Why Stipends Are Drawing Master Students to UNU-WIDER’s Assignment Programme

Applications are now open for the UNU-WIDER Master Student Assignment Programme 2026. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2025. This prestigious programme offers master’s students a unique research opportunity in Helsinki, Finland.

Selected students will work directly with UNU-WIDER’s Research unit. They will focus on critical development topics like tax policy or post-conflict investment.

Programme Offers Two Key Research Tracks

Students can choose between two research areas. The first examines tax data in Africa through a gender lens. The second explores how foreign investment affects peacebuilding in post-conflict nations.

According to UNU-WIDER, the research will use quantitative methods. Students will work with datasets on FDI and conflict events. This provides practical experience in development economics.

Stipend and Eligibility Requirements Detailed

The programme provides a €715 monthly stipend. This helps cover basic living costs during the research visit. The stipend is paid monthly upon confirmation of satisfactory performance.

Eligibility requires enrollment in a specific Master’s programme in Finland. Applicants must have strong English skills and proficiency in Stata or R. Experience with data cleaning and analysis is considered a valuable asset.

The UNU-WIDER Master Student Programme represents a significant career opportunity for aspiring development economists. This initiative connects academic research with real-world policy impact. Successful applicants will gain invaluable experience at a leading UN institution.

Info at your fingertips

What is the application deadline for the programme?

The deadline to apply is September 30, 2025. The programme itself begins in 2026.

How much is the monthly stipend?

Selected students receive a stipend of €715 per month. This is intended to partially cover basic living expenses in Helsinki.

What are the main research topics available?

Students can work on Tax Research for Development or Building Trust and Institutions for Peace. Each topic involves quantitative analysis of specific datasets.

Who is eligible to apply for this programme?

Applicants must be enrolled in a specific Master’s degree in Economics in Finland. Alternatively, they must be enrolled in or have completed the Development Economics Master’s level course in Finland.

What software skills are required?

Working knowledge of Stata or R is mandatory. Experience with MS Office is also required for the research tasks.