Dates
Program Dates*
Mid November - Late January
Travel Dates
Mid November - Mid December
*Program dates include online sessions to prepare students prior to travel and synchronous interviews to complete final assessments after travel.
Locations
- Hanoi
- Mui Ne
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Siem Reap
- Phnom Penh
- Vientiane
- Phuket
- Bangkok
Courses Offered
Social Sciences
Mandatory
- World Issues | CGW4U
Elective Subject
Choose One
- English | ENG3U | English 20-1
- English | ENG4U | English 30-1
- Studies in Literature | ETS4U
- Writer's Craft | EWC4U
- Modern Media and Photography | IDC4U
*Contact us for course equivilencies in your school board.
Staffing
6:1 Student to Staff Ratio
Refunds and Cancellation
We've made it easier to plan your education while minimizing your financial risks.
Scholarships
Up to $2,500 in Scholarships Available
Availability
Closed
Why Take this Program?
If you are interested in understanding the major global issues, then this program is for you. Students explore how the world is handling issues like global warming, immigration, terrorism, globalization, and the uses of artificial intelligence while immersed in eastern cultures. Our goal is to look behind the myths and fake-news that have polarized world politics to arrive at a deeper understanding of paradoxes between government policies and actual practices.








What People Are Saying


I never thought that a beach in Vietnam, or the temples of Angkor could be a lecture spot. MEI showed me that it doesn't take a desk and chair to have the ability to learn something new. Being exposed first hand to the way and places others live makes you appreciate not only how lucky you are, but how much of a difference your life can make in the world. Never in my life did I think I would enjoy going to school or voicing my opinions, but within a week of my trip, I was infatuated with learning. MEI Academy made me who I am now and I am eternally grateful for every experience, memory and ounce of happiness this trip and the people I've met along the way have given me!
Jesse Stein
Student, Fall Semester, 2016
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. 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.




Hanoi
Days 2-7: Upon arrival in Vietnam, we settle into our home away from home in central Hanoi. Teeming with street vendors and small temples, you immerse yourself in a culture driven by bartering and spiritual meditation. Hanoi is the perfect location to begin our World Issues course that focuses on equity, colonialism, pollution, and war. This city brings each lesson to life as we come face-to-face with the physical evidence of each of these issues. In your free time, you can navigate the Old Quarter of the city to find the best noodle soup, dumplings, and stir-fried pho. For a change of pace, we take a day trip to Ha Long Bay to enjoy the spectacular limestone-carved mountains as we sail around the collection of 3000 islands rising from the emerald waters.
Mui Ne
Days 7-13: From the city, we travel to Mui Ne for a welcome respite and a chance to focus on academic writing. The warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand allow us to re-energize as we continue our examination of war and its aftermath. The relaxed pace also will enable us to research and develop major assignments while taking time to hike the spectacular sand dunes and surf just off the coast.




Ho Chi Minh City
Days 13-17: Next, we travel to the bustling Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where we investigate Vietnam’s modern history. Our lessons take place at the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi tunnels as we explore the background behind the Viet Cong guerrillas. Here, we consider the effects of war on a generation, the clash of ideologies, and the politics of war. Connecting foundational readings from Yuval Noah Harari, Noam Chomsky, and other contemporary writers provide mental nourishment for your ideas to grow. The large population of young adults flocking to the major universities allows for interview opportunities where we gain first-hand knowledge of the peoples’ push for urbanization.
Siem Reap
Days 17-23: We start our adventure in Cambodia in the lively city of Siem Reap. There, we spend time exploring Angkor Wat, a magnificent temple complex featuring stone carvings that depict scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. For an afternoon break, you can expect to enjoy a short tuk-tuk ride to the many coffee shops on the always popular Pub Street. Evenings are spent in markets and restaurants along the neon-lit backpackers’ alley filled with travellers and locals alike.




Phnom Penh
Days 23-27: From Siem Reap, we travel south to Phnom Penh, where we witness the contrast between the beauty and tranquillity of the region with the Khmer Rouge’s tragic legacy. There, you focus on visual storytelling through photography and work together on group activities and presentations. The French influence is evident in Phnom Penh, with some fabulous bakeries within a five-minute walk from the hotel, ready to house a lively book chat discussion.
Vientiane
Days 27-31: We depart from Cambodia to travel north to Vientiane, the capital and largest city of Laos. As we explore the Buddhist temples and reflect on our journey from high atop Pha That Luang, we also contemplate the concepts of cultural conservation and sustainable tourism. Vientiane is the perfect location to discuss how Buddhist traditions are integrating with the values of capitalism. Moreover, discussions focus on gender issues and the role of women in the new economy.




Phuket
Days 31-38: Our penultimate stop takes us to Thailand and its vibrant coastal town of Phuket, where we enjoy the famous beaches like Patong and Karon and relax under the occasional waterfall. More importantly, you will cultivate the art of allocating time between soaking up the sun and concentrated academic study. Here, we complete final Independent Study Unit interviews and exams.
Bangkok
Days 38-40: We conclude our term in Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital. From food carts, neon-lit streets, and fast-moving tuk-tuks, to Buddhist monks, jasmine sellers, and slow-moving river traffic, we reflect on our fall experience while we enjoy a feast of Thia cuisine. As you jostle through the crowds of Khaosan Road to find the perfect going-home gifts, we savour our final farewells to Asia and our travelling family.
Departure from Bangkok Airport (Day 40)




Online Final Evaluation Week
After returning home, you will have 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. Refer to the overview program calendar for more information.
Hanoi
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City
Siem Reap
Phnom Penh
Vientiane
Phuket
Bangkok
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 Included
- 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.
**Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee or any airline taxes or fees. Please note the possibility of increases in airfares and land costs prior to departure. Any increase must be borne by the individual participant.