Municipality of Milan - Degree prize "Giorgio Ambrosoli"

Giorgio Ambrosoli degree prize

For a Master’s or doctoral thesis on the subject of ethics in business, you will receive a one-off prize of 5,000 EUR (before tax). This is a one-off award granted once a year, not a rolling scholarship. The City of Milan (Comune di Milano) awards this prize in memory of the lawyer Giorgio Ambrosoli, who campaigned against corruption and organised crime.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have obtained a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale) or a PhD (Dottorato di Ricerca).
• Where you studied: You defended your doctoral thesis at an Italian university.
• When you graduated: You defended your doctoral thesis between 1 March 2025 and 28 February 2026.
• Thesis topic: Your dissertation must deal in depth with one of two topics: corruption that affects public or private economic life (including cases that do not constitute criminal offences), or the link between the legal economy and the criminal or mafia-style economy. You may examine the topic from a legal, economic, financial or socio-political perspective.
• Own contribution: Your work demonstrates an original, personal contribution and is not merely a summary of others’ work.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. The only requirement is that the degree must have been obtained at an Italian university.
• Language: If your dissertation is written in another language, please include an Italian translation.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted to the Comune di Milano by certified email (PEC) between 23 June and 20 July 2026. You must submit the official form, your ID, your thesis as a PDF file, and a summary of up to 100 lines. A panel will assess the theses and select the winner, who will be honoured at a public ceremony at Milan Town Hall.

How realistic are your chances?

As only one prize is awarded each year, the competition is fierce. However, the entry criteria are strictly defined: your dissertation must deal with the specific topics of business ethics and corruption, and you must have successfully defended it at an Italian university within a specified timeframe. If your thesis addresses precisely these topics and makes a strong, original contribution, you have a genuine chance of success, as very few theses meet the criteria.