742 undergraduate students at the University of Navarra are currently studying thanks to a scholarship or a loan convertible into a scholarship from the Banco Popular Group. These undergraduates benefit from two types of aid: the Alumni Scholarships and the Academic Excellence Credits, both granted to people without economic resources and with very good academic records.

The University of Navarra inaugurated the Aula Banco Popular, located in the Amigos building, to express its gratitude for the aid granted to its students since the 2009-10 academic year by the financial institution, through the Fundación Grupo Banco Popular. The event was attended by the Rector, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero; the Chairman of Banco Popular, Ángel Ron; Igor Errasti, General Manager of the academic center; Francisco Aparicio, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Banco Popular; and Fernando Merino, Regional Director of the northern area of the bank.

The rector pointed out that the classroom will serve as a reminder to the students that "there are banks that are in solidarity with the students' education, as a lever to change the world".

For his part, the Chairman of Banco Popular highlighted the success of the scholarship and grant programs. "It is a source of pride to collaborate in the training of people who find it very difficult to study here, in one of the most prestigious universities in Spain. And over the years we want to strengthen this collaboration," he said.

Grants and Credits that convert to scholarships

The Credit for Excellence Program, a specific and pioneering program of the University of Navarra and Banco Popular, grants educational credits to good students without resources to cover their educational expenses and housing during their stay on campus.     

The initiative aims to achieve academic excellence among students, who can convert up to 75% of the principal amount of the grant plus interest into a scholarship, depending on the grade obtained during the academic year. In the 2009-2010 academic year, when the program was launched, 102 credits were awarded and there are currently 646, with an average amount converted into a scholarship of 5,129 euros.

For their part, the Alumni ScholarshipsThe University of Navarra's own scholarship program aims to provide access to the education offered by the University to students with limited economic resources so that through their study, work and research they can contribute to improving our society in the future.          

For the past five years, Banco Popular has been providing significant support each year to defray some of the costs of the Program. Specifically, in this academic year 2013-2014 the entity has financed 96 of the 300 Alumni Scholarships granted by the academic center, with an average amount of 7,489 euros. The financial aid is awarded according to the economic situation of the applicant, covering part or all of the tuition and accommodation costs.