On Friday, Santander University, through the President of Santander Brasil, Jesús Zabalza, and two-time world champion race car driver Fernando Alonso, delivered 100 scholarships at the sixth Santander Formula Programme to students from 47 Brazilian universities that have agreements with the Bank. The awardees received scholarships for the equivalent of €5,000 each, plus a course abroad lasting one semester.

1. Santander Universitiesawards100 scholarshipsthrough
theSantanderFormulaProgramme2015
 University students receive scholarships for the equivalent of €5,000 each, plus a course
abroad, for one semester.
 Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso and the President of Santander Brasil,
Jesus Zabalza, awarded the scholarships to the students this Friday at Interlagos
International Speedway.
 A record number of persons applied, 11% more than in 2014.
São Paulo, 13 November 2015.- On Friday, Santander University, through the President of
Santander Brasil, Jesús Zabalza, and two-time world champion race car driver Fernando
Alonso, delivered 100 scholarships at the sixth Santander Formula Programme to students
from 47 Brazilian universities that have agreements with the Bank. The awardees received
scholarships for the equivalent of €5,000 each, plus a course abroad lasting one semester.
The students may select one of 1200 universities throughout the world that have
agreements with Santander. The ceremony took place during the Formula 1 Brazil free
practice session at the Interlagos Speedway, in São Paulo, and it was also attended by the
presidents of the leading universities in the country and executives of Santander.
After the award ceremony, the awardees were allowed to visit the pits and watch the
Formula 1 Brazil GP free training.
“We believe that the best way to make a contribution to the country is to invest in
education. Without quality education, it is not possible to develop free, creative and fair
societies. The Santander Formula Programme coordinates a broad network of academic
cooperation, and has become one of the most sought-after initiatives of those that we
promote”, said the President of Santander Brasil, Jesús Zabalza.
During the ceremony, Fernando Alonso said: “I am pleased to support Banco Santander’s
scholarships. Its international commitment to universities is unique in the world. I encourage
students to make the most of the scholarships and their time abroad to grow in their
learning and make their dreams come true”.
This year saw a record number of applicants, 18,864, or 11% higher than the total for 2014.
An indication of students’ interest is the fact that the ratio of applicants per award was
higher than the ratio of candidates to openings (55) in the admission exam for the Fuvest
School of Medicine, Brazil’s entrance exam with the highest number of applicants.
The Santander Formula International Scholarship Programme is an international mobility
initiative focused on graduate and undergraduate students that benefits Brazilian, Spanish
Santander – Relações com a Imprensa
(11) 3553-7061/5157/5166/5244 Telefone de plantão (11) 99605-
5987
e-mail: imprensa@santander.com.br / www.santander.com.br
NOTADEPRENSA

2. and British universities. One hundred scholarships are given per year to students with
outstanding academic qualifications and from a disadvantaged socio-economic background.
The funds provided through the scholarships are used to cover transportation and room and
board, given that the course is provided according to an agreement between sending and
receiving universities. In addition, some institutions abroad offer university residence.
“I believe that internationalisation is a strategic activity for students’ academic and personal
development, which will set them apart in the labour market”, Jamil Hannouche, head of
Santander Universities in Brazil, stressed.
More information is available at www.santanderuniversidades.com.br/bolsas, which lists the
students and universities named in 2015 to receive scholarships in 2016.
About Santander Universities
Banco Santander is the largest investor in education in the world (Varkey/UNESCO report –
Fortune 500). The initiative is backed by Santander Universities, which has 1,200 cooperation
agreements in place with universities and institutions worldwide. The bank currently has 448
agreements with universities throughout Brazil.
In 2015, Santander provided more than 35,000 scholarships, study stipends and internships,
and between 2016 and 2018 it is expected to award more than 128,800 scholarships. It
supports more than 3,900 university projects every year and by 2018 it will have earmarked
more than €1.7 billion to support higher-education projects.
More information is available at www.santanderuniversidades.com.br
Santander – Relações com a Imprensa
(11) 3553-7061/5157/5166/5244 Telefone de plantão (11) 99605-
5987
e-mail: imprensa@santander.com.br / www.santander.com.br