University of Pavia - Degree prize “Giuseppe Mango”

Benefit

For an outstanding final dissertation in History, you will receive a one-off prize of 1,600 EUR gross. Under Italian tax law, 25% will be withheld from this amount, leaving you with a net sum of 1,200 euros, which will be paid in a single instalment. The prize is awarded by the University of Pavia, with the support of the Italian Navy and the town of Colobraro. The prize honours Giuseppe Mango, who survived the sinking of the battleship ‘Roma’ in 1943, and celebrates culture and historical memory. You must accept the prize in person at an official ceremony. If you do not attend, the prize will be forfeited.

Eligibility

• Your degree: You hold a PhD or a Master’s degree (laurea magistrale or laurea magistrale a ciclo unico) which you obtained between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025.
• Where you studied: You graduated from the University of Pavia, the University of Genoa, the University of Trieste, ‘La Sapienza’ University of Rome, the University of Naples ‘Federico II’ or the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.
• Thesis topic: Your thesis is in history, on geopolitical events and scenarios of the 20th and 21st centuries.
• Grade (master's graduates): You have completed your degree with a grade of at least 105/110, taking no more than two years longer than the standard duration of the programme.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

You apply online through the PICA platform (pica.cineca.it/unipv) by 10 March 2026, logging in with SPID or a registered account. A three-member commission appointed by the Rector reviews the entries and names one winner. Its decision is final.

How realistic are your chances?

This award has very strict eligibility criteria: only graduates of the History degree programme from six specifically named Italian universities who have written a dissertation on the geopolitics of the 20th and 21th centuries and who have completed their studies within the last two years are eligible to apply. This keeps the pool of applicants small. If your dissertation is on a relevant topic and your mark is at least 105/110, your chances are good. As only one winner will be selected, a compelling, well-researched dissertation will be the deciding factor.