Habacus and Intesa Sanpaolo partner to enable access to the StudioSì fund.

Due to the weakening of Italian household incomes and the growing inequality between northern and southern Italy, concerns arose about a significant drop in university enrollments.

However, this did not materialize. Enrollments did not collapse, and students returned to their studies, albeit with additional restrictions.

While official data is yet to be released, Italy’s Minister of University and Research, Gaetano Manfredi, stated during the third Gran Sasso International Forum at the University of Teramo: “We’ve received a very positive sign: an increase in university enrollments. We feared a decline, but the government’s commitment to the right to education is delivering extraordinary results. Numbers are growing from the North to the South.”

To further support students and universities in southern Italy, the initiative StudioSì – Fondo Specializzazione Intelligente was launched. This fund, created by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) under the National Strategy for Smart Specialization (SNSI) as part of the PON Research and Innovation Program 2014-2020, allocates approximately €93 million, co-funded by the European Social Fund and managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The EIB selected Intesa Sanpaolo and ICCREA as the banks responsible for distributing the StudioSì fund. As a partner of Intesa Sanpaolo, and building on the success of the Per Merito loan, Habacus was chosen as the certifying body to guide students through every step of the loan application process.

The StudioSì fund is designed for:

• Students residing in the eight target regions of the PON project (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia, and Sicily) who are attending or plan to attend the final two years of single-cycle degrees, master’s programs, or specialized courses at any Italian or international university.
• Students residing in other regions of Italy who wish to attend a university or specialized school in southern Italy.

This funding provides up to €50,000, offered at zero interest and without the need for guarantees or sureties. It covers tuition fees as well as living expenses related to studying (e.g., transportation, accommodation, meals). Additionally, upon graduation, there is a two-year grace period before students begin repayment, allowing them to establish themselves professionally.

We at Habacus are proud to contribute to this initiative as the certifying body for academic commitment—the only requirement needed to access the loan. We firmly believe that the revitalization of southern Italy must begin with education and youth empowerment!