Polytechnic University of Milan - Degree prizes “Paride Passerini”

Paride Passerini degree prize

The best Master’s thesis on sustainable construction will receive a one-off prize of 2,000 EUR (before tax). The money comes from a donation by ICMQ SpA, an Italian certification body for construction products. The Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) awards this prize once a year, with only one 1 prize being awarded. Your thesis must deal with sustainable design, construction methods or production in the building sector, for example the intelligent use of materials, the financial implications of environmentally friendly design decisions, or the functioning of sustainability certification schemes.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have obtained a Laurea Magistrale (Master of Science) from the Polytechnic University of Milan.
• Programme: Your degree is in Building Engineering (Ingegneria dei Sistemi Edilizi), Building and Architectural Engineering, or the single-cycle Building Engineering/Architecture (Ingegneria Edile - Architettura).
• School: You graduated from the AUIC School (Architecture, Urban Planning, Construction Engineering).
• When you graduated: You completed your degree between April and December of the year prior to the call for applications. For the 2026 call for applications, this means April to December 2025.
• Thesis topic: Your dissertation focuses on sustainable building design, construction methods or production based on recognised measurement standards.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

You apply through the university's Online Services portal, under "Benefits and agreements > Economic benefits", and attach your thesis as a PDF. The deadline for the 2026 call is 20 March 2026 at 12:00 noon (Italian time). A judging panel then ranks the theses and picks the winner.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize has very strict eligibility criteria. Only a small group of graduates who have recently completed their degrees in three specific civil engineering programmes at a specific university, and whose final dissertation addresses a specified sustainability topic, are eligible to enter. This keeps the pool of applicants small, meaning that a compelling, topic-relevant final dissertation stands a real chance of success. Please note that only the 1 Prize is awarded each year, and the jury may decide not to award it at all if no final dissertation meets the requirements.