In addition to Banco Santander, Pfizer, KPMG, Repsol, Repsol Foundation, Indra, Havas Group, Daimler and Endesa are collaborating in this programme that promotes inclusive university education. 

Since the launch of this programme in 2007, the Universia Foundation has invested more than EUR 2.7 million in more than 1,700 scholarships for disabled university students to boost access, progress and international university mobility.

Madrid, February 24, 2020. The 13th edition of the Universia Foundation Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students with disabilities has been resolved for the 2019-2020 academic year with the awarding of 231,000 euros. Banco Santander, Pfizer, KPMG, Repsol, Fundación Repsol, Indra, Havas Group, Daimler and Endesa are collaborating as participants in the Foundation's consolidated programme. 

Since the launch of this programme in 2007, Universia Foundation has invested 2,716,415 euros in these university grants to promote inclusive higher education. A total of 1,736 grants have been awarded to promote the academic progress of people with disabilities.  

On this occasion, 535 university students with disabilities have applied, of which 272 students have been selected, distributed by the universities throughout Spain. 
 

Study grants, sports support and international mobility 

The aid was distributed by category as follows: 235 for undergraduate and postgraduate students, 23 for mobility, 6 to support the training of players in the Genuine Santander League and 8 for sportsmen and women assigned to the Plan to Support Target Paralympic Sport (ADOP), the initiative in which the Foundation collaborates and which is promoted by the Spanish Paralympic Committee, the Higher Council for Sport and the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality. 

Within its thirteenth general call, the Universia Foundation has awarded 1,000 euros to each Legue scholarship holder, and has distributed 23,500 euros among 23 students with disabilities in the Mobility category, thus promoting international university mobility. Many of the students choose European destinations such as Austria, Italy, Slovakia or Germany, and some venture into universities in Africa or America.
 

University students with disabilities throughout Spain 

The university where most of the scholarship holders study is the University of Valencia, with a total of 27 students who have received grants (11.49% of the total), followed by the University of Oviedo, the Complutense University of Madrid, the UNED, the University of Alicante and the Carlos III University of Madrid, with 10 scholarship holders (4.68%) in each. In third place is the University of Castilla-La Mancha with 9 selected students (3.83%). 

With respect to the studies that have had the greatest presence among those selected for the 2019-2020 academic year, there are the branches of Education with 33 students (14.04% of the total), Engineering and Technology, with 24 (10.21%), Law and Social Sciences, with 18 students selected each (7.66%) and Medicine, with 15 scholarships (6.38%).
 

A scholarship is a story of progress

After studying in Mexico for a year, Cristina Pernas, 23, returned to the University of Santiago de Compostela, excited about her last year of medical school. She tells us how important it has been for her to receive the Universia Foundation grants throughout her career, enabling her to obtain the accessible means she needs in her day-to-day life: "Almost 6 years ago I chose to train as a doctor because I wanted to be able to improve, as far as possible, people's quality of life, accompanying them, always understanding medicine from a humanist perspective. Not without difficulties surrounding me throughout this period of study, a few months before I graduate I know that my choice has given me great joy ... and will continue to do so.
 

About Universia Foundation 

Universia Foundation, promoted by Banco Santander, is a private non-profit organisation that for more than 10 years has focused its work on education and employment guidance, diversity and equity, the digital transformation of universities, entrepreneurship and measuring the impact of the university ecosystem according to international standards (ODS).

Universia Foundation Communication  
Paloma de Andrés +34 615 690 654
paloma.andres@universia.net 
www.fundacionuniversia.net 
@FUniversia