Model UN: How It Works, How to Join and How to Prepare for Your First Conference

Last updated: November 11, 2026

Model UN (Model United Nations) is a simulation of the United Nations in which you act as a diplomat for one of the UN's 193 Member States. You research your country's position on a real global issue, give speeches, negotiate with other delegates and help write a resolution. The United Nations says Model UN engages hundreds of thousands of students each year, at every level from primary school to university. Conferences are run by universities, nonprofits such as the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), and schools. This guide explains what happens in committee, how to join, how to prepare and which 2026-27 conferences to know, all from official sources as of November 2026.

The delegate who rewrites a resolution at midnight because one clause is not quite right already thinks like a researcher. See where that instinct can take you. Send me the research starter guide →

What is Model UN?

UNA-USA describes Model UN as "a simulation of the UN General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies where students perform an ambassador role while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, global health, and more."

The key rule surprises many new delegates: you do not argue your own opinion. The UN's own guide says participants represent the views of their assigned Member State, "they do not represent their own views." That is what makes Model UN different from a debate club. You win support by understanding someone else's position well enough to defend it and to find common ground.

The UN takes the activity seriously. The General Assembly adopted Resolution 77/336, titled "Model United Nations," and the UN runs a Model UN programme that publishes The United Nations Guide to Model UN to help conferences follow real UN rules.

What does a Model UN delegate actually do?

A conference can last from two days (BMUN's Fall Conference) to four (HMUN). Most of that time you spend in a committee, such as the General Assembly, the Security Council or a smaller crisis committee. Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN), one of the oldest high school conferences, describes the flow in its 2027 delegate guide:

1. Formal debate. Delegates speak in the order of the Speakers List. HMUN's advice is to "raise your placard with one hand, write notes with the other," because you never know when your turn will come.
2. Moderated caucus. A shorter, focused debate on one part of the topic, where each speech should answer the speeches before it.
3. Unmoderated caucus. No speeches. Delegates work in groups with their allies on working papers.
4. Resolution writing. Groups turn their ideas into working papers, then merge and revise them into draft resolutions, add amendments, and finally go to a vote.

The UN adds one important point. Many Model UN conferences vote often, but "most decisions adopted by the real General Assembly are made by consensus." Delegates who build agreement, rather than just win votes, are doing what real diplomats do.

Types of committees

HMUN describes crisis committees as fast-paced and unpredictable, so they suit quick thinkers.

Is Model UN only for high school?

No. The UN says students take part "at all educational levels – from primary school to university." Each conference sets its own age rules:

• Middle school: "all educational levels" includes you. Ask your school first, then check UNA-USA's public Model UN conference calendar, which labels each conference by accepted age group.
• High school: HMUN requires delegates to be at least 13 and enrolled in high school. Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN) says more than 2,000 high school students attend its conference each year.
• University: National Model United Nations (NMUN) is a university-level conference with sessions in New York and other cities.

If you are 14 to 17, UNA-USA's GenUN youth membership is free. It connects you with other students who care about global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Model UN runs from primary school all the way to university. Imagine what one global issue you love could become over those years. Help me choose my field →

How to join Model UN

If your school has a club, go to the first meeting and ask the advisor how new members join and which conferences the club attends.

If your school has no club, the UN's getting-started guide gives you a clear path:

1. Find a teacher advisor. You may need one, especially in high school.
2. Write a short statement of purpose for your principal and classmates.
3. Set a regular meeting time. The UN stresses regular meetings, especially when most members are new.
4. Run workshops: mini simulations, research practice and public speaking.
5. Pick a conference that is legitimate and practical for all your members.

If you want a community beyond school, contact your local UNA-USA chapter. UNA-USA says it operates Model UN conferences with its chapters in Boston, Washington, D.C., Houston, Tampa, New York City and other communities.

How hard is it to get into Model UN?

Each school club sets its own rules, so the advisor is the person to ask. Getting into a large conference takes planning, because registration often closes months ahead.

At HMUN 2027, registration opened June 1, 2026, and the late deadline was November 1, 2026. HMUN states that "acceptance to the conference is not guaranteed," caps each delegation at 20 delegates, and requires every delegation to bring a faculty advisor aged 18 or older. BMUN's first registration round for its 2027 conference filled to capacity. If a big conference is your goal, plan with your advisor by late spring.

You do not need experience to start. BMUN's Delegate Workshop, for example, is a learning conference where delegates do not prepare topics or write position papers.

How to prepare for your first conference

The UN says you need to know two things: the history, structure and work of the UN, and the background and positions of your assigned country.

Step 1: Research your country

Start with geography, government, economy and population. Then use UN records: what your country has said on the topic, how it has voted and which treaties it has signed. The UN suggests three questions about other countries:

• Which countries share your view?
• Which countries oppose it?
• Does your country belong to a regional group it wants to stay aligned with?

Step 2: Write your position paper

A position paper is a short summary of your country's view. HMUN asks for one single-spaced page per topic, with three sections:

• Background of the topic: the main elements of the problem and their root causes, as your country sees them.
• Your delegation's position: your national interests, your current policies and the steps you want.
• Proposed solutions: what you think must happen, and what opposition you expect.

At HMUN 2027, papers are due January 16. HMUN also bans the use of AI tools before and during the conference, including for position papers.

Step 3: Practice speaking

Write a one-minute opening speech and say it out loud until it sounds natural. The UN's advice for workshops is simple: speak slowly, project your voice and respect time limits.

What if you get a small country?

This is one of the most common worries, and it can be your best assignment. The UN Charter gives all Member States "sovereign equality," and the UN's guide encourages conferences to include smaller, lesser-known states because they make the simulation richer.

The numbers support that view. The UN says more than 50 Member States have never served on the Security Council. That is more than a quarter of all 193 members. A delegate from a small island state who unites a bloc on climate finance can lead the whole room.

Small states win by knowing one issue better than anyone in the room. That same depth is what turns a topic you love into real research. Show me how to start one →

How awards work, and what really counts

Awards are part of most conferences, and they are decided by people, so results can feel uneven. The best response is to know the criteria. HMUN publishes its list. Committee directors judge each delegate on:

• the ability to work with and persuade other delegates;
• the quality of the position paper and attendance at every session;
• a desire to compromise while staying true to the assigned country;
• practical, actionable solutions, spoken and written;
• deep understanding of the topic;
• skill in caucusing, resolution writing and debate.

HMUN plans 256 individual awards for more than 3,000 students, so at most about 8.5% of delegates take one home. Most delegates, including very good ones, leave without one. What they keep is the skill: you can research a hard topic in a week, defend a position under pressure and get forty strangers to sign a document you wrote.

Model UN conferences in 2026-27

HMUN says its conference brings together more than 3,000 high school students from hundreds of schools. BMUN, founded in 1952, calls itself the oldest active Model UN conference in the world.

How much time does Model UN take?

It depends on the club and the conference. The conference itself takes two to four days. Before it, you research your committee's topics and, at HMUN, write a one-page paper for each. Crisis committees add one more task: HMUN asks crisis delegates to plan the personal agenda they will pursue during the conference.

Is Model UN good for college applications?

Yes, when it shows depth. NMUN lists the skills Model UN builds: diplomacy, negotiation, critical thinking, compromise, public speaking, writing and research. Leadership roles such as club president, committee chair or conference staff show even more. Our extracurricular activities guide explains how to present them.

The strongest applications go one step further. Sometimes a committee topic grips you: antibiotic resistance in a WHO committee, ocean plastic, AI and security. You keep reading long after the conference ends. That is the moment to turn interest into original work. A research project carried from a question to a finished paper shows depth in a way a list of conferences cannot. At learnSTEM, students do exactly that, one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top-20 university, in fields from gene editing to machine learning.

See what colleges look for, does research help college admissions and how to choose a research topic in high school. If you love the speaking side most, read our guide to speech and debate.

That committee on antibiotic resistance could be the start of a real research paper. Picture a PhD mentor helping you ask the first question. Show me project ideas →

Frequently asked questions

What does a Model UN do?

Students represent UN Member States in committees. They research their country's position, give speeches, negotiate in caucuses and write resolutions that the committee debates and votes on, or adopts by consensus.

Is Model UN only for high school?

No. The UN says students take part at all levels, from primary school to university. UNA-USA's conference calendar labels each conference by age group, and university conferences such as NMUN serve college students.

How hard is it to get into Model UN?

Each school club sets its own rules. Large conferences take more planning: HMUN says acceptance is not guaranteed, limits delegations to 20 students and closes registration in the fall.

What is Model UN like in high school?

You prepare with your club, then travel to conferences as a school delegation. At HMUN, every delegation comes with a faculty advisor, and you spend most of four days in committee sessions with students from hundreds of schools. Between sessions, you negotiate, write and meet people who care about the same issues you do.

What should I wear to Model UN?

Check the conference rules. HMUN asks for western business attire, and also permits national and religious attire.

Sources

• United Nations, Model United Nations
• United Nations, Model UN Guide
• United Nations, Getting Started with Model United Nations
• United Nations, About Us
• United Nations Security Council, Current Members
• UNA-USA, Model UN
• UNA-USA, Join (GenUN membership)
• Harvard Model United Nations
• Harvard Model United Nations, Application Process
• Harvard Model United Nations, Committee List
• Harvard Model United Nations, 2027 Guide to Delegate Preparation
• Berkeley Model United Nations
• National Model United Nations
• WFUNA, Global Model UN

About learnSTEM

All bright students reach a point where school stops challenging them. learnSTEM provides that challenge: the space to explore a field of their choice, guided by a world-class PhD mentor from a top-20 university, completely one-on-one and on your own schedule. Students finish with a passion for a new subject, a research project they are proud of, and a clear sense of what they want to pursue next.

See if you qualify for the STEM Research Program → · Questions about eligibility? Contact us →

"It has only strengthened my love for learning about the world and given me a paper that I am proud to say I've made." — learnSTEM student