This research, conducted on a sample of approximately 6,500 graduating students enrolled in high schools in Piedmont, highlighted how limited the student population’s knowledge of the policy on the right to education is: less than 9% know the entity that awards the scholarship, 6% correctly identify the eligibility requirements, and only 3% know the application procedures.

Through a randomized controlled trial, it is demonstrated that a brief informational intervention on scholarships significantly increases both the likelihood of university enrollment (+2.8 percentage points) – with even more pronounced effects among students undecided for financial reasons (+8.3 p.p.) -, and scholarship applications (+7.4 p.p.).

The results indicate that informing students about financial benefits can influence post-diploma choices and represent an effective lever to promote access to tertiary education for students from more fragile socio-economic backgrounds.

For those, however, who cite reasons related to psycho-emotional well-being for not continuing their studies, other forms of support must be provided.