UniCredit & Universities Foundation is one of the BSE sponsors that awards master program scholarships to top students applying to the School. Since 2010, UniCredit has provided a full scholarships for a student in the BSE master programs.

The aim of the UniCredit & Universities Foundation is to sustain the best talented students and researchers in Economics and Finance in the 17 European countries where UniCredit operates. According to the foundation's Secretary General, Giannantonio De Roni, "The European profile of the foundation gives us a rich and wide pool of outstanding candidates." In this context, Mr. De Roni stated that "UniCredit & Universities Foundation has been able to establish a strong and privileged cooperation with BSE that is a continuous source of new ideas and initiatives."

Past recipients of the UniCredit scholarship at the BSE include students from Germany, Italy, and Bulgaria. The recipient graduating this year is an Economics student from Poland, Hanna Niczyporuk.

"The UniCredit Scholarship has made it possible for me to enroll in a rigorous Master program in Economics at the Barcelona School of Economics," Ms. Niczyporuk said. "This opportunity has allowed me to strengthen my understanding of advanced economic theory and has equipped me with technical tools, essential for my future studies and work. Following completion of the program, I would like to enroll in a PhD program in the field of applied economics."

The recipient of the 2014-15 UniCredit master program scholarship has already been chosen. He is Sebastian Rast, a German student entering the BSE Master in Economics in September 2014.

Two new collaboration agreements between UniCredit and BSE for 2015

In 2015, the Foundation will expand support to include two new initiatives for BSE summer school participants and doctoral students.

The first is the Best Paper Award to European researchers on specific topics. The call is open only to researchers from one of the seven European institutions that the Foundation has chosen, including the BSE. The Best Paper Award includes a cash prize of about €2,000. 

The foundation will also provide grants to two participants in the 2015 BSE Summer Schools as part of a new initiative exclusive to the BSE and the London School of Economics.

On June 20, UniCredit & Universities Foundation held its annual ceremony in Milan for winners of its competitive awards supporting academic study and research.