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™ESCH Model United Nations

First MUN?

Your first Model United Nations, explained

Everything a first-time delegate needs, in plain English. These explanations are introductory — CURIA’s approved rules of procedure will be published separately.

Start here

A guided beginner journey

Five short steps from ‘what is a MUN?’ to your first practice speech. Skip any step you already know.

Step 1 of 5

Learn the basics

Read the five-minute introduction and skim the glossary.

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Introductory · five minutes

What happens at a MUN?

A Model United Nations is a role-play of international diplomacy. Students become delegates, join a committee and spend the conference debating one agenda — a real-world problem.

Before the conference you research the topic and the view of whoever you represent. In committee you give short speeches, listen to others, and discuss ideas in more focused debates and informal group time.

Delegates with similar ideas form groups, write their solutions down as a draft resolution, improve it with amendments, and finally vote. The chair and co-chair guide the room and keep debate fair.

You do not need to be an expert. Good delegates are curious, prepared, respectful and willing to listen. Introductory — not CURIA’s official rules

Roles

Country delegates, political portfolios and the press

Country delegates

In DISEC, UNSC and UNHRC, each delegate represents a country and argues from that country’s point of view. Each committee uses the same 45-country CURIA matrix; you rank preferences and the organisers allocate.

Political portfolios (AIPPM)

In AIPPM, delegates represent Indian political figures rather than countries. No country preference is needed; portfolios are assigned later by the organisers.

IPC journalists

In the International Press Corps, students act as reporters for one of 20 simulated press agencies: they observe, interview and write accurate reports. Press roles are assigned later.

Two different ideas

School delegation vs country team

School registration delegation

A group of 6 to 100 students registered together — a School Delegation (one school) or a Private Delegation (students from any schools). A coordinator is optional. It is about registration and payment — members can be in different committees.

Country team

The delegate or delegates who represent the same country inside a committee. This depends on allocation by the organisers, not on which school you came from.

Glossary

Twenty words you will hear

Select a term to reveal its meaning.
Read the whole glossary as text
Delegate:
A participant who represents a country, a political figure or the press in a committee.
Committee:
A group of delegates who debate one agenda together, guided by a chair and co-chair.
Agenda:
The topic a committee debates for the whole conference.
Chair:
The person who runs the committee: calls on speakers, keeps time and keeps debate fair.
Co-chair:
Supports the chair in running the committee and assessing debate.
Country matrix:
The list of countries available in a committee. CURIA’s matrices will be published later.
Position paper:
A short document explaining your country’s or portfolio’s view on the agenda.
Opening speech:
Your first short speech, introducing your position to the committee.
Speakers’ list:
The order in which delegates are called to give longer speeches.
Moderated caucus:
A focused debate on one sub-topic, with short speeches called by the chair.
Unmoderated caucus:
Informal time when delegates move around, talk and write together.
Motion:
A formal proposal to do something, such as start a caucus. The committee votes on it.
Point of order:
Used to say that the rules are not being followed correctly.
Point of information:
A question to a speaker about their speech, when the chair allows it.
Yield:
What a speaker does with leftover time — for example, giving it back to the chair.
Bloc:
A group of delegates with similar views who work together.
Working paper:
An early draft of ideas that a bloc is developing together.
Draft resolution:
A formal written proposal that the committee debates, amends and votes on.
Amendment:
A proposed change to a draft resolution.
Placard:
The card you raise to be recognised by the chair or to vote.

Illustrative

An opening-speech structure

One illustrative way to organise a first speech. Your chairs may give different guidance.
  1. Step 1

    Greeting

    Thank the chair and address the committee.

  2. Step 2

    Position

    State clearly where your country or portfolio stands on the agenda.

  3. Step 3

    Reasons

    Give two short reasons or facts that support your position.

  4. Step 4

    Proposal

    Suggest one practical idea the committee could work on.

  5. Step 5

    Close

    Invite others to cooperate and yield your remaining time to the chair.

Practise

Sample speech builder

Choose a committee, a practice role and two building blocks. The template fills in instantly — no AI and nothing sent anywhere.
3. Your main point
4. How you end

Your practice speech

Honourable Chair, fellow delegates — on behalf of the delegation of [your country], thank you. Today we discuss The Regulation of Private Military and Security Companies in Armed Conflicts. This matters because it affects people far beyond this room. In our view, we call on all delegations to work towards clear, shared rules that every member can accept. We invite delegations who share these concerns to join us in drafting practical proposals. Thank you.

A practice template built only from your choices — nothing is sent anywhere. Read it aloud with the timer, then rewrite it in your own words with your research. Choosing a country here is not a registration preference.

Practise

Speech timer

Practice length

1:00

Read as text

Choose 60 or 90 seconds, press Start and speak until the time runs out. Pause freezes the countdown and Reset returns it to the full length. When the countdown reaches zero, “Time's up” is shown and announced. You can practise the same way with any clock or phone timer.

Prepare

Preparation checklist

0 of 10 done

Discover

Which committee might suit you?

1. Which activity sounds most fun to you?
2. Which news story would you read first?
3. How do you like to work?
Read as text

The quiz matches interests to committees: security and weapons rules → DISEC; fast crisis decisions → UNSC; protecting people’s rights → UNHRC; Indian politics and elections → AIPPM; writing, interviews and reporting → IPC. Suggestions do not guarantee allocation.

For parents and teachers

Questions from parents and teachers

Is CURIA suitable for students who have never done a MUN?

Yes. CURIA welcomes beginners as well as experienced delegates from Classes 6–12. This page explains the basics in plain English.

What is included in the fee?

A welcome kit, snacks and lunch on both conference days, and placards. Prices are inclusive of all applicable taxes.

How do group registrations work?

Choose a School Delegation (6–100 students from one school) or a Private Delegation (6–100 students from any schools). A booking contact registers the group; adding a coordinator is optional. Each delegate still has their own record and three committee preferences.

Who gives consent for students under 18?

Each minor’s parent or guardian. A booking contact’s or coordinator’s payment does not replace a guardian’s participation consent, which will be collected in a later phase.

What supervision will there be?

Supervision details are to be announced.

What are the timings?

Reporting times and the timetable are to be announced.

What happens to personal data?

The privacy policy is a draft awaiting approval. The registration preview on this site does not save or send any details.

On the day

Day-of-event checklist

  • Carry an accepted ID on both conference days
  • Bring a notebook and pens
  • Bring your research notes and opening speech
  • Bring a water bottle
  • Reporting time: To be announced
  • Dress code: To be announced
Try the registration preview