ASSDIPLAR - ASSDIPLAR-Costantino Nigra Degree Prize

ASSDIPLAR Costantino Nigra Degree Prize

For the best Master’s or doctoral thesis on a specified topic in the field of diplomacy, you will receive a one-off cash prize of 3,000 EUR (net). The prize is sponsored by ASSDIPLAR, the Italian association of retired diplomats ‘Costantino Nigra’, based at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. You will receive the money in a single bank transfer and may combine it with other prizes or scholarships. A new topic is set for each round. The current (fourth) round focused on the strategic role of the entire Mediterranean region in geopolitics and Italian diplomacy.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have obtained a ‘Laurea Magistrale’ (Italian Master’s degree) or a ‘Dottorato’ (Italian doctoral degree).
• Where you studied: You have obtained this qualification at an Italian university or an equivalent higher education institution.
• Timing: You obtained your qualification within the specified period. In the fourth round, this period ran from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025.
• Field: Your dissertation deals with diplomacy and ties in with the specific topic of the current round, with a focus on Italian diplomacy.
• Language: You wrote your final thesis in Italian.
• Originality: The final project is your own work and has not previously been submitted in an earlier round of the competition.
• Nationality and age: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, and there is no age limit.

How to apply

Please send your application by registered post to the association’s address in Rome. To do so, please use the form available at www.assdiplar.it and enclose a printed copy of your final thesis, a valid identity document and your certificate of enrolment. The closing date for the fourth round was 28 February 2026; the date of the postmark will be taken as proof of submission. A panel will then assess the dissertations in terms of their references, originality and quality. Their decision is final.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize has very strict criteria. You need to have written an Italian-language dissertation in the field of diplomacy that relates precisely to a specific topic, meaning that only a few candidates qualify in each round. This works to your advantage if you meet these requirements. However, the selection committee may also decide not to award the prize at all, as happened in the fourth round, when no thesis corresponded closely enough to the topic. A compelling thesis that is relevant to the topic, drawing on a wide range of sources and featuring original research, is the key to success.