Premi di laurea (thematische Einzelpreise der Associazione degli Amici / Alumni Unipd)

What you get

These are one-off cash prizes for graduates of the University of Padua (Universita degli Studi di Padova), awarded for a strong final thesis. This is not a single scholarship but a set of separate awards run by the university's Alumni and Friends associations. Each award has its own theme, sponsor, sum and deadline. Individual prizes currently run from 1,000 EUR to 2,500 EUR, paid once. Some add extra benefits: winners of the Padua-culture prize get an extract of their thesis published in the journal Padova e il suo territorio, and winners of the "Costruire il futuro" prize get individual career support from the firm Umana S.p.A.

Examples of active themes and amounts:

• AQVA: sustainable water-resource management. Two prizes, 3,000 EUR in total (2,000 EUR and 1,000 EUR).
• Anna Donega: theses on projects with a positive social impact. Three prizes totalling 4,000 EUR (two of 1,000 EUR, one of 2,000 EUR).
• Angelo Ferro e Sergia Jessi: the history, art and culture of Padua and its province. Three prizes (2,000 EUR, 1,000 EUR, 1,000 EUR).
• Costruire il futuro: merit shown despite political, economic or social instability at home. Two prizes of 2,500 EUR each.
• Oltre il limite, dentro lo sport: disability, sport and inclusion. Two prizes totalling 3,000 EUR.

Who can apply

• Where you studied: You graduated from the University of Padua.
• Degree: Most prizes need a master's degree (Laurea Magistrale or single-cycle Magistrale a ciclo unico); a few also accept a bachelor's (Laurea).
• Membership: You join the Alumni Association of the University of Padua. Membership is free.
• Field of study: Depends on the prize. Some accept any subject (Anna Donega, Oltre il limite); others need a specific field, such as engineering, sciences or agriculture for AQVA, or medicine for the Zotti prize.
• Timing: You graduated within the window set by each prize, roughly one to three years before its deadline.
• Age: Some prizes set a limit, for example under 28 for AQVA or up to 33 for the Padua-culture prize; others set none.
• Thesis topic: Your thesis must match the theme of the prize you apply for.

How to apply

Each prize has its own online form and its own deadline. Deadlines for the current rounds fall between September 2026 and March 2027. Join the Alumni Association for free first, then submit the form and the documents listed in that prize's call. A committee reviews the entries, and winners are announced at the annual Alumni Awards event.

How realistic are your chances?

Each prize is cut narrowly: you must be a Padua graduate, your thesis must fit a specific theme, and many prizes add limits on age, degree level or field. That keeps the applicant pool small for any single prize. If your thesis clearly matches one of the themes and you meet its conditions, your prospects are good. You can also apply to more than one prize if several fit your work.