SWITZERLAND PROGRAM
Future Students
— APPLYING
Start your journey.
Applications are handled through Pepperdine's Office of International Programs.The Switzerland Program offers summer, semester, and full academic year programs. For semester and year-long programs, the application process typically begins a year in advance during August and September. Qualified applicants are accepted in the fall and attend additional orientation in the spring.
The Switzerland Program seeks students with a passion for experiential learning, a desire to build a Christ-centered community, a fascination with Swiss culture and the environment, and a will to find adventure through world travel.
Applications are submitted through viaTRM, Pepperdine’s International Programs' student portal. The Office of International Programs is located on the first floor of the Tyler Campus Center, between the bookstore and the Rockwell Dining Center. Reach out to them directly for guidance on how a semester or year abroad fits with your academic plan.
Ready to apply?
Log in to viaTRM to begin your application through the International Programs portal.
— PREPARING TO STUDY ABROAD
What to know before you go.
Packing
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Pack light — seriously. Aim to pack your bags like you would for a 2 week vacation.
- Check airline luggage limits before packing
- Students aren't allowed to bring more than 2 full-sized suitcases, 1 carry-on, and 1 daypack
- Bring layers — weather at the Château can vary depending on the season, from snow to hot and sunny
- Three pairs of shoes is plenty: walking, athletic, and dressy
- Leave US hair dryers, flat irons, and appliances at home — Swiss outlets run 220V
- Linens, pillows, and towels are provided — don't bring them
Visas
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If you are a US citizen studying during the academic year, you will be required to obtain a student visa. This will be done in coordination with the International Programs Office in Malibu.
- Visa requirements for non-US citizens must be examined individually — contact the IP Office
Cell Service
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Depending on your cell provider, they may offer an international plan or not. If they do not, most students then rely on an eSIM, for cellular data.
- Make sure your phone is unlocked at least one month before departure (not apart of a payment plan with your domestic carrier)
- When purchasing an eSIM many different plans are available, if you get too little to start you can easily add on more data
- Wi-Fi is available throughout the Château
- Students without a plan leave their phone on Airplane Mode and use Wi-Fi for messaging and calls
Housing & Meals
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All students are required to live in the Château d'Hauteville. Rooms vary from 2 to 6 persons, they are furnished with beds, desks, and cabinets, with windows looking out to Lake Geneva and the Alps.
- Linens, pillows, duvets, and towels are all provided — don't bring them
- A laundry room with top of the line equipment is located in the basement, availible through an app
- Roommate assignments are handled by program staff before you arrive
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the Orangerie during class hours
- A student kitchen is available for self-catering
- Migros and Coop supermarkets are a short walk away in Vevey
- Every Tuesday, dinner is out at local restaurants
Arrival
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The program flies into Geneva International Airport (GVA). A group bus transports students to Château d'Hauteville.
- If not on the group flight, you must arrive by 1:30pm on orientation day
- Allow 1.5–2 hours from landing for luggage claim and travel to the Château
- No family tours are permitted during arrival and orientation
- Weekend curfew: return by 11:59pm Sunday — late arrivals are marked absent for Monday classes
Health & Medication
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If you take prescription medication, bring a full supply from home — US prescriptions are not always filled overseas. Keep medication in its original prescription container with a copy of your doctor's prescription.
- Bring a letter from your doctor if you take injectable medication and notify program staff on arrival
- Pack basic medications such as aspirin and cold medicine — normal OTC medicines differ overseas and normally require a prescription
- Food allergies can be difficult to manage during independent travel — see OSA Accommodations for details
- If you have a food allergy or learning disability, you must be registered with OSA on the Malibu campus before you arrive
— FINANCIAL
Planning for your semester.
Understanding the costs and financial aid available to you before you go.
Tuition. Tuition for the Switzerland Program is billed through Pepperdine at standard Seaver College rates — not Swiss university fees — so your financial aid package applies just as it would on the Malibu campus.
Program fee and personal expenses. A program fee covers housing at Château d'Hauteville, meals in the Orangerie, field trips, and orientation — contact the Office of International Programs for the current schedule. Beyond that, Switzerland is one of Europe's more expensive countries, so budget for weekend travel, shopping, dining, and a SIM card; most students set aside CHF 300–600 per month for personal expenses.
Flight. Airfare to and from the program is the student's responsibility, though the program arranges a group flight option with details shared after acceptance.
Pepperdine financial aid. Most Pepperdine financial aid — including grants, loans, and scholarships — applies to approved international programs; work with the Office of Financial Assistance to confirm your package transfers before you commit.
Scholarships. Pepperdine's Office of International Programs offers scholarships specifically for students studying abroad, so ask about availability and deadlines when you apply. Several external scholarships also support study abroad in Switzerland and Europe — explore IEFA.org, the Gilman Scholarship (for Pell Grant recipients), and your home department for discipline-specific awards.
Student worker positions. A limited number of student worker positions are available at the Château — ask program staff for details after acceptance.
— OSA ACCOMMODATIONS
Accessibility support abroad.
The Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) seeks to accommodate students with documented disabilities to allow equal opportunities in their educational experience. Before receiving any accommodation, students must first register with OSA and provide documentation from an approved professional.
Studying abroad poses unique challenges. International program facilities and local legal norms sometimes limit what can be provided — for example, single-room accommodations are not possible due to space constraints, and air-conditioning violates Swiss law. Students should carefully consider these factors before applying.
Important: OSA accommodations must be renewed each year by July 15, even if you believe you won't activate them abroad. No accommodations can be arranged without an official OSA letter presented to each professor or coordinator.
Register with OSA at Pepperdine →