Early July - Early August, 2021
- London
- Paris
- Strasbourg
- Swiss Alps
- Munich
Why Take this Program?
Witness how history comes alive when you study in the places where it happened. As we journey across Europe from London to Prague, we walk in the footsteps of the famous and infamous historical figures of the 20th Century. From Freud to Nietzsche to Gandhi to Hitler, you will explore the key events and ideas that have shaped our modern world. MEI’s Trek Through Europe program is your chance to lay the foundation of knowledge and experience that you can build on over a lifetime.










What People Are Saying


MEI was something I’ll never forget; it changed the way I learn and changed my understanding of the world and the curriculum. Learning on-site is a truly valuable thing that I was lucky to have experienced. In a short 35 days, I learned more than I would in an entire semester. I made friends that will last a lifetime and gained incredible knowledge and skills I’ll always have with me.
Maya Chan
(Pictured on the left)
Student, Trek Through Europe, 2019
Program Itinerary
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!



Program Preparation
Online Foundation Work
We start this program with one week of Online Live sessions. You will meet virtually with your teachers and classmates daily to read and discuss assigned readings and begin research projects. The Foundation Work period gives you a chance to review major assignments and get to know your crew so that you can hit the ground running when you land in your first location.
Departure
Day 1: All of our programs begin at our study-abroad departure hub, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Five hours before departure, a short meeting is held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, to distribute course packs, T-shirts and MEI Journals, and to clarify travel procedures. All students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Students making alternate arrangements must contact MEI before March 31.






London
Days 2-8: Our academics begin with a look at the changing nature of western democracies and societies, now dominated by surveillance, social media, and sensationalist news. Book chat discussions on Fahrenheit 451 bring the relationship between the state and the citizen into sharp focus. The British Museum, Trafalgar Square, the Imperial War Museum, and Buckingham Palace are the backdrop to our academics that connect themes to the city. Students will also enjoy and explore the Borough Market’s international cuisine before an evening of Shakespeare live at the Globe Theatre.
Paris
Days 8-14: After crossing the English Channel, we arrive in France and visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. This is the ideal time to delve into Three Day Road as students contemplate the sacrifices made by soldiers during WWI. In Paris, lessons focus on the Age of Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution as we debate the nature of humanity and the structure of civilization. In the crypt of the Pantheon, we revisit the arguments put forth by Rousseau and Voltaire that laid the foundation for the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. From bike rides in the gardens of Versailles to visits to the Musée du Louvre, Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime immersion into French history and culture.





Strasbourg
Days 14-16: Our first respite from the energy and intensity of two of Europe’s capitals comes in Strasbourg—a UNESCO World Heritage city on the border of France and Germany. A climb up the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has survived plagues, revolutions, and two world wars, highlights this Alsatian stop on our program. Here, we take a deep dive into history and English, focusing on the use of critical lenses in literary analysis and the conditions that allowed for the outbreak of the First World War.
Swiss Alps
Days 16-20: Making our way to the top of Europe, students emerge from the Stechelberg gondola to find their new home in the picture-postcard Swiss village of Gimmelwald. Here, we hike mountains and roast marshmallows by the fireside—with the clamour of giant cowbells, bleating mountain goats, and the sound of rushing waterfalls all around. Academically, students work on essay writing and receive one-on-one mentorship while enjoying morning coffee overlooking the Alps.






Munich
Days 20-25: In Munich, students examine the details of the rise of Nazi Germany and trace the impact of the National Socialist movement on both the European continent and the rest of the world. From Hitler’s speeches at Odeonsplatz to the horrific legacy of the Dachau Concentration Camp, lectures and master classes place us directly where history happened—making for an educational experience that leaves a profound impact upon us all.
Departure from Munich Airport (Day 25)
Online Final Evaluation Week
During this week, you will have time for one-on-one presentations and discussions using Zoom. This week will give you time to complete additional research and pull together the work and insights you gained from your travel experiences. You will also complete culminating assignments and an online, interactive examination. MEI students and teachers have found this evaluation style enjoyable and the most authentic and thorough method to demonstrate what you have learned and experienced during the summer.



Program Itinerary
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!



Program Preparation
Online Foundation Work



Departure
Day 1: All of our programs begin at our study-abroad departure hub, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Five hours before departure, a short meeting is held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, to distribute course packs, T-shirts and MEI Journals, and to clarify travel procedures. All students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Students making alternate arrangements must contact MEI before March 31.



London
Days 2-8: Our academics begin with a look at the changing nature of western democracies and societies, now dominated by surveillance, social media, and sensationalist news. Book chat discussions on Fahrenheit 451 bring the relationship between the state and the citizen into sharp focus. The British Museum, Trafalgar Square, the Imperial War Museum, and Buckingham Palace are the backdrop to our academics that connect themes to the city. Students will also enjoy and explore the Borough Market’s international cuisine before an evening of Shakespeare live at the Globe Theatre.



Paris
Days 8-14: After crossing the English Channel, we arrive in France and visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. This is the ideal time to delve into Three Day Road as students contemplate the sacrifices made by soldiers during WWI. In Paris, lessons focus on the Age of Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution as we debate the nature of humanity and the structure of civilization. In the crypt of the Pantheon, we revisit the arguments put forth by Rousseau and Voltaire that laid the foundation for the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. From bike rides in the gardens of Versailles to visits to the Musée du Louvre, Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime immersion into French history and culture.


Strasbourg
Days 14-16: Our first respite from the energy and intensity of two of Europe’s capitals comes in Strasbourg—a UNESCO World Heritage city on the border of France and Germany. A climb up the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has survived plagues, revolutions, and two world wars, highlights this Alsatian stop on our program. Here, we take a deep dive into history and English, focusing on the use of critical lenses in literary analysis and the conditions that allowed for the outbreak of the First World War.



Swiss Alps
Days 16-20: Making our way to the top of Europe, students emerge from the Stechelberg gondola to find their new home in the picture-postcard Swiss village of Gimmelwald. Here, we hike mountains and roast marshmallows by the fireside—with the clamour of giant cowbells, bleating mountain goats, and the sound of rushing waterfalls all around. Academically, students work on essay writing and receive one-on-one mentorship while enjoying morning coffee overlooking the Alps.



Munich
Days 20-25: In Munich, students examine the details of the rise of Nazi Germany and trace the impact of the National Socialist movement on both the European continent and the rest of the world. From Hitler’s speeches at Odeonsplatz to the horrific legacy of the Dachau Concentration Camp, lectures and master classes place us directly where history happened—making for an educational experience that leaves a profound impact upon us all.
Departure from Munich Airport (Day 25)



Online Final Evaluation Week
During this week, you will have time for one-on-one presentations and discussions using Zoom. This week will give you time to complete additional research and pull together the work and insights you gained from your travel experiences. You will also complete culminating assignments and an online, interactive examination. MEI students and teachers have found this evaluation style enjoyable and the most authentic and thorough method to demonstrate what you have learned and experienced during the summer.
London
Paris
Strasbourg
Swiss Alps
Munich
Program Photos
What’s Included
Fee Breakdown
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
- Approximate airline departure taxes, surcharges and fees
- Airfare between countries
- Transportation between hotel locations via private coach
- 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 $95 Registration Fee
†All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical Insurance.
*Based on air fares, land tariffs and currency exchange rates as of January, 2019.
Please note the possibility of increases in airfares and land costs prior to departure. Any increase must be borne by the individual participant.
**Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee.
Ready to take the next step?