Hakon Swenson Foundation - Commerce student paper price in

Commerce Student Paper Prize (Handelns studentuppsatspris)

For a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis on the subject of retail and commerce, you will receive a one-off prize of 25,000 SEK (about 2,200 EUR). Two prizes are awarded each year, one by the Hakon Swenson Foundation and one by the Handelsrådet (the Swedish Research Council for Retail). There are therefore two prize winners each year. The aim is to recognise outstanding research that is of practical benefit.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You are studying at a Swedish university or university of applied sciences.
• Your thesis topic: Your dissertation focuses on the retail and trade sector in the broadest sense. Examples include: logistics, sustainability, equality, ethics, consumer behaviour and business models.
• Field of study: Any academic field works, as long as the thesis is about commerce.
• When it was written: You wrote your final thesis during the current spring or autumn semester, and it was approved before you submitted it.
• Quality: The dissertation will be assessed on the basis of its relevance to the retail sector and the soundness of its theoretical framework.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

Applications must be made via the Handelsrådet’s online portal. You must submit your final dissertation together with your mark. The application deadline for 2027 is in early December 2026. Only final dissertations submitted via the portal will be considered.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is awarded to only a select few. Only final-year dissertations on the subject of retail written during the current semester are eligible, and only two are selected each year. If your final-year dissertation clearly focuses on the retail sector and combines practical application with sound theory, you have a genuine chance of winning. As only two winners are selected each year, a strong, well-structured final-year dissertation is more important than the number of applicants.