Locations
- Costa Brava
- Málaga
- Lisbon
- The Algarve
Courses Offered
- English | ENG3U
- English | ENG4U
- Studies in Literature | ETS4U
- Writer's Craft | EWC4U
Program Fee
Refunds and Cancellation
We've made it easier to plan your education while minimizing your financial risks.
9:1 Student to Staff Ratio
Open
Why Take this Program?
From the shores of the Balearic Sea in Barcelona to the edges of the Atlantic coast of Lisbon, we travel across this diverse land of art and culture. From the romantic writings of Miguel de Cervantes in Don Quixote to the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez’s, One Hundred Years of Solitude, you will be mesmerized by the genius and depth of human creativity. Whether inspired by a glorious sunset in the Algarve or enjoying an afternoon in Gaudi’s Park Güell, this program is sure to engage and leave a profound impression on your life.










What People Are Saying


Every morning I woke up with a zest for life because I know each day will bring something incredible. This trip has completely redefined the way I feel about education. MEI is “school” in the most epic way possible.
Chloe Jackson
(Pictured on the right)
Student, Term 3 Europe: Kingdoms, 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.





Barcelona
Day 2-6: Barcelona has been an inspiration for writers and artists for over two thousand years with its vibrant colours, unmatched architecture, and Catalan cuisine. Students practice their hand at character development along Las Ramblas, poetry in Gaudi’s Park Güell, and travel writing in La Sagrada Familia, all between lunches along the Mediterranean and dinners in the Gothic quarter. If we’re lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous soccer team.
Costa Brava
day 6-10: The deep blue of the Mediterranean affords us a respite from the energy of Barcelona as we settle into our hotel along Spain’s rugged coast. Sunrises along the beach and an afternoon climb through coves and hills that dot the coastline make for an excellent location to focus on academic analysis of our primary summer readings. Masterclasses on essay writing and one-on-one editing sessions allow for tailored feedback that help students hone their skills in finding literary meaning.






Malaga
Day 10-14: As the city that grew to importance before the Romans ruled the Mediterranean—and centuries later gave the world Picasso—Málaga still holds a wondrous sway in the south of Spain. With a vibrant art scene, golden beaches, and a dynamic combination of Christian and Moorish architecture, students use this as a creative backdrop to develop their unique writing style. Here, students participate in small group book chat discussions and perform at evening podcasts.
Lisbon
Days 14-19: Next, we depart for Portugal and arrive in its illustrious capital—Lisbon. Here, we complete our final novel by award-winning, Canadian-Spanish author Yann Martel. Whether climbing one of Lisbon’s seven hills or listening to a performance of Portugal’s famed Fado music, students naturally connect and are inspired by this ancient port city. Our classes vary between exploring hidden gems and nurturing creative pieces to be performed in small cafés of the Alfama.






The Algarve
Days 19-25: The Algarve provides us with a beachside village where students balance their time between completing final academic work and exploring the footpaths and caves along the coast. This southernmost region of Portugal sees almost 3000 hours of sunshine a year, making this an ideal location to end our summer’s journey.
Departure from Lisbon 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 they have learned 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.


Barcelona
Day 2-6: Barcelona has been an inspiration for writers and artists for over two thousand years with its vibrant colours, unmatched architecture, and Catalan cuisine. Students practice their hand at character development along Las Ramblas, poetry in Gaudi’s Park Güell, and travel writing in La Sagrada Familia, all between lunches along the Mediterranean and dinners in the Gothic quarter. If we’re lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous soccer team.



Costa Brava
day 6-10: The deep blue of the Mediterranean affords us a respite from the energy of Barcelona as we settle into our hotel along Spain’s rugged coast. Sunrises along the beach and an afternoon climb through coves and hills that dot the coastline make for an excellent location to focus on academic analysis of our primary summer readings. Masterclasses on essay writing and one-on-one editing sessions allow for tailored feedback that help students hone their skills in finding literary meaning.



Malaga
Day 10-14: As the city that grew to importance before the Romans ruled the Mediterranean—and centuries later gave the world Picasso—Málaga still holds a wondrous sway in the south of Spain. With a vibrant art scene, golden beaches, and a dynamic combination of Christian and Moorish architecture, students use this as a creative backdrop to develop their unique writing style. Here, students participate in small group book chat discussions and perform at evening podcasts.



Lisbon
Days 14-19: Next, we depart for Portugal and arrive in its illustrious capital—Lisbon. Here, we complete our final novel by award-winning, Canadian-Spanish author Yann Martel. Whether climbing one of Lisbon’s seven hills or listening to a performance of Portugal’s famed Fado music, students naturally connect and are inspired by this ancient port city. Our classes vary between exploring hidden gems and nurturing creative pieces to be performed in small cafés of the Alfama.



The Algarve
Days 19-25: The Algarve provides us with a beachside village where students balance their time between completing final academic work and exploring the footpaths and caves along the coast. This southernmost region of Portugal sees almost 3000 hours of sunshine a year, making this an ideal location to end our summer’s journey.
Departure from Lisbon 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.
Barcelona
Costa Brava
Málaga
Lisbon
The Algarve
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?