Pepperdine Opens New Campus in Switzerland

On Thursday, July 6, 2023, Pepperdine opened the doors of its newest international campus, Château d’Hauteville, a 90-acre 18th-century estate overlooking Lake Geneva (known by locals as Lac Léman) in Switzerland. In an historic moment that was the culmination of more than eight years of exploration, negotiation, and renovation, University president Jim Gash (JD ’93) cut the ceremonial orange ribbon, officially opening the campus. Members of the Pepperdine community, including alumni, friends, and administrators, gathered together with Swiss officials, dignitaries, and residents to celebrate the grand opening in the château’s cobblestone courtyard.

The inaugural class of students will arrive in August to begin their studies at the château. Undergraduates will have the opportunity to take a variety of general education courses such as French, world civilizations, earth science, Christianity and culture, plants and the environment, and sociology, while graduate students will be able to study foreign policy and alternative dispute resolution. In addition to its function as an enriching learning environment, Château d’Hauteville will serve as a world-class venue for the convening of retreats, conferences, and lectures on topics of global and international significance.

Read more about the grand opening of Pepperdine's newest international campus on the University's Newsroom. To learn more about the history, acquisition, and renovation of Château d’Hauteville, read “A Grand Opening” in the summer 2023 issue of Pepperdine Magazine.