F.E.I. - Herbalists Italian Federation - Degree prizes "F.E.I."

What you get

For an outstanding final dissertation in the field of herbalism, you will receive a one-off prize of 1,500 EUR (excluding tax). The Federazione Erboristi Italiani (F.E.I.), the Italian Association of Herbalists, awards two prizes per round, meaning that a total of 3,000 EUR will be awarded to the two best theses. The F.E.I. may also publish your thesis in its specialist journal ‘Phyto Journal’, thereby presenting your work to the professional community.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a degree in ‘Scienze e Tecniche Erboristiche’ (Herbal Science and Technology), a closely related degree programme in Class L-24 or L-29, or a degree in Pharmacy with a clear focus on herbal science.
• Timing: You graduated within the period specified for each round. In the 2023 edition, this was the period from January 2019 to July 2023.
• Thesis topic: Your final-year dissertation focuses on medicinal and useful plants. This includes the herbal tradition, ethnobotany, the cultivation and processing of plants, regulations governing herbal products, the profession of herbalist, as well as phytochemical, pharmacological or clinical studies. Both literature-based and experimental theses are eligible.
• Nationality and university: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, and it does not matter which Italian university you studied at.
• Membership: You must join the F.E.I. as a graduate member; the cost of this is 70 EUR (50 EUR membership fee plus an admission fee of 20 EUR).
• First-time entry: You have not yet taken part in a previous edition of this competition.

How to apply

Please email your thesis, a short summary, the registration forms and proof of payment of 70 EUR to the F.E.I. In the 2023 round, the deadline was 5 August. A panel of up to nine members assesses the theses based on how well they align with the listed topics, as well as on their academic quality. In the event of a tie, the higher final degree mark will be the deciding factor, followed by the younger applicant.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is very narrowly defined: only graduates of a single, rare Italian degree programme in herbalism who have written a suitable final dissertation are eligible to apply, so the pool of applicants is small. As two prizes are to be awarded, anyone who clearly fits this field of study and submits a compelling, topic-relevant final dissertation stands a real chance. A good final grade is crucial, so a well-marked, topic-relevant final dissertation really stands out.