Pension Life

The College’s founder, Leonard Wilde, believed that complete cultural and language immersion was essential in order for NJC students to fully benefit from their year studying abroad. At the time NJC began, the citizens of Neuchâtel and its surrounding villages commonly hosted European students who came to study at the Université de Neuchâtel or the Business College. Therefore, a network of families to host NJC students, called pensions, was easily established. Our alumni from those early years often reflect on their dinner table discussions, surrounded by their pension family and a variety of European students. Conversation was never lacking or dull! Today, our network consists of nearly 70 families who annually open their doors to NJC students, providing a source of stability, the ability to vastly improve their French, and direct exposure to the customs and traditions of European life.

Since nearly all of our pensions are located in the picturesque villages surrounding Neuchâtel, our students travel daily by train, tram, or bus between home and school. The first taste of independence and adult life.

The pension experience is often referred to by our alumni as incredibly rewarding and a critical element to the school’s success. It gives our students a wonderful new perspective on themselves, others, and the world.

We understand that pension placement is vital to the success of the student’s overall experience. We recognize that every student has different needs, as do our pension families. We match students and families attentively and with care.