The hand the University extends to its students

38 MILLION EUROS ALLOCATED IN THE 2021/2022 ACADEMIC YEAR, AND ONE OUT OF FOUR STUDENTS BENEFITING FROM FORMS OF FINANCIAL AID; 545 FIRST YEAR STUDENTS SUPPORTED WITH NEED BASED SUBSIDIES. THE NUMBERS AND PROGRAMS OF SOCIAL MOBILITY AT BOCCONI

Bocconi University has progressively increased its financial support to students: as a whole, €38 million have been allocated for this purpose in the 2021-2022 academic year, so much that today one out of four students benefits some form of financial aid.
 
By focusing on support with the objective of social mobility and looking at the numbers relating to first-year students, it emerges in current academic year there are 545 first-year students supported with need-based subsidies. The total relates in particular to four families of benefits: those relating to the 'Una scelta possibile' program for disadvantaged students, those related to 'Diritto alla studio' public funds, those relating to lower income brackets and total aor partial tuition exemption. The role of the University donors is also important in supporting students. The support comes from Alumni, individuals, companies or foundations: in the current academic year, 107 first-year students have been supported thanks to tuition exemptions and scholarships funded by donors.

Among the forms of financial aid promoting social mobility supported by private sponsors, in addition to 'Una scelta possibile', there is 'Investing in the Future', a program powered mainly by small donations, and the 'Sponsored funds supporting students', supported by companies and foundations. Not only that, donors are also involve in project beyond the University: through the 1stGEN@UNI project, Bocconi and Citi Foundation are working together to promote university education among studying Italian high schools coming from disadvantaged background, while jointly with the Labia Foundation there is a similar project involving students from South Africa. These projects really open the gates of higher education to talented teenagers who would otherwise see their potential limited.

"In the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, Bocconi commits to acting as a social elevator," explains Catherine De Vries, Bocconi Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. "In order to make good on this commitment, Bocconi offers a large array of initiatives and opportunities based on merit and economic conditions, such as financial aid awards and scholarships. We also engage in outreach activities with high schools in deprived areas. With these activities we are involving students, faculty, staff and alumni on our campus to help and reach out to communities in need to foster a greater understanding of social inclusion and work towards even more inclusive and effective solutions in the future.”

by Andrea Celauro
Translated by Alex Foti