How to Apply

Look into which international program is best for you! We strongly recommend connecting with IP Staff, Faculty-in-Residence or Faculty Director, IP Ambassadors and IP Alum throughout your application process. Students are strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with our IP Ambassadors or the Faculty-in-Residence for their first choice program. You can also contact the IP Office Monday thru Friday, 8am - 5pm and we are happy to answer all of your questions.

Here's how to get started:

1) Explore Options

Come to one of our events to learn more about our programs, meet IP staff, Faculty-in-Residence, Faculty Directors, IP Ambassadors and IP alum. Check out our calendar page to see what's coming up soon.

Check out our course offerings for each of our programs to see which programs work best for you. 

• Buenos Aires Academic Year 2021-2022 Courses
• Florence Academic Year 2021-2022 Courses
• Heidelberg Academic Year 2021-2022 Courses
• Lausanne Academic Year 2021-2022 Courses
• London Academic Year 2021-2022 Courses
• Shanghai Academic Year 2021-2022 Courses
• Washington DC Academic Year 2021-2022 Courses

2) Consult the Experts

Before deciding which program(s) are right for you, we recommend consulting the following trusted advisors:

• Academic Advisor
  • Contact Beverly Cawyer, Manager of Academics and Internships to get advising tailored to IP. 
  • Go to One Stop to get on the spot advice.
  • Contact your Major Advisor for major specific advice (check on your Wavenet account to find their contact details).
• Financial Aid Advisor
  • Go to the Financial Aid Office (located next to One Stop) to setup an appointment with your Financial Aid Advisor.
• Family and Friends
  • It's important to talk through your decision to study abroad with your parents or guardians. Parents should refer to our Parent Resources page for more information, and contact us with questions.

For additional consultation in the following areas, please consult with the offices below:

• Mental Health

  • Pepperdine Counseling Center: 310-506-4210 or student.counseling.center@pepperdine.edu

• Physical Health

  • Pepperdine Student Health Center: 310-506-4316

  • Office of Student Accessibility: 310-506-6500 or student.accessibility@pepperdine.edu

• Health Insurance

  • Visit our Health and Safety page and contact international.programs@pepperdine.edu if you have further questions.

• Prescriptions
  • Check with your provider, insurance and relevant customs department. Contact our health and safety concierge service, International SOS, about transporting prescriptions or availability of obtaining needed prescriptions abroad. Visit our health and safety page for further information.
• Learning and Other Ability Accommodations
  • Not all housing accommodations can be met abroad. Please contact the Office of Student Accessibility as soon as possible to learn more.
  • Dining accommodations are available for those with disability needs. Please contact the Office of Student Accessibility as soon as possible upon signing your contract, but at least two months before departure.
  • Community meals in Lausanne and Heidelberg are mostly at restaurants with set meals. Most European restaurants do not offer the variety of vegan and vegetarian options that one might be accustomed to in the US. Community meals in Shanghai and London are hosted at restaurants with a variety of selections. Meals in Florence are hosted in-house and meet a variety of preferences. Buenos Aires students have most meals at their homestay and we endeavor to match students with the most suitable homestay.
  • Contact Office of Student Accessibility: 310-506-6500 or student.accessibility@pepperdine.edu
• Spiritual, Cultural, or Other Adaptation:
  • Office of the Chaplain: 310-506-6504 or university.chaplain@pepperdine.edu

For additional questions, please come to the IP Office or contact us at 310-506-4230 or international.programs@pepperdine.edu.

How to Complete Your Online Application

1) Sign in to WaveNet, then click the "International Programs" link under "Popular Links":

2) Select your first choice program (ex. Shanghai, China) from the dropdown menu. Then, select the term that you would like to apply for as your first choice (ex. Academic Year 2021-22) and click "Create Application."

3) Fill out and submit the online application. Be sure to save your application frequently. You can save, exit and return to your work at any time. You will be asked to complete the following:

• Referral and Disciplinary Information:

  • What was most influential in your decision to apply for an international program?
  • Check here if you have ever been on academic probation in high school or college and explain below.
  • Check here if you have ever received any warnings, sanctions, or fees due to disciplinary violations.
  • Check here if you have any pending disciplinary actions and explain below.
  • Provide information on any previous disciplinary or academic probation(s), if applicable.
  • Indicate if you are a 1st Generation College Student, Transfer Student, and/or NCAA athlete.

• Short Answer Questions:

  • IP applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor, financial aid advisor and their family before selecting their first choice program. Please list the specific actions you have taken in order to determine which IP program best fits your academic, personal and professional goals. For example, Met with my academic advisor to review IP courses and four year plan; Attended IP Information Session; Met with the Faculty-in-Residence for my first choice program, etc. (200 words or less)
  • Please describe your previous language or international experience (200 words or less):
  • Please list three things that you are proud of having done (200 words or less):

• Essay Question:

  • What are your specific reasons for choosing your first choice program? How do you plan to engage with the local culture and contribute to the Pepperdine community before, during and after your abroad experience? (300 words or less)

• Video Question:

  • Please record a 3 minute video of yourself answering the questions below, then paste the link to your video in the application. Detailed instructions and a sample video are available here.

    What are some of the challenges you expect to face before, during and after your study abroad program? What resources will you rely on to meet these challenges? Is there anything else we should know about you? (3 minutes maximum)

    Paste the Zoom, Google Drive, YouTube or Vimeo link to your video in the application. Be sure to test the link to ensure it is working.

• IP Scholarship:
  • OPTIONAL: You have the option to apply for the IP scholarship. You can apply by completing the scholarship application linked in the application. You can complete the scholarship application before or after submitting your IP application, but we recommend that interested students apply before the priority deadline. To apply, please visit the scholarship page on the IP website.
• Emergency Contacts:
  • You will be asked to provide contact information for at least two emergency contacts. Be sure that you have selected at least one email and one Telephone number as "Preferred" for each contact.
• Consent:
  • You will be asked to consent to release the following information to my parents or legal guardians: Program Contract, Flight Contract, Flight Itinerary and Program Application Status.

• Alternate Choice Programs:

• • You can choose to indicate up to 6 additional programs and terms that you are interested in being considered for and rank them in order of your preference. To see which programs and terms are available as an alternate choice, click the magnifying glass.
  • If you are not interested in being considered for any additional programs or terms, do not select any additional programs. If you are interested in being considered for one additional program and/or term, select that program and term below. If you are interested in being considered for two additional programs and/or terms, select those programs and terms below...and so on. You will be considered for all of the programs that you indicate.
  • You will first be considered for your first choice program (which is the program you selected when you initially opened your WaveNet application). If you are not selected, you will be considered for your second choice, etc. If you do not want to be considered for a program, do not list it. If you are NOT accepted into any of the programs you have selected, you will be placed on the waitlist for your first choice program and term. Please double check your selections as it is not possible to change your ranking after submitting your IP application.

4) When your application is complete, click "Submit Application." Students that apply by 12 noon Pacific Time on September 21, 2020 will receive a decision on October 16, 2020. After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and you will receive a decision about 2 weeks after completing your application. Decisions are usually sent on Fridays.

IP Faculty-in-Residence are Seaver College Faculty Members who have been chosen to teach and serve in one of our abroad locations. Faculty-in-Residence travel abroad with the students and serve as mentors, professors, spiritual advisors and much more.

You are strongly encouraged to connect with the Faculty-in-Residence for the programs you are considering before, during and after the application process. Contact information for 2021-22 Faculty-in-Residence is available on each program's page.

Faculty-in-Residence are available to meet with you to discuss the program you wish to attend. You can email them to set up an appointment.

Ensure that you can receive a decision from the International Programs Office. To do this, you need to ensure your Pepperdine e-mail can receive email messages from Pepperdine faculty, staff and the PeopleSoft application system.

1) We strongly recommend that you deactivate email filtering softwares or add-ons such as Boxbe. IP Office staff will not complete authentication steps for Boxbe or similar programs.

2) Ensure that notifications from the PeopleSoft system are not marked as spam:

• From your Gmail inbox, ​open the Spam folder​ and locate any email from the​ following ​senders:
  • DONOTREPLY@pepperdine.edu​
  • Wavenet.Student@donotreply.pepperdine.edu
  • international.programs@pepperdine.edu
• Select each relevant email​ by clicking the checkbox to the left of the sender name​ as such:

• With the email selected, click​ the ​"Not spam"​ button at the top of the window, under the search bar​:

​Contact the IT ​Service Desk at 310-506-HELP (4357) ​if you continue to have PeopleSoft notifications directed to your SPAM folder or need additional technical assistance.

Look into which international program is best for you! We strongly recommend connecting with IP Staff, Faculty-in-Residence or Faculty Director, IP Ambassadors and IP Alum throughout your application process.

Here's how to get started:

1) Explore Options

Come to one of our events to learn more about our programs, meet IP staff, Faculty-in-Residence, Faculty Directors, IP Ambassadors and IP alum. Check out our calendar page to see what's coming up soon. 

Students are strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with our IP Ambassadors or the Faculty-in-Residence or Faculty Director for their program. You can also contact the IP Office Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm and we are happy to answer all of your questions.

Check out the course offerings of each program by exploring our summer program pages.

2) Consult the Experts

Before deciding which program(s) are right for you, we recommend consulting the following trusted advisors:

• Academic Advisor
  • Contact Beverly Cawyer, Manager of Academics and Internships to get advising tailored to IP. 
  • Go to One Stop to get on the spot advice
  • Contact your Major Advisor for major specific advice (check on your Wavenet account to find their contact details)
• Financial Aid Advisor
  • Go to the Financial Aid Office (located next to One Stop)
  Set up an appointment with your Financial Aid Advisor
• Family and Friends
  • It's important to talk through your decision to study abroad with your parents or guardians. Parents should refer to our Parent Resources page for more information, and contact us with questions.

For additional consultation in the following areas, please consult with the offices below:

• Mental Health

  • Pepperdine Counseling Center: 310-506-4210 or student.counseling.center@pepperdine.edu

• Physical Health

  • Pepperdine Student Health Center: 310-506-4316

  • Office of Student Accessibility: 310-506-6500 or student.accessibility@pepperdine.edu

• Health Insurance

  • Visit our Health and Safety page and contact international.programs@pepperdine.edu if you have further questions.

• Prescriptions
  • Check with your provider, insurance and relevant customs department. Contact our health and safety concierge service, International SOS, about transporting prescriptions or availability of obtaining needed prescriptions abroad.
• Learning and Other Ability Accommodations
  • Not all housing accommodations can be met abroad. Please contact the Office of Student Accessibility as soon as possible to learn more.
  • Dining accommodations are available for those with disability needs. Please contact the Office of Student Accessibility as soon as possible upon signing your contract, but at least two months before departure. 
  • Community meals in Lausanne and Heidelberg are mostly at restaurants with set meals. Most European restaurants do not offer the variety of vegan and vegetarian options that one might be accustomed to in the US. Community meals in Shanghai and London are hosted at restaurants with a variety of selections. Meals in Florence are hosted in-house and meet a variety of preferences. Buenos Aires students have most meals at their homestay and we endeavor to match students with the most suitable homestay.
  • Office of Student Accessibility: 310-506-6500 or student.accessibility@pepperdine.edu
• Spiritual, Cultural, Other Adaptation:
  • Office of the Chaplain: 310-506-6504 or university.chaplain@pepperdine.edu

For additional questions, please come to the IP Office or contact us at 310-506-4230 or international.programs@pepperdine.edu.

1) Sign in to WaveNet, then click the "International Programs" link under "Popular Links":

2) Select your first choice program (ex. Buenos Aires, Argentina) from the dropdown menu. Then, select the term that you would like to apply for as your first choice (ex. Summer 2021) and click "Create Application."

3) Fill out and submit the online application. Be sure to save your application frequently. You can save, exit and return to your work at any time. You will be asked to complete the following:

• Referral and Disciplinary Information:

  • What was most influential in your decision to apply for an international program?
  • Check here if you have ever been on academic probation in high school or college and explain below.
  • Check here if you have ever received any warnings, sanctions, or fees due to disciplinary violations.
  • Check here if you have any pending disciplinary actions and explain below.
  • Provide information on any previous disciplinary or academic probation(s), if applicable.
  • Indicate if you are a 1st Generation College Student, Transfer Student, and/or NCAA athlete.

• Short Answer Questions (please note these questions may vary by program):

  • IP applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor, financial aid advisor and their family before selecting their first choice program. Please list the specific actions you have taken in order to determine which IP program best fits your academic, personal and professional goals. For example, Met with my academic advisor to review IP courses and four year plan; Attended IP Information Session; Met with the Faculty-in-Residence for my first choice program, etc. (200 words or less)
  • Please describe your previous language or international experience (200 words or less):
  • Please list three things that you are proud of having done (200 words or less):

• Essay Question (please note these questions may vary by program):

  • What are your specific reasons for choosing your first choice program? How do you plan to engage with the local culture and contribute to the Pepperdine community before, during and after your abroad experience? (300 words or less)

• Video Question (please note that students who are required to complete an interview or audition for their program will not be required to complete the video question):

  • Please record a 3 minute video of yourself answering the questions below, then paste the link to your video in the application. Detailed instructions and a sample video are available here.
  • What are some of the challenges you expect to face before, during and after your study abroad program? What resources will you rely on to meet these challenges? Is there anything else we should know about you? (3 minutes maximum)
  • Paste the Google Drive, YouTube or Vimeo link to your video in the application. Be sure to test the link to ensure it is working.

• IP Scholarship:

  • OPTIONAL: You have the option to apply for the IP scholarship. You can apply by completing the scholarship application linked in the application. You can complete the scholarship application before or after submitting your IP application, but we recommend that interested students apply before the priority deadline. To apply, please visit the scholarship page on the IP website.

• Emergency Contacts:

  • You will be asked to provide contact information for at least two emergency contacts. Be sure that you have selected at least one email and one Telephone number as "Preferred" for each contact.
• Consent:
  • You will be asked to consent to release the following information to my parents or legal guardians: Program Contract, Flight Contract, Flight Itinerary and Program Application Status.
• Alternate Choice Programs:
  
  • You can choose to indicate up to 6 additional programs and terms that you are interested in being considered for and rank them in order of your preference. To see which programs and terms are available as an alternate choice, click the magnifying glass.
  • If you are not interested in being considered for any additional programs or terms, do not select any additional programs. If you are interested in being considered for one additional program and/or term, select that program and term below. If you are interested in being considered for two additional programs and/or terms, select those programs and terms below...and so on. You will be considered for all of the programs that you indicate.
  • You will first be considered for your first choice program (which is the program you selected when you initially opened your WaveNet application). If you are not selected, you will be considered for your second choice, etc. If you do not want to be considered for a program, do not list it. If you are NOT accepted into any of the programs you have selected, you will be placed on the waitlist for your first choice program and term. Please double check your selections as it is not possible to change your ranking after submitting your IP application.
  • Please note that programs that require an interview or audition, including Faculty-led programs, Specialty programs, Language Intensive programs and internships will not be available as an alternate choice. You must apply for one of these programs as a first choice, complete the interview and/or audition and provide any required supplementary materials in order to be considered.

4) When your application is complete, click "Submit Application." Students that apply by 12 noon Pacific Time on September 21, 2020 and complete an interview or audition (if required) by October 6 will receive a decision on October 16, 2020. After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and you will receive a decision about 2 weeks after completing your application. Decisions are usually sent on Fridays.

Faculty-Led Programs

If you are applying for a Faculty-Led program such as Jordan: Middle East Studies, Kenya: Made in the Streets or Fiji: Mission at Natuvu Creek, you will be required to complete an interview with the Faculty Director for your program. This is the faculty member that will travel abroad with you and teach classes as part of your program. You will schedule this interview as part of the IP application. Attend your interview at the scheduled date and time. If you need to change your interview date or time, please contact your Faculty Director prior to your interview time. Contact information for your Faculty Director is available on your program's page.

Internship Programs

If you are applying for a summer internship program such as Washington, D.C. Internship, you will be contacted if you have been invited to interview. You may also be asked to provide a sample resume and cover letter. If you are invited to interview, be prepared to discuss your career aspirations and to describe the type of internship you hope to secure.

Intensive Language Programs

If you are applying to a language intensive program such as Madrid Upper Division Spanish, you will be required to complete an interview with the Faculty-in-Residence for your program. This is the faculty member that will travel abroad with you and teach classes as part of your program. You will schedule this interview as part of the IP application. Attend your interview at the scheduled date and time. If you need to change your interview date or time, please contact your Faculty Director prior to your interview time. Contact information for your Faculty Director is available on your program's page.

Specialty Programs

If you are applying to a specialty program such as Edinburgh Theater or Heidelberg Music, you may be asked to complete an audition. Details will be provided by the Faculty Director.

Campus-Based Programs

If you are applying to a summer campus-based program such as Buenos Aires GE, China/Japan Asia Tour, Florence GE, Heidelberg GE, Lausanne GE,  or London GE, you are not required to complete an interview. However, you are strongly encouraged to connect with the Faculty-in-Residence for your program before, during and after the application process. Contact information for your Faculty-in-Residence is available on your program's page.

Interview tips:

• Treat this like a job interview. Dress nicely and arrive on time.
• Be yourself! Your Faculty-in-Residence wants to get to know you.
• Think about your answers to these questions:
  • Why did you apply for this specific program?
  • What do you hope to gain from this experience?
  • What challenges do you expect to face abroad and how will you manage them?

Ensure that you can receive a decision from the International Programs Office. To do this, you need to ensure your Pepperdine e-mail can receive email messages from Pepperdine faculty, staff and the PeopleSoft application system.

1) We strongly recommend that you deactivate email filtering softwares or add-ons such as Boxbe. IP Office staff will not complete authentication steps for Boxbe or similar programs.

2) Ensure that notifications from the PeopleSoft system are not marked as spam:

• From your Gmail inbox, ​open the Spam folder​ and locate any email from the​ following ​senders:
  • DONOTREPLY@pepperdine.edu​
  • Wavenet.Student@donotreply.pepperdine.edu
  • international.programs@pepperdine.edu
• Select each relevant email​ by clicking the checkbox to the left of the sender name​ as such:

• With the email selected, click​ the ​"Not spam"​ button at the top of the window, under the search bar​:

​Contact the IT ​Service Desk at 310-506-HELP (4357) ​if you continue to have PeopleSoft notifications directed to your SPAM folder or need additional technical assistance.