INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
The mission of Seaver College’s International Programs is to empower students to develop global competence and cultural humility through inclusive learning communities, academic excellence, real-world experience, and faith formation.
Pepperdine is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the nation for study abroad participation .
More than 15,000 Pepperdine students have participated in international programs.
Study abroad alumni data illustrate personal, academic, and professional impacts. Of research respondents:
96% increased self-confidence
76% developed skills that influenced their career path
80% enhanced interest in academic study
97% increased maturity
A TRULY UNIQUE MODEL
Transformative
Seaver students have had life-changing study abroad experiences for more than 50 years. The Pepperdine international program model provides an unparalleled opportunity to grow in unique ways, emerging with more independence, compassion, cultural humility, nuanced thinking, and self-confidence.
A Pepperdine Experience Abroad
Whether in the heart of cosmopolitan London or in Heidelberg’s picturesque old town, students never feel far from home. They live and study in facilities that are Pepperdine owned and operated and take classes taught by Pepperdine professors, including faculty from Malibu who reside at each campus location. The language of instruction is English and many of the classes fulfill GE requirements so that students can stay on track to graduate in four years.
The result is a highly specialized experience that supports, challenges, and inspires students to engage cross-culturally.
Our Programs
FALL AND SPRING
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
FLORENCE, Italy
HAUTEVILLE, Switzerland
HEIDELBERG, Germany
LONDON, United Kingdom
WASHINGTON, DC, Us
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Pepperdine offers a wide variety of summer programs around the world. In addition to programs at our international campuses, Pepperdine provides special faculty-led programs to locations such as Fiji, Japan, Jordan, Scotland, and Uganda.
To view a selection of current available programs, please visit our website.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
“Immersing myself in new cultures and places expanded my worldview.”
Braden Sprenger
LONDON, Academic Year 2019–2020
“Navigating different ways of life through cross-cultural relationships made me more willing to leap out of my comfort zone and prioritize being content with where my feet are.”
Grace Sardar BUENOS AIRES, Academic Year 2023–2024
“Interning, studying, and traveling across the East Coast and Europe allowed me to grow spiritually, professionally, and socially.”
Ronald Wicks
WASHINGTON, DC Spring Term 2022
“Traveling the world with friends and having intimate worship nights in the lounge allowed me to grow as an individual both culturally and spiritually.”
Jacey Hoy LONDON, Academic Year 2021–2022
“Traveling with my peers and experiencing the world together allowed us to grow closer and develop friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Adam Streva
HEIDELBERG, Academic Year 2019–2020
“My year studying abroad allowed me to rediscover myself, expand my cultural understanding, and become part of the most ambitious, intelligent, and fun community.”
Kate
Dalforno SWITZERLAND
Academic Year 2021–2022
BUENOS AIRES
ARGENTINA
The Location
Buenos Aires is a dynamic and culturally rich metropolis in South America. This bustling city offers a charming combination of Latin flair and European influence. Home to the tango and known for its wide boulevards, sprawling urban parks, and active cafe culture, Buenos Aires is one of the world’s most vibrant cities. World-class museums and countless culinary options are easily enjoyed in a city that doesn’t sleep.
Where You Will Live
Students live in the homes of carefully chosen hosts, where they create deep relationships and learn about the local customs of the Argentine people within the comfort of a family unit. The homestay model not only helps students attain higher levels of fluency in Spanish, but it also connects them to local culture in deeper and more meaningful ways. University-owned facilities— Casa Olleros and Casa Holden—are located in Palermo, which is an upscale Buenos Aires neighborhood. Facilities include classrooms, student lounges, kitchens, and a library. The back patio boasts a swimming pool, parilla (barbecue), and outdoor seating. These facilities also house the faculty in residence as well as the program offices. When not at their homestays, students come here to take classes, study, socialize, worship, and plan service activities.
SCAN THE QR TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUENOS AIRES PROGRAM
FLORENCE
The Location
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance. Home to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and the patron Medici family, it is one of the world’s epicenters of art, literature, math, historical treasures, innovation, and tradition.
Where You Will Live
Students reside at the University-owned facility Villa Di Loreto and the adjoining Residenza Tagliaferri. Built in the 19th century, the property contains student rooms, kitchens, study areas, and recreational facilities. It is located within walking distance of Florence’s historic city center, many museums, cathedrals, service opportunities, architectural treasures, and the city’s main railway station, Santa Maria Novella. The surrounding buildings are primarily residential, although a lively shopping area is located only a block away.
Studying in Florence provides students a rare opportunity to experience firsthand what they learn about in the classroom. For example, after a humanities lesson on the Renaissance, students can walk to nearby museums to see in person the actual works of art that they learned about in class.
HEIDELBERG
GERMANY
The Location
Heidelberg is a historic city situated along the banks of the Neckar River. Heidelberg is steeped in history as the home of Germany’s oldest university, which opened its doors in 1386, and to the world-famous Heidelberg Castle perched as a sentinel overlooking the storybook city center. As Pepperdine’s longest continuously operated program, Heidelberg has been housing students since 1963.
Where You Will Live
Students reside at the University-owned Moore Haus, which is a spacious turn-of-the-century mansion that has a breathtaking view of the Neckar Valley. The four-story mansion houses a library, reception room, computer lab, administrative offices, student rooms, a student kitchen, student center, and a laundry facility. It is adjacent to Heidelberg’s famous castle, very near the University of Heidelberg, and within convenient walking distance of the downtown areas of the city (Hauptstraße), and local service opportunities.
Students take classes at the University-operated center located on the Haupstraße, right in the heart of the old town. Students are only steps away from cafes, restaurants, parks, and historic buildings.
SWITZERLAND
CHÂTEAU D’HAUTEVILLE
The Location
Switzerland lies in the center of Europe and for centuries has been a point of connection between peoples, countries, and cultures. It has long been a sought-after location because of its incredible natural beauty, financial and political stability, luxury goods, and high standard of living. The program is located in the western, French-speaking region of Switzerland, just an hour train ride away from Geneva and its international airport, 18 minutes from Lausanne, and 25 minutes from popular hiking and skiing destinations.
Where You Will Live
The magnificent 67-acre campus in Blonay - Saint-Légier, along the north shore of Lake Geneva in the Swiss Riviera, is the home of Pepperdine’s newest program. The estate features a 300-year old château that offers classrooms, offices, undergraduate residences, a student kitchen, common rooms, and a library. Next door is the orangery, a building that features the university dining room, a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, and graduate residences. In addition to these beautiful structures, the property includes terraces with French-style gardens, vineyards, a large vegetable garden (which will supply the kitchen!), fountains and ponds, forests, fields, and walking paths.
This idyllic campus lies only five minutes from the center of Blonay - Saint-Légier, a town full of quaint cafes, bakeries, and restaurants, and 10 minutes from the city center of Vevey, a city heralded for its charm and beauty and home to some of Switzerland’s most renowned cultural and business institutions.
SCAN
LONDON
The Location
London is one of the world’s largest and most important cultural and commercial centers. A global crossroads, London is an intersection of history and modernity, literature, culture, and world business. Students have the opportunity to experience the city’s countless theatres, museums, parks, shopping districts, and iconic tourist attractions such as the British Parliament, the London Eye, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace.
Where You Will Live
Students reside in Pepperdine’s historic Victorian-era facility in the heart of the South Kensington neighborhood. It contains classrooms, a library, offices, dorm rooms, and faculty apartments for the London Program over its six floors. At the rear, the house opens through a patio onto a leafy garden square. This facility is surrounded by some of the most significant educational resources in the world including the Royal College of Art, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal College of Music, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Geology Museum, and the Science Museum.
SCAN THE QR TO READ MORE ABOUT THE LONDON PROGRAM
GLOBAL INTERNSHIPS
WASHINGTON, DC
The Location
Washington, DC, may be best known as the United States capital, but it is also a global gathering place that hosts more than 175 foreign embassies and serves as the headquarters of top international organizations, policy-making institutions, and nonprofits, where student interns can play a role in shaping today’s world.
Internships are a key feature of the DC program. Students have interned at organizations like the World Bank, the White House, the Department of State, MSNBC, the United Way Worldwide, the Smithsonian, the United Nations, and the US Chamber of Commerce.
Each semester students taking part in the Washington, DC, program embark on an international study tour focusing on locations of global influence. Past destinations include Croatia, Cuba, Morocco, and Peru.
Where You Will Live
Students reside in Pepperdine University’s facility located at 2011 Pennsylvania Avenue in modern and spacious four-person suites. Down the street from the White House, the campus is on two metro stops, across the street from George Washington University, and just a few blocks from Georgetown University, putting it in the center of the best shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and parks that the city has to offer.
SCAN THE QR TO READ MORE ABOUT THE GLOBAL INTERNSHIPS PROGRAM
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Campus-Based Programs
Each of our campus-based programs offers special summer abroad opportunities. These programs vary from four to nine weeks, and many of them offer GE courses.
Specialty programs such as the Buenos Aires Sustainability, Heidelberg Music, London History through Hamilton, London Sports Administration, and Switzerland French Intensive, are all offered during the summer at our campus-based locations.
Faculty-Led Programs
Each summer, Pepperdine professors lead special programs throughout the world. Past summer programs have included the Edinburgh Theatre program, the Fiji Medical Mission, and Madrid Spanish Intensive, as well as other unique programs in Japan, Kenya, and Uganda.
PEPPERDINE GLOBAL FELLOWS
Program Overview
The Pepperdine Global Fellows experience is a transformational leadership program designed to prepare fellows with the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in a complex and increasingly globalized world.
FOCUSES ON…
• Global engagement
• Intercultural training
• Academic excellence
• Community
On your official academic transcript, the University will acknowledge the completion of the Global Fellows Certificate Program
Features
• Students commit to a full academic year in one of Pepperdine’s overseas programs (Buenos Aires, Florence, Heidelberg, London, Switzerland)
• One semester in the Washington, DC, program with completion of a DC-based internship at an organization with a global scope in its mission or operations
• Participation in mentoring sessions with your IP director and your DC career mentor
• Unique classes tailored to build on your passion for the world and international experiences
ACADEMICS
Studying abroad empowers students to learn in new ways as they expand their worldview and become more cognitively flexible. A hallmark of Pepperdine’s international program model is that students take Pepperdine classes taught by our own professors in Pepperdineowned and -operated facilities around the world. This allows us to maintain high standards in the classroom, provide students with personalized mentorship and academic support, and integrate students’ abroad learning with their Malibu-based education. In addition, class offerings are designed to maximize flexibility, allowing most students to stay on track to graduate in four years.
Studying abroad provides a unique opportunity for experiential learning, epitomized by the weeklong educational field trips (EFTs) during the fall and spring semesters of each academic year program. One EFT goes to a destination where the program language is spoken, while the other is to a neighboring country. Destinations vary with past trips including Dubai, Greece, Morocco, Patagonia, Peru, Spain, and Tanzania.
“We were able to visit the very places and art pieces we were learning about which added a depth to our education that we would not have gotten anywhere else!”
Alyssa Rabie FLORENCE
Academic Year 2021–2022
NEXT STEPS
HOW TO APPLY
Students are encouraged to explore all programs and learn about which program may be best for them. However, the admissions process is selective and so we encourage open-mindedness and flexibility. Students can apply to multiple programs and terms with one application and can rank order their preferred programs.
Be sure to consult with program alumni, academic advisors, friends, and family when considering options
For more information on the application process, program costs, and course offerings, please visit our website: community.pepperdine.edu/seaver/internationalprograms.
