MEI FAQ

Participating in an educational travel experience abroad during this pivotal time in a young adult’s life is often one of the most impactful moments they will have. Travel while studying profoundly shifts a student’s perspective, expanding their worldview and shaping how they approach learning. These experiences stay with them, enriching their personal growth as they continue on their academic journey.

Our program offers students a unique and immersive experiential learning opportunity. Classes occur throughout the day, wherever the experience takes place—whether at historical sites, museums, parks, or during excursions—making meaningful connections with the surroundings. We cover all required curriculum components, tailoring them to directly link with the travel experience. For example, students might study the Holocaust while visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp and reading Elie Wiesel’s Night.

Activities may include guided tours, museum visits, workshops, beach days, service-learning projects (Tanzania), and hands-on learning experiences related to the academic focus of the trip. 

In addition to earning an OSSD credit, students achieve a rich and profound comprehension of the course material through immersive cultural experiences and practical, real-world learning that broadens global consciousness, and equips students with life skills—preparing them effectively for success in university and beyond.

MEI Academy is an inspected private school that In order to be sure that all of the curriculum is covered and that students are able to fully experience the travel component of the program, virtual, synchronous classes will be held the week prior to departure.

Report Cards will be sent to the student’s home school upon completion of the course.

Students in grades 10-12 can enrol in any one of our OSSD credit educational travel programs, assuming they meet all prerequisite requirements.

Educational travel programs offer students the opportunity to travel to various destinations while engaging in experiential learning experiences. Our programs combine academic study with hands-on activities and cultural immersion.

Each semester and summer program runs at between 25 and 36 students, typically split between male and female, although that balance changes slightly from year to year. The ratio of students to teachers however is always, at most, 10 students to 1 teacher, but usually, 9 students to 1 teacher.

Before departure, MEI will hold an online pre-departure meeting for parents and students. Here, students will meet their teachers and fellow classmates and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Reading lists will be posted on your program site months before your class starts. Online pre-departure sessions with your teachers and classmates begin prior to departure and vary depending on the program. These virtual sessions are designed to introduce you to your classmates, teachers, and coursework. Our goal is to prepare you to hit the ground running and reduce your workload onsite.

Upon your return, you have time to complete additional research and pull your work together before your final one-on-one online assessment and online exam. This week allows you to reflect on your travel experiences and integrate them into the course material.

The pre-departure and post trip class time is an integral part of earning your credit. We highlight these classes on our webpage to allow students time to adjust their plans to ensure they are available for class. We also send a notification about these classes months before departure. The pre and post-classes are important parts of the instructional hours of the course; this credit is not solely earned while you are travelling.

As our programs are very mobile and virtually paperless, students on all programs are required to bring a personal computer or tablet with them. Portable devices must run a standard word processor and for select programs, video editing software.

Reading Lists for each program are posted on the student login months in advance of departure. Typically, each course will have approximately three major texts assigned for pre-departure. As our overseas timelines are condensed and fast paced, students are expected to have read all novels, plays, and/or other assigned texts prior to departure. Additionally, students are expected to bring their reading list texts, whether in hard or digital copies, along with their notes, with them overseas. Course texts are utilized often throughout each program for close readings, book chats, essays, other assignments and exams. Reading lists, as with all MEI curriculum evolve year to year to accommodate for fresh cutting edge ideas and literature, while still ensuring that students have the opportunity to study classic and foundational texts.

We have a maximum 9-1 student-staff ratio, and often, it is less than that. Our staff includes Lead Teachers, Teachers and TAs. Our Lead Teachers and Teachers are certified Ontario Educators, and sometimes, we also staff our programs with Teaching Assistants who are past MEI students. These TAs have graduated from university and stood out amongst their peers when they were with MEI. Our Lead Teachers, Teachers and TAs are interviewed, references are checked, and they submit a police report if they are not currently working in a school.

Yes, students who reside outside of Ontario can graduate with MEI Academy if they meet the Ontario Ministry of Education graduation criteria. Please contact MEI Academy for requirements. If you live outside of Canada, international student fees may apply.

Yes, many Alberta high schools accept Ontario University Preparation 4U-level courses as 30-1 level courses.

Schools will examine the Ontario credit students want to take, and if your school determines that MEI Academy (Ontario) courses are equivalent, MEI Academy’s courses will count toward a student’s graduation.

MEI will email a report card to the student's guidance counsellor upon course completion. The student's guidance counsellor will add the MEI course(s) to the “other Credits” section of the student’s Alberta transcript, but no mark is included. The course will be used towards graduation and will be marked as complete with a "P." The student's Alberta transcript will indicate that their English 30-1 or Social 30-1 were completed outside of the province and will have a P next to those credits. Students are not required to take Alberta's Diploma exam upon successful completion of the course.

When students apply to universities, they send their Alberta and Ontario transcripts. The Ontario transcript holds their mark for the courses they completed with MEI Academy so
students can request their transcript from MEI Academy, and MEI will send it to the colleges/universities indicated. Universities will evaluate the students' applications based on the two transcripts.

MEI courses are accredited by the Ministry of Education in Ontario, Canada, and are recognized by universities across Canada as well as internationally. Our alumni have found that detailing their experiences in our programs on their university applications has been advantageous because universities consider applicants holistically, and showcasing our accredited courses has often enhanced their applications.

Students earn Ontario Ministry of Education credits. If a student's homeschool is outside the province of Ontario, they will have to ask their homeschool guidance counsellor if they accept Ontario credits as equivalent. Our MEI Academy guidance counsellor will assist you with any curricular questions your guidance counsellor may have. International student fees may apply.

If you require an official transcript to be sent to an educational institution, please request and pay using the process below that best applies to you. Allow three business days for processing.

Students who completed their program AFTER Fall 2023

• $20 per Request Form (includes up to 5 digital transcripts)

Hard copies*:

• When ordering more than one transcript, each transcript will be placed in its own sealed envelope.
• You are responsible for sending your transcript(s) still in the sealed envelope(s) to the applicable university.
• DO NOT open individual envelopes; breaking the seal will make your transcript unofficial.

Pricing for Hard Copies

$25 – up to 3 transcripts

$40 – up to 6 transcripts

Students who completed their program in the Spring or Summer 2023:

Please request your transcript by contacting Ontario eSchool here.

Phone them to follow up and arrange payment at (905) 856-2328

Students who completed their program BEFORE January 2023:

Please request your transcript by contacting the Upper Grand District School Board’s Continuing Education

• Email: continuing.ed@ugdsb.on.ca
• Phone: 519-836-7280

Ontario Students
Upon successful completion of a course, students’ marks will be sent to their home high school, where they will be added to their transcript. These courses can be used towards graduation and university applications.

Students from the rest of Canada, the USA, and International Students
For students who reside outside of the province of Ontario, or outside of Canada, MEI Academy can connect directly with students’ guidance counsellors to complete the equivalency process and have credits transferred to their home school. Working with a student’s guidance counsellor ensures that successfully earned courses appear on student transcripts to be used towards graduation and post-secondary applications.

We are extremely proud of our MEI students who attend Universities all over Canada, the USA and the world!

MEI is a private school in Ontario that has the authority to grant Ontario Ministry of Education accredited courses. MEI Academy's

Upon the completion of your program, once marks are final, MEI Academy will send a digital transcript to students and students' high schools free of charge.

When you apply to university, you may be asked to list other high schools you have attended. You should find us listed as:

You may also be able to search for MEI Academy using our school identification number, or mident number: 669686.

MEI Academy is a ministry-inspected private high school given the authority to award OSSD credits. At MEI Academy, students earn Ontario Ministry of Education credits. In provinces outside of Ontario, high schools will examine out-of-province course outlines and deem them equivalent courses to be used toward a student’s graduation. Ontario ‘U’ level credits are university-preparatory courses, considered more rigorous and are typically accepted as equivalent by schools, especially for students who plan to pursue university admission.

MEI Academy’s Mident number is 669686.

MEI will email a report card to the student’s guidance counsellor upon course completion. 

The student’s guidance counsellor will add the MEI course(s) to the “other Credits” section of the student’s Alberta transcript, but no mark is included. 

The course will be used towards graduation and will be marked as complete with a “P.” The student’s Alberta transcript will indicate that their English 30-1 or Social 30-1 were completed outside of the province and will have a P next to those credits. 

Students are not required to take Alberta’s Diploma exam upon successful completion of the course.

When students apply to universities, they send their Alberta and Ontario transcripts. The Ontario transcript holds their mark for the courses they completed with MEI Academy so students can request their transcript from MEI Academy, and MEI will send it to the colleges/universities indicated. Universities will evaluate the students’ applications based on the two transcripts.

Programs are open to all secondary school students registered in public, private, or separate schools worldwide. For students traveling on foreign national passports, it is the individual and their family’s responsibility to determine which countries require visas for travel. Students who require visas must ensure they are in possession of those visas well in advance of the departure date.

MEI offers academic scholarships for students with an 80%+ average in courses relevant to their program. Awards include up to $10,000 for a full year, $5,000 for a semester, or $3,500 for a term abroad, applied toward tuition costs.

Yes. Students may move to a different program depending on availability and if they qualify for that program. Additional fees may apply based on where you are in the application or registration process. Please email world@meiacademy.com for more information.

Applying to an MEI program is easy and automated through our website. Simply go to the Apply Now section of the website, complete the application form, and submit a deposit and registration fee. You can pay by credit card, etransfer or by cheque. You will automatically receive an email outlining the next steps as soon as the payment is processed.

Students require a minimum mark of 78% to 80% in the courses relevant to the program. Students applying to a two-course program require a minimum of 80% in each course, as these programs are more academically rigorous. Acceptance into the program is based on past academic performance, interview (for semester students), self-evaluation, and teacher references (if required).

Once you apply and submit a deposit and registration fee, you will receive an email outlining the next steps as soon as the payment is processed.

The next step is to complete the student reference package. This requires students to fill out three forms and upload a scanned copy of their report cards and a transcript. These forms help MEI staff get a better idea of the applicant through information about academic performance, and travel experience.

Acceptance is based on the achievement of an average of 78% to 80% in the subjects associated with the program of interest. In special cases where the academic criteria is not met, MEI staff will contact students and their parents, as well as teacher references, to discuss an exceptional acceptance. If a student is not accepted, the deposit is refunded in full.

Once a student has been accepted to their chosen program, they will receive log-in information for a program site designed specifically for their program. Here they’ll find reading lists, packing information, pre departure assignments and information, hotel and flight details, and other important information pertinent to the program.

Before acceptance is finalized, an online portal containing forms must be completed.

Prior to departure, students will have the opportunity to meet their peers and teachers online as they complete small assignments and participate in discussion groups.

Before departure, MEI will hold an online pre-departure meeting for parents and students. Here, students will meet their teachers and fellow classmates and have the opportunity to ask questions.

If you choose not to participate in your program after its cancellation date, penalties may apply. Please see the cancellation dates for your program by clicking "Read More About Deadlines Here."

The fee breakdown is posted at the bottom of each program page and includes Program Costs and Travel Costs.

PROGRAM COSTS

• Ministry-approved credit(s) upon successful completion of the course(s)
• Custom course pack
• Student Login
• MEI journal
• MEI T-Shirt
• Digital yearbook

TRAVEL COSTS

• Hotels and accommodations
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• Entrance fees to all course-specific sites
• Return airfare from Toronto's Pearson International Airport
• Airline departure taxes, surcharges and fees
• Airfare between countries
• Transportation between hotel locations via private coach, ferry or train
• Transportation for all listed program excursions

PROGRAM FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Lunches
• Insurances
• Gratuities
• Local Transportation
• Course texts
• Medical Insurance and Cancellation Protection †
• Non-refundable Registration Fee

† All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical and Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance.

Yes, students can make travel plans with family after the travel portion of the program. For students who make travel arrangements to stay overseas after the travel portion of the program ends, please note that the course is completed online in the week following the travel portion of the program. Students must have access to wifi and quiet space and time to complete their online classes, prepare and present their Independent Study and sit for their final exam after the travel is completed.

Yes, students can meet their class in the first location. Air travel on all programs is booked well in advance of departure to secure the most preferred and direct flight routes. Because of this, we ask that students who are considering deviations to inform the MEI office as early in the acceptance process as possible. Summer students, please notify us no later than March 31. Students who opt to deviate flights will be connected directly to our travel partners to make alternative arrangements. Any extra costs will be incurred by the student.

We encourage students to travel overseas with a small amount of starter cash in the currency of the first country on their program’s itinerary. A bank card from any major bank with a 4-digit pin connected to a checking account will allow students to withdraw cash at most ATMs as they travel. Check with your local branch before departure about specialized accounts that have reduced withdrawal fees. Many students also opt for bringing a credit card as a backup. We do not recommend students ever travel with large amounts of currency, or use traveler’s cheques.

Roundtrip airfare and transportation between cities on each program is included in tuition costs. Between locations, students primarily travel on private hired coach buses that take each group from hotel door to door. In some instances, traveling between locations requires a ferry or plane, which is also coordinated prior to departure. During city stays, our centrally located hotels virtually eliminate the need for students to ever take taxis or public transportation to get around, but if individuals wish to do so anyway, that is up to their discretion but not included in tuition.

Program tuition includes airfare, accommodations, transportation between locations, entrance into all sites and museums, and breakfast and dinner daily. What it does not include is departure taxes, reading material and while abroad, money for lunches, spending money and transportation within cities — although our central location stays keep the need for this at a minimum. Students can expect to spend approximately the equivalent of $25 Canadian a day in European locations, Australia, and Hong Kong, and approximately $15 a day, or sometimes less in Central America, Africa, southeast Asia and mainland China.

Students who live far from Toronto, and those in Mountain and Pacific time zones, may decide to arrive in Toronto a day before their program departs. On departure day, our groups meet at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, so it is convenient for those students to stay at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel the day before departure.

We advise all students to consult with both their doctor and the Public Health Agency of Canada online, which lists vaccination recommendations and requirements by country. Decisions regarding whether to get optional vaccinations are entirely up to the discretion of individual students and their families.

All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to have Travel Medical Insurance & Cancellation Protection.

Travel Medical insurance must include coverage for:

• The entire duration of your child’s trip
• Upfront hospital costs. (Doctor visits or prescriptions are affordable charges that can be paid on-site)
• Emergency Medical
• Accidental injury
• You can purchase insurance from a provider of choice. If you have insurance through your work, please ensure that coverage lasts for the duration of the program.

If you are interested in purchasing insurance with our travel agent, (Mirella Policciardi), you can email her at mirella.policciardi@tastetheworld.ca.

While overseas, we stay in centrally located hotels rated 3 stars or higher. Being in the heart of the action allows us to hit the ground running each morning and minimizes transportation time within cities.

Typically, students will have one roommate, who may change from city to city. We do our best to provide each student with their own single bed, but there may be times when this is not possible due to the accommodation available. In apartment-style accommodations, students may have two or three roommates.

The majority of the hotels, villas, and apartments we stay in are accommodations we have been using for many years. This speaks to the positive, long-lasting relationships our students and teachers have established with our overseas partners.

You can reach out to our travel agent: Mirella Policciardi, mirella.policciardi@tastetheworld.ca (416) 631-3139.

Students traveling on a Canadian passport are required to secure visas if they are enrolled on the following programs: Big Year, Expedition to Tanzania, Adventure Down Under, and the NEW Asia Semester Program. The MEI office will advise students during the enrolment process how best to secure their required visas.

For students traveling on foreign national passports, it is the individual and their family’s responsibility to ensure they have the required travel visas.

Students can find a laundromat in the cities we travel to and opt to use an afternoon of free time to do their laundry or utilize a wash-and-fold service. Students commonly bring a small amount of detergent with them in their luggage and wash essential items in their hotel sinks as they go.

Students will receive a comprehensive packing list for each trip that outlines recommended clothing, essential travel documents, personal necessities, and any specific gear or supplies needed for the itinerary’s activities. This will help ensure they are fully prepared for their travel experience.

The ratio of staff to students is approximately 1:9. All staff members are responsible for supervision. Students are on a school program, and they will be required to follow the same rules that apply to all school trips. MEI Academy’s Code of Conduct is enforced. 

At MEI Academy, we do not offer additional activities; all excursions are an integral part of our programs and are included for every student. We design our itineraries to ensure that all participants experience the key sites and activities together, as we believe these shared experiences are essential to the learning journey. Therefore, we do not offer optional excursions to maintain a cohesive and inclusive program for everyone.

Students who opt to deviate from the group flights will be connected directly with our travel partners to make alternative arrangements. Any additional costs incurred due to flight changes or deviations are the responsibility of the student.

We ask that students considering any flight deviations notify the MEI office as early in the acceptance process as possible.

The latest deadlines for summer summer programs is March 15, in the same year of the program departure date.

Yes, students may make travel plans with family after the travel portion of the program concludes. Please review the details above regarding flights.

Please note that the academic course is completed online during the week following the travel portion of the program. Students must have access to reliable wifi, a quiet workspace, and sufficient time to complete online classes, prepare and present their Independent Study, and write their final exam.

If a family chooses to purchase a full round trip ticket that replaces the program booked airfare in its entirety, a rebate for the flight portion may apply. This is reviewed on a case by case basis once the ticket details have been submitted and confirmed by our travel partners.

Yes, students may choose to book their own return flight while still using the group flight for departure. Please note that in this case, the overall program cost remains the same, as the departure and return portions of the airfare are not priced or refunded separately. The program fee includes round trip airfare booked as a single itinerary through our travel partners at Taste The World. Families are welcome to arrange their own departure or return flights if that is more convenient. However, we strongly encourage you to speak with our travel agent before confirming any independent travel plans, as there may be options available within the group booking.

In some cases, it may be possible to deviate the group flight rather than purchasing a separate ticket. Airline change fees may apply. Available options vary depending on the airline and routing, so families should contact our travel agent directly to discuss possibilities.

For assistance, please contact our travel agent, Mirella Policciardi, at mirella.policciardi@tastetheworld.ca.