us: read our scholarship terms and conditions in advance, fill out the application form, and describe your topic and methodological approach in a way that even non-experts can understand. If we have any questions, we'll gladly reach out to you.
Upon receipt, your application will be evaluated by our volunteer advisory board. We typically process applications in 3 to 4 weeks. We wish you the best of luck!
Focus topic: Open social networks / Fediverse
Do you want to write your master's thesis on the Fediverse, perhaps on platforms like Mastodon, Pixelfed, Lemmy, or PeerTube? Possible topics include: How can barriers to widespread adoption be lowered, how does moderation work in decentralized networks, or what utopian or transformative potential do hackers see in these technologies? Then apply for one of the two scholarships for this focus topic. We connect the scholarship recipients with one another and offer expert support if needed, working together to create more visibility for the topic.
Please select 'Focus Topic' on the application form. There are two Focus Topic scholarships available.
General scholarship
Does your master's thesis focus on information technologies and their societal impacts, for example in the fields of computer science, sociology, philosophy, media studies, or IT security? Then apply for one of our four general scholarships. Your topic should align with the core idea of the scholarship, which promotes critical and socially relevant engagement with technology.
Select 'General Application' on the application form. 4 general scholarships will be awarded.
Our Values
CC BY 2.0 - Leah Oswald
The Chaos Computer Club has developed the hacker ethic as the basis for ethical hacking. Its principles are just as relevant today as they were when they were written in the 1980s. Their values also characterise our scholarship.
Applications are considered according to whether they fulfil the Hacker Ethics criteria.
CCC Hacker Ethics
- Access to computers and anything that can show you how this world works should be unlimited and complete.
- All information must be free.
- Mistrust authorities - promote decentralisation.
- Judge a hacker by what they do and not by the usual criteria such as appearance, age, origin, species, gender or social status.
- You can create art and beauty with a computer.
- Computers can change your life for the better.
- Don't mess around with other people's data.
- Use public data, protect private data.
What has already been funded
On our publications page you will find an overview of the work we have sponsored. Here you can get an overview of the topics that have already convinced the advisory board.
Open consultation hours
Are you unsure whether the scholarship is right for you? Were we not able to answer all your questions? Or are you interested in finding out who is behind the project? Then get to know us online in a video call. Whether you are a student, professor or generally interested, you are very welcome. Registration is not required. Feel free to drop by. The next dates are as follows:
- So, 17.05.2026 - 14:00 bis 15:00 Uhr
- Di, 16.06.2026 - 18:00 bis 19:00 Uhr
FAQ
Disbursement of the funds
The money will be paid out in two instalments. The first instalment of €750 will be paid out as soon as we have received proof of registration and the processing period has started. The second payment of a further €750 will be made at the beginning of the 4th month of the processing period. If the Master's thesis is cancelled, the scholarship will also be terminated prematurely, but all monies paid up to that point do not have to be repaid.
Where does the funding come from?
The funds for the project are financed by the Wau Holland Foundation, the Chaos Computer Club and donations from private individuals. All scholarships are distributed by the Chaos Computer Club Flensburg e.V.
Is there a possibility to extend the scholarship?
Unfortunately, this is not possible in the current phase. If you need longer for your work, that's still fine, we just can't pay you more money.
Which organisations are involved?
The legal and fiscal responsibility lies with Chaos Computer Club Flensburg e.V. with the support of Chaotikum e.V. and other committed individuals. All organisations and individuals are active in the area of the Chaos Computer Club.
Why are there only 4 scholarships?
At the moment we only have enough money to award up to 4 scholarships per semester. If you have ideas and funds to expand the project, please get in touch at ccs@chaostreff-flensburg.de!
What counts as a Master's thesis?
A Master's thesis is a final thesis for a Master's degree programme in accordance with the relevant examination regulations. Diploma theses can also be funded as final theses of a diploma programme.
How long can I apply?
How long can I apply? There is no time limit for applying for a scholarship. Once all the funds have been allocated, there will be no more opportunities to apply.
I am a professor, part of an institute, a scientist
Nice that you are here! We are always looking for exciting contacts. The best thing to do is to write a short email to ccs@chaostreff-flensburg.de and we'll start a dialogue. Feel free to tell your students about this scholarship programme and work with them to find interesting topics for a possible thesis, which they can then submit to us.
I'm not sure whether I should apply for a specific focus area or a general scholarship.
If you're unsure whether it's better to submit a general or a focused application, feel free to mention that in your application. Which scholarship you are applying for can be adjusted in your favor during the process. If all scholarships for your focused topic have already been awarded at the time of your application, your application will automatically be included in the selection for the general scholarship.
I've promised the initial publication of my master's thesis to another party, or my thesis has to wait for the publication of another work.
If you are publishing in a paper, if your master's thesis is the basis of a doctoral thesis, or if there are other reasons against a direct publication with us, please let us know as soon as you receive the scholarship or as soon as they arise. We support your contribution to science and are willing, upon agreement, to support secondary publications, later publications, or references to other open access platforms.
Do you have any further questions?
Then send us an email to ccs@chaostreff-flensburg.de. If you would like to report any problems with the advisory board or the process, please send an e-mail to vorstand@chaostreff-flensburg.de. Both e-mail addresses are processed in a ticket system and may be seen by different people.
Scholarship Terms and Conditions
1. Eligibility Requirements
- You are writing your Master’s or Diploma thesis in Sommer Semester 2026 .
- The start of your thesis (official registration date) must fall between 01.05.2026 and 30.09.2026 .
- You are writing your thesis at a German 'Universität' or 'Hochschule'.
- You are subject to taxation in Germany.
- You have obtained the consent of your professor or institute regarding the points listed below.
2. Thesis Topic
- Your topic deals with information technologies and their impact on society and/or explores ideas on how to improve the world according to the principles of hacker ethics.
- The academic field does not matter. Submissions from all scientific disciplines are welcome.
- Topics that have not yet been officially registered or have already been approved by the university may be submitted. However, the planned official registration must take place within the timeframe mentioned above.
- The content of your thesis remains completely independent. The scholarship does not exert any influence on the substance of your work.
3. Publication and Accessibility
- After grading, your thesis must be made available to the scholarship providers.
- Once your thesis has been graded and passed, it must be made freely accessible under a Creative Commons license on Zenodo, an open-access platform, in our community section. We will support you with this — publication under a pseudonym or anonymously is possible.
- You agree that your thesis may be publicly promoted. Your name (or pseudonym) may therefore become more widely known than with a typical master’s thesis.
4. After Submission
- After completing your thesis, you will prepare a scientific poster summarizing your results (with guidance and a template provided by the scholarship team).
- You will give an informal final presentation to share your thesis results. This is not an examination, but a joint celebration of your achievement with snacks and the team.
5. Optional Participation
- Participation in scholarship meetups, talks, podcasts, or workshops is optional, but strongly encouraged. We will cover your travel expenses and accommodation.
