Master's Theses (Raiffeisen Foundation)

The Raiffeisen Foundation supports outstanding master's theses that address issues related to rural cooperatives and adjacent topics in agricultural and food economics, economics, politics, or law. The focus is on relevance to cooperatives: both innovative approaches to strengthening regional economic structures and contributions that incorporate sustainability aspects in line with the Sustainable Development Goals are supported. Funding is provided as a grant and can, among other things, cover travel expenses necessary for research. Applications can be submitted continuously, eliminating time restrictions and allowing flexible support of scientific projects.*

Particularly highly qualified students from German universities of applied sciences and universities are encouraged to apply. A prerequisite is an expert statement from the supervising university lecturer. The application should include a detailed project description (problem statement, objectives, work steps, schedule, expected results, and added value for the cooperative sector) of no more than six pages, a detailed financial plan, as well as documentation of the applicant’s academic background including certificates. Evaluation criteria include the applicant’s professional qualification, the thematic relevance to rural cooperatives, and the integration of sustainability criteria. Submission in written or electronic form is possible at any time; after formal review, the foundation’s board conducts the expert evaluation and forwards the decision to the advisory board. This permanent funding opportunity facilitates students’ financing of their master’s thesis and supports the scientific advancement of the cooperative sector in rural regions.