Students will be spending two weeks at UAB throughout the three sessions which will be held from 11 June to 19 July. They will be participating in different types of activities under the tutorship of university staff, such as problem-solving cases, discussing issues and living with other teenagers from different social backgrounds.

The purpose of the programme is to encourage students to continue their education once they finish secondary school. That is why the programme is addressed to students who excel in their studies but for family, social or other reasons, are not always interested in continuing with their studies, which many consider a difficult and expensive option.

Campus Ithaca students begin activities each day at 9 am and end at 6 pm. In addition to working in groups, the students also attend workshops and debates and can enter a short story competition, become familiar with the campus and take trips to Barcelona to visit the city's museums. Students will also have the chance to practice sports at UAB's Sports Activities Centre (SAF) and choose from a list of cultural activities including theatre, arts, music, dance, etc.

Campus Ithaca, organised by the Institute of Educational Sciences and the Faculty of Education, is sponsored by Banco Santander. Taking part in the programme are several university members from different areas, departments and faculties. Since 2004, the programme has been held every year and now includes over 6,000 students who have participated.

Twenty university grants

UAB recently opened its call for 20 Ithaca-Banco Santander grants for the 2012/13 academic year addressed to students of the centres participating in Campus Ithaca. With the aim of making sure that economic reasons are not a hindrance in the higher education of students, UAB and Banco Santander offer these grants to academically bright students who otherwise may not be able to pay for a university education.

These types of grants are not offered by any other university in Spain. Grants include a monthly payment of 500 Euros during ten months, renewable each year for a total of four years (duration of an EHEA degree). Enrolment fees are also covered by the grant.