Municipality of Milan - Degree prize "Giovanni Marra"

Giovanni Marra degree prize

For an outstanding final dissertation on the subject of sustainability reporting, you will receive a one-off prize of 5,000 EUR (excluding tax). The City of Milan awards this prize once a year in memory of Giovanni Marra, a former president of the City Council. Should two theses be judged to be of equal merit, the two winners will share the prize of 5,000 EUR.

Who can apply

• Degree level: Your final thesis is a Master’s thesis (Laurea Magistrale) or a doctoral thesis (PhD). It must be your own original work and must not merely be a summary of other people’s research findings.
• Where you studied: You defended the thesis at an Italian university. You can have done the research abroad, as long as you defended in Italy.
• Topic: Your dissertation focuses on new approaches and tools for embedding sustainability in the public sector, in social economy organisations or in private companies.
• Timing: You defended the thesis in the 12 months up to 30 April of the year you apply. For the 2026 round: between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Language: If your thesis is not written in Italian, please attach an Italian translation of the PDF file.

How to apply

Please send the signed application form, a copy of your identity document, your final thesis as a PDF file and a brief summary (max. 100 lines) via certified email (PEC, Italy’s official secure email system). The application deadline for the 2026 round was 20 July, and a new call for applications is published every year. There is no interview. The selection committee makes its decision solely on the basis of the documents you have submitted.

How realistic are your chances?

Only one prize is awarded each year, and the entry criteria ensure a small pool of entrants: a narrowly defined topic (sustainability reporting), a fixed timeframe for the defence, and an Italian university. If your Master’s or doctoral thesis clearly fits the topic and timeframe and demonstrates genuine original work, your chances are good. As only one prize is awarded each year, the quality of your research will determine your success.