Government & Politics in Europe
Get a first-hand look at the bodies and organizations that direct today’s globalized world.
See where things go quiet inside NATO and EU headquarters in bustling Brussels. Hear from experts at The Hague’s international courts, where some of humanity’s worst offenders have stood trial. Through a rare and knowing lens, the complexities of large-scale politics will come into focus.
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Day 1: Fly overnight to England
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Day 2: London
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTake a walking tour of London
With your Tour Director you will see:
- The Strand, London's major thoroughfare
- Trafalgar Square, a bustling central square
- Leicester Square, a square lined with theaters and other events
- Covent Garden, a vibrant and charming shopping area
Tour the Houses of Parliament with an expert local guide and get a glimpse into British government; weekday visitors attend debates, while Saturday guests enjoy a tour of the courthouse
Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in London
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Day 3: London
Take a guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Big Ben, an iconic London bell at the Palace of Westminster
- Houses of Parliament, home to England's governing body
- Piccadilly Circus, a five-way intersection
- St. Paul’s Cathedral, a domed church which has hosted many royal events
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
Spend a half day exploring London on your own
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Day 4: London
Tour the British Library, whose building holds more than 150 million items, with an expert local guide
See the Magna Carta, which established that everyone is subject to the law
Spend a half day exploring London on your own
Enjoy a roast dinner in London
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Day 5: London • Night ferry
Industry Engagement: Attend a lecture to gain insights on UK government systems
Travel to HarwichBoard a night ferry to Hoek of Holland -
Day 6: Night ferry • Amsterdam
Travel via Hoek van Holland and The Hague to Amsterdam
Tour The Hague with an expert local guide
Visit the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the Peace Palace Library
Visit the Humanity House, a unique museum featuring stories of refugees and other victims of conflicts around the world
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Day 7: Amsterdam
Take a guided tour of Amsterdam
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), once the home of the Dutch Royal Family
- Westerkerk (West Church), where Rembrandt is buried
- Dam Square, bustling central meeting point
Visit the Anne Frank House and reflect on themes that range from conflicting fundamental and human rights, to discrimination, and more
Spend a half day exploring Amsterdam on your own
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Day 8: Amsterdam • Brussels
Travel to BrusselsTake a guided tour of Brussels
With your expert local guide you will see:
- European Union buildings, encircled by a row of colorful flags representing the member countries
- Grand Place, the central square of Brussels
- Atomium, a structure representing a unit cell magnified 165 billions times
Visit the European Commission, the driving force in proposing legislation to Parliament and the Council
Enjoy dinner in Brussels
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Day 9: Brussels
Add this in-depth excursion:
Bruges
Embark on an excursion to Bruges, a quintessential Belgian town with cobblestone streets, ancient churches, winding canals and medieval homes. Bruges is the perfect place to sample some delicious Belgian beer as you tour a local brewery. Cap off this exciting excursion with a traditional Flemish dinner.
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Day 10: Depart for home
Add more days
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Day 10: Brussels • Paris
Travel by TGV train to ParisTake a guided tour of Paris
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Place de la Concorde, a major public square
- Champs-Élysées, an elegant boulevard packed with high-fashion boutiques
- Arc de Triomphe, a monument honoring those who fought for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
- Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair and an iconic symbol of Paris
- Hôtel des Invalides, a grand hospital commissioned by Louis XIV
Enjoy dinner in the Latin Quarter -
Day 11: Paris
Take a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, so named because the language was once commonly spoken by the Sorbonne students that populated the area
See Notre-Dame Cathedral, known for its sculptured facade, stained-glass rose windows, and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings, and see the progress of its restoration following the 2019 fire which damaged much of the building
Explore art from around the world at the Louvre, home to over 35,000 objects including Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa
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Day 12: Paris
Spend time exploring Paris on your own
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Day 13: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly overnight to England
-
Day 2: London
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTake a walking tour of London
With your Tour Director you will see:
- The Strand, London's major thoroughfare
- Trafalgar Square, a bustling central square
- Leicester Square, a square lined with theaters and other events
- Covent Garden, a vibrant and charming shopping area
Tour the Houses of Parliament with an expert local guide and get a glimpse into British government; weekday visitors attend debates, while Saturday guests enjoy a tour of the courthouse
Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in London
-
Day 3: London
Take a guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Big Ben, an iconic London bell at the Palace of Westminster
- Houses of Parliament, home to England's governing body
- Piccadilly Circus, a five-way intersection
- St. Paul’s Cathedral, a domed church which has hosted many royal events
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
Spend a half day exploring London on your own
-
Day 4: London
Tour the British Library, whose building holds more than 150 million items, with an expert local guide
See the Magna Carta, which established that everyone is subject to the law
Spend a half day exploring London on your own
Enjoy a roast dinner in London
-
Day 5: London • Night ferry
Industry Engagement: Attend a lecture to gain insights on UK government systems
Travel to HarwichBoard a night ferry to Hoek of Holland -
Day 6: Night ferry • Amsterdam
Travel via Hoek van Holland and The Hague to Amsterdam
Tour The Hague with an expert local guide
Visit the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the Peace Palace Library
Visit the Humanity House, a unique museum featuring stories of refugees and other victims of conflicts around the world
-
Day 7: Amsterdam
Take a guided tour of Amsterdam
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), once the home of the Dutch Royal Family
- Westerkerk (West Church), where Rembrandt is buried
- Dam Square, bustling central meeting point
Visit the Anne Frank House and reflect on themes that range from conflicting fundamental and human rights, to discrimination, and more
Spend a half day exploring Amsterdam on your own
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Day 8: Amsterdam • Brussels
Travel to BrusselsTake a guided tour of Brussels
With your expert local guide you will see:
- European Union buildings, encircled by a row of colorful flags representing the member countries
- Grand Place, the central square of Brussels
- Atomium, a structure representing a unit cell magnified 165 billions times
Visit the European Commission, the driving force in proposing legislation to Parliament and the Council
Enjoy dinner in Brussels
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Day 9: Brussels
Add this in-depth excursion:
Bruges
Embark on an excursion to Bruges, a quintessential Belgian town with cobblestone streets, ancient churches, winding canals and medieval homes. Bruges is the perfect place to sample some delicious Belgian beer as you tour a local brewery. Cap off this exciting excursion with a traditional Flemish dinner.
-
Day 10: Depart for home
Add more days
-
Day 10: Brussels • Paris
Travel by TGV train to ParisTake a guided tour of Paris
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Place de la Concorde, a major public square
- Champs-Élysées, an elegant boulevard packed with high-fashion boutiques
- Arc de Triomphe, a monument honoring those who fought for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
- Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair and an iconic symbol of Paris
- Hôtel des Invalides, a grand hospital commissioned by Louis XIV
Enjoy dinner in the Latin Quarter -
Day 11: Paris
Take a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, so named because the language was once commonly spoken by the Sorbonne students that populated the area
See Notre-Dame Cathedral, known for its sculptured facade, stained-glass rose windows, and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings, and see the progress of its restoration following the 2019 fire which damaged much of the building
Explore art from around the world at the Louvre, home to over 35,000 objects including Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa
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Day 12: Paris
Spend time exploring Paris on your own
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Day 13: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
Overall, this was an excellent tour. It was my first time in Europe proper and I did enjoy the tour as much as my students who traveled with me. Tour director and guides were helpful and accommodating. ...Great Experience!
Your experience includes
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Round-trip airfare
Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group
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Accommodations
Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.
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On-tour transportation
Land and water transportation
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Regional-style meals
Daily breakfasts and select local dinners are included in your program. Generally, we leave lunch up to you so your group has an opportunity to explore its own tastes.
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End-to-end support
Your team helps to secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides recruiting tools and helps establish your program's ongoing presence on campus.
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Full-time Tour Director
Your Tour Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.
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Expert Local Guides
Your expert Local Guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.
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Guided sightseeing
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides who join your group for select experiences on tour.
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Entrances
British Library, Houses of Parliament, Peace Palace, Humanity House, Anne Frank House, European Commission or European Council; with extension: Louvre, Notre Dame
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Worldwide support, safety and security
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide. We provide 24-hour emergency support service along with a comprehensive $50 million liability policy that covers you and your institution while abroad.
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Flexible payment options
Give more students the opportunity to study abroad by offering them two different payment plan options, along with our TripFunder website to help fundraise for the program.
