Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Model United Nations (MUN)?
Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations’ organs and committees. Student participants represent different UN member states as delegates in their chosen committees (e.g. as the Delegate of Japan in the UN Human Rights Council).
As delegates, students are to debate on committee topics, make speeches outlining their country’s stance on the issues, and prepare draft resolutions on the topic. Participating in MUN conferences involves negotiating with allies and adversaries to resolve disputes while conforming to the conference rules of procedure (ROP), with the aim of passing the final resolution.
MUN committees vary between conferences and often span across a diverse range of specialised UN organs and topics, including but not limited to peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN aims to allow delegates to closely examine the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at conferences, and provides a practical opportunity for participants to engage in global diplomacy and international relations (IR).
Q. How did MUN begin?
While there is no official record of how Model UN began, we do know that Model UN is the successor of a series of student-led Model League of Nations simulations. Some people believe that the first Model UN conference was held at Harvard University, although this claim has been disputed. There are currently over 400 Model UN conferences held annually worldwide.
Q. Who can participate in MelbMUN 2018 (the Melbourne Model United Nations conference)?
Participation is open to all individuals who are 1) over 18 years of age AND 2) a university student or undertaking equivalent studies at a tertiary institution (at the time of MelbMUN's commencement). MelbMUN is open to both Australian and international students (see ‘How do I register to MelbMUN as an international student’?)
Q. How do I register to MelbMUN as an international student?
The registration process is the same for domestic students and international students, simply apply through our website at <https://melbmun.weebly.com> by clicking on the +registration tab and selecting the appropriate position you wish to register for. Alternatively you can also register through the google form found on our Facebook page, MelbMUN. Please note that MelbMUN does not issue Letters of Invitation, nor are we able to assist with visa applications. Please refer to information from official Australian Government sources, such as <https://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/immigration-and-visas>.
Q. What types of topics are discussed in ModelUN conferences?
The agenda items discussed in committee vary at each conference. Most conferences tend to focus on current affairs issues that are being discussed in the United Nations. However, the task of some committees might be to address hypothetical concerns or issues from the past or future.
Q. What positions are available at MelbMUN?
The most popular option is to register as a delegate. This allows you to represent a certain country in a chosen committee and get involved with debate during conference. Delegate applications are currently still open for registration through our website or Facebook page.
MelbMUN 2018 has also made available the Observer day pass - the first of its kind in the Australian MUN scene. Observers are entitled to observe the flow of debate in a chosen committee, as well as speak to delegates and directors during breaks. This position is ideal for those who have limited time availability or wish to participate in MelbMUN at a more limited capacity. Observer applications are currently still open for registration through our website or Facebook page.
Positions as Directors (aka Chairs), Assistant Directors, and Under-Secretary Generals (aka the Secretariat) are also available for MelbMUN. However, please note that applications for these positions have closed for MelbMUN 2018; interested individuals are encouraged to apply for next year’s conference, MelbMUN 2019.
Q. Can more than one person represent the same country/organisation?
Some conferences allow double-delegations (2 people per country) or group delegations. However, most Australian MUN conferences do not have multi-person delegations. MelbMUN 2018 will only have single-person delegations.
Q. Are there any bursaries/scholarships available?
Yes, MelbMUN 2018 has several sponsored positions available for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Applications for sponsored positions have closed as we are now in the process of assessing applicants.
Q. How do I select a country?
When registering as a delegate through our application form, you can refer to our country matrix and select 3 country and committee preferences from the available list. (e.g. First choice: USA - UNSC; Second choice: France - UNHRC; Third choice: Senegal - WHO). Our USG of Delegate and Welfare will do their best to accommodate your preferences and you will be sent your allocated country by email.
Q. What do you actually do all day?
Delegates usually begin the day after registration and roll call by commencing debate on the committee’s topics. Delegates will then enter moderated or unmoderated caucusing sessions, negotiate with fellow delegates, prepare and write draft resolutions, and debate on the resolutions in order to vote on them.
Committee sessions involve dynamic interactions between delegates, while directors (chairs) are on hand to guide the flow of debate and to arbitrate any conflicts.
Q. What food is included?
The delegate package includes the committee dinner on Day 1, lunch for Day 2 and 3, and the Finale Ball on Day 3 of the conference (which includes drinks and light refreshments).
Q. Is there a bar tab?
Yes; this is included in the delegate and director packages for the Finale Ball. Please note, however, that participants under 18 years will not be permitted to attend the Finale Ball due to legal age restrictions for venues serving alcohol.
Q. What should I wear?
MelbMUN, like all other MUN conferences, requires a formal business dress code. Male delegates are advised to wear ties, formal jackets and dress shoes. Items such as jeans, turtlenecks and hoodies are not considered appropriate formal wear. Please message us through our Facebook page at MelbMUN if you have specific queries.
Q. What should I do to prepare for my first MUN?
Delegates are required to write position papers before the conference commences, which ranges from 1-2 pages and serves to outline your country’s position on the committee topics you have been assigned. Research can be based on background guides provided by committee directors closer to the conference date, as well as your own research. Sources such as CIA Factbook, official government websites, UN agency websites, and factually reliable publications such as the Economist may be helpful. Specific questions on MUN preparation should be directed at committee directors or through our MelbMUN Facebook page.
General research on your country’s history, economy and politics will also be useful, as well as research on the stance of other countries in your committee on the committee topics, in order to form blocs and negotiate during debate time.
Familiarising yourself with general MUN rules of procedure, as well as the MelbMUN rules of procedure (ROP) guide will also be helpful in understanding the rules governming MUN (this will be uploaded on our website closer to the conference).
Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations’ organs and committees. Student participants represent different UN member states as delegates in their chosen committees (e.g. as the Delegate of Japan in the UN Human Rights Council).
As delegates, students are to debate on committee topics, make speeches outlining their country’s stance on the issues, and prepare draft resolutions on the topic. Participating in MUN conferences involves negotiating with allies and adversaries to resolve disputes while conforming to the conference rules of procedure (ROP), with the aim of passing the final resolution.
MUN committees vary between conferences and often span across a diverse range of specialised UN organs and topics, including but not limited to peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN aims to allow delegates to closely examine the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at conferences, and provides a practical opportunity for participants to engage in global diplomacy and international relations (IR).
Q. How did MUN begin?
While there is no official record of how Model UN began, we do know that Model UN is the successor of a series of student-led Model League of Nations simulations. Some people believe that the first Model UN conference was held at Harvard University, although this claim has been disputed. There are currently over 400 Model UN conferences held annually worldwide.
Q. Who can participate in MelbMUN 2018 (the Melbourne Model United Nations conference)?
Participation is open to all individuals who are 1) over 18 years of age AND 2) a university student or undertaking equivalent studies at a tertiary institution (at the time of MelbMUN's commencement). MelbMUN is open to both Australian and international students (see ‘How do I register to MelbMUN as an international student’?)
Q. How do I register to MelbMUN as an international student?
The registration process is the same for domestic students and international students, simply apply through our website at <https://melbmun.weebly.com> by clicking on the +registration tab and selecting the appropriate position you wish to register for. Alternatively you can also register through the google form found on our Facebook page, MelbMUN. Please note that MelbMUN does not issue Letters of Invitation, nor are we able to assist with visa applications. Please refer to information from official Australian Government sources, such as <https://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/immigration-and-visas>.
Q. What types of topics are discussed in ModelUN conferences?
The agenda items discussed in committee vary at each conference. Most conferences tend to focus on current affairs issues that are being discussed in the United Nations. However, the task of some committees might be to address hypothetical concerns or issues from the past or future.
Q. What positions are available at MelbMUN?
The most popular option is to register as a delegate. This allows you to represent a certain country in a chosen committee and get involved with debate during conference. Delegate applications are currently still open for registration through our website or Facebook page.
MelbMUN 2018 has also made available the Observer day pass - the first of its kind in the Australian MUN scene. Observers are entitled to observe the flow of debate in a chosen committee, as well as speak to delegates and directors during breaks. This position is ideal for those who have limited time availability or wish to participate in MelbMUN at a more limited capacity. Observer applications are currently still open for registration through our website or Facebook page.
Positions as Directors (aka Chairs), Assistant Directors, and Under-Secretary Generals (aka the Secretariat) are also available for MelbMUN. However, please note that applications for these positions have closed for MelbMUN 2018; interested individuals are encouraged to apply for next year’s conference, MelbMUN 2019.
Q. Can more than one person represent the same country/organisation?
Some conferences allow double-delegations (2 people per country) or group delegations. However, most Australian MUN conferences do not have multi-person delegations. MelbMUN 2018 will only have single-person delegations.
Q. Are there any bursaries/scholarships available?
Yes, MelbMUN 2018 has several sponsored positions available for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Applications for sponsored positions have closed as we are now in the process of assessing applicants.
Q. How do I select a country?
When registering as a delegate through our application form, you can refer to our country matrix and select 3 country and committee preferences from the available list. (e.g. First choice: USA - UNSC; Second choice: France - UNHRC; Third choice: Senegal - WHO). Our USG of Delegate and Welfare will do their best to accommodate your preferences and you will be sent your allocated country by email.
Q. What do you actually do all day?
Delegates usually begin the day after registration and roll call by commencing debate on the committee’s topics. Delegates will then enter moderated or unmoderated caucusing sessions, negotiate with fellow delegates, prepare and write draft resolutions, and debate on the resolutions in order to vote on them.
Committee sessions involve dynamic interactions between delegates, while directors (chairs) are on hand to guide the flow of debate and to arbitrate any conflicts.
Q. What food is included?
The delegate package includes the committee dinner on Day 1, lunch for Day 2 and 3, and the Finale Ball on Day 3 of the conference (which includes drinks and light refreshments).
Q. Is there a bar tab?
Yes; this is included in the delegate and director packages for the Finale Ball. Please note, however, that participants under 18 years will not be permitted to attend the Finale Ball due to legal age restrictions for venues serving alcohol.
Q. What should I wear?
MelbMUN, like all other MUN conferences, requires a formal business dress code. Male delegates are advised to wear ties, formal jackets and dress shoes. Items such as jeans, turtlenecks and hoodies are not considered appropriate formal wear. Please message us through our Facebook page at MelbMUN if you have specific queries.
Q. What should I do to prepare for my first MUN?
Delegates are required to write position papers before the conference commences, which ranges from 1-2 pages and serves to outline your country’s position on the committee topics you have been assigned. Research can be based on background guides provided by committee directors closer to the conference date, as well as your own research. Sources such as CIA Factbook, official government websites, UN agency websites, and factually reliable publications such as the Economist may be helpful. Specific questions on MUN preparation should be directed at committee directors or through our MelbMUN Facebook page.
General research on your country’s history, economy and politics will also be useful, as well as research on the stance of other countries in your committee on the committee topics, in order to form blocs and negotiate during debate time.
Familiarising yourself with general MUN rules of procedure, as well as the MelbMUN rules of procedure (ROP) guide will also be helpful in understanding the rules governming MUN (this will be uploaded on our website closer to the conference).