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!
With us, it doesn't take much to apply. Read through our scholarship conditions in advance and fill out our application form. It is best to write your application in such a way that it can be understood by people from outside your field. It is important to us that your methodological approach and your topic are clear. We will get back to you if we have any questions.
Once your application has been received, it will be made available to the advisory board. We will try to confirm or reject your application as quickly as possible. In the latter case, you can receive a brief explanation if you wish. Unfortunately, due to the voluntary nature of the advisory board, we cannot provide you with detailed reasons and sometimes it can take a while. Good luck!
Still unsure?
Are you writing a Master's thesis? Is your Master's thesis related to technology? Are you looking at how something can be improved in society, or analysing how we can stop something, or creating awareness for something? Then check if you meet our organisational scholarship requirements and apply!
Still having doubts? Apply anyway. Our form is short.
CC BY 2.0 - Leah Oswald
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:
- Do, 05.06.2025 - 19:00 bis 20:00 Uhr
- Fr, 11.07.2025 - 19:00 bis 20:00 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 Chaos Computer Club e.V. currently provides the entire €6,000 per semester. All scholarships are distributed by Chaostreff 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 Chaostreff 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.
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
- You are writing a master's or diploma thesis in Sommer Semester 2025
- The start date for your Master's thesis is between 01.05.2025 and 25.10.2025
- You can submit topics that have not yet been officially registered with your university as well as those that have already been confirmed.
- You write about a topic that takes a closer look at the world's information technologies, examines their impact on society and/or develops ideas on how the world can be improved according to the principles of the hacker ethic.
- We are happy to receive submissions from many different scientific disciplines.
- You are writing your Master's thesis at a German university or college and are liable for tax in Germany.
- We have no influence on the content of the work.
- The work is published freely accessible.
- This means that there must be no non-disclosure agreements.
- The work must be accessible free of charge on the Internet, and we will also provide the infrastructure for this if required.
- After your work has been graded, it must be made available to us.
- You agree that we may advertise your work publicly and that the work and your name may become better known than is usual for a Master's thesis.
- Consent from your professor/institute for the above points.