UCLA Model United Nations: A Comprehensive Guide

Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students step into the roles of delegates from various countries. They tackle real-world issues using the policies and perspectives of their assigned nation. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of UCLA's BruinMUN conference, general MUN preparation, and what to expect at a conference.

Introduction to BruinMUN

BruinMUN is UCLA's Model United Nations conference, offering a forum for high school students from around the world to engage in discussion, debate, and discourse. BruinMUN provides an enriching experience, potentially sparking interest in global affairs and fostering long-term passions in Model UN.

In the past, BruinMUN has served as a forum for meaningful discussion, debate, and discourse for high school students from all around the world and we expect it to be no different this year.

BruinMUN 33

BruinMUN 33 will take place on November 8-9, 2025, on UCLA’s campus. The conference features 26 diverse committees, including:

15 General Assembly and ECOSOC committees
5 Specialized committees
6 Crisis committees

Ten of these committees are designed for novice delegates, including a novice specialized committee and two crisis committees.

BruinMUN Conference Details

Bruin Model UN will host 24 Committees in 2016, from large General Assembly committee to small crisis committees. Bruin Model UN is schedule for Saturday, November 12, 2017 to Sunday, November 13, 2017. Bruin Model UN is hosted on campus. Schools are expected to book their own accommodations. BruinMUN awards traditional individual awards and team delegation awards. Bruin Model UN has over 10 hours of committee time.

Location

BruinMUN utilizes UCLA’s campus for competition and debate. Schools are expected to book their own accommodations.

Registration

School registration fees are \$50. Early delegate registration fees are \$60, and regular delegate registration fees are \$65.

Awards

BruinMUN awards traditional individual awards and team delegation awards.

Past Delegation Award Winners:

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Best Large Delegation: Mira Costa High School
Outstanding Large Delegation: Huntington Beach High School
Best Small Delegation: Gulf Coast High School
Outstanding Small Delegation: Palos Verde Peninsula High School

Committee Types at BruinMUN

BruinMUN offers a variety of committees, catering to different experience levels and interests:

General Assembly and ECOSOC: These committees simulate the main bodies of the United Nations, addressing a wide range of global issues.
Specialized Committees: These committees focus on specific topics or regions, requiring in-depth knowledge and expertise.
Crisis Committees: These committees simulate fast-paced, dynamic scenarios where delegates must respond to unexpected events and make critical decisions under pressure.

Committee List:

General Assembly Plenary
1st DISEC
UNDP
3rd SOCHUM
ECOSOC
UNHRC
WHO
UNEP
Arab League
African Union
UNCSW
IAE
ASEAN
Novice ECOSOC
Novice UNEP
Novice UNHRC
Novice SOCHUM
Novice UNHCR
Novice DISEC
Novice UNESCO
Novice European Council (Crisis)
Castro 1959
Napoleon’s Cabinet 1812
Nicolàs Maduro’s Cabinet
UNSC

Preparing for a Model UN Conference

Model UN can seem intimidating or confusing at first, but it is an activity that can only be learned through participation. It’s important to dive right in.

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Key Preparation Steps

Once you have signed up for a conference, you will receive your country assignment, your committee, and its topics. There are typically three items to prepare before you walk into your first conference: the Position Paper (sometimes called a Policy Statement), your Opening Speech, and a Research Binder.

Position Paper: A summary of your knowledge of the topic and your country's position, typically one or two pages long.
Opening Speech: A one to one-and-a-half-minute speech explaining your country's policy and key sub-issues.
Research Binder: An organized resource containing notes, previous resolutions, and possible solutions (optional but recommended).

The Position Paper

The Position Paper is a one or two page document that is essentially a summary of your knowledge of the topic and the position your country plans to take when it enters committee. It typically contains four sections: Background of Topic, Past International Actions, Country Policy, and Possible Solutions. The key starting points for researching each section are listed below.

The Opening Speech

The Opening Speech typically lasts about 1 minute or 1 minute and 30 seconds and is the first speech you give to the committee. It is the best opportunity for you to explain your country policy and the key sub-issues you would like the committee to focus on. Opening Speeches are the main way for countries to determine who they want to work with, so it’s important to prepare a speech that conveys this. There are many tips and strategies on how to deliver an Opening Speech, but use your Position Paper as a guide when you are starting out.

Research Binder

Research Binders are optional but highly recommended, especially since many conferences do not allow the use of technology in committee. An organized Research Binder will be your go-to resource during the conference as new terms and acronyms, previous resolutions and treaties, and possible solutions are mentioned.

Resolution Writing

Delegates will be writing a document called a Resolution in committee along with other countries that they will be working with. It’s important to know the resolution format and phrases, but most conferences do not allow pre-written resolutions since they want countries to collaborate together during the committee.

What to Bring to Committee

This list is not exhaustive, but all of these are recommended to be brought to BruinMUN.

Laptop and charger
Paper for sending notes (post-its, index cards, etc.)
Pens or pencils
Paper or notebook for note taking
Printed out materials (notes and research)
Water (drinking fountains in every building)
Necessary medication
Snacks (there will be lunch breaks, eating during committee is by each chair’s discretion)
Payment, ideally a credit card (most restaurants near UCLA do not take cash)

Note: For Crisis Committees, laptops are not required, as there is no-tech. We also will provide crisis legal pads, so it is not necessary to purchase yourself.

Conference Procedures

There are no standards in Model UN and different conferences may run their debate and rules of procedure differently. The two most commonly used rules of procedure are North American/ UNA-USA procedure and THIMUN procedure; most conferences’ rules of procedure are copied or modified from those two. A new procedure based on the actual proceedings of the United Nations has begun to grow, called UN4MUN procedure, and is taking root in MUN committees worldwide. Also, some crisis committees may operate with a customized set of rules and debate formats but you probably will not encounter this during your first conference.

North American/UNA-USA Procedure

Each committee is led by a Chairperson who facilitates the discussion for the committee. The committee will start with the Chairperson taking roll call. Afterward, the committee will vote on which of the assigned topics to discuss first.
There are three debate formats. The default debate format is called the Speakers List. This where delegates take turns making speeches in front of the room by the order that they are listed on the Speakers List as selected by the Chair.
After a certain number of speeches, the delegates may vote to change up the debate format to either Moderated Caucus or Unmoderated Caucus. Moderated Caucus is when the committee decides to focus on a sub-issue and get a back-and-forth debate going.
Unmoderated Caucus is when delegates are free to get up out of their seats and roam around the room to work with other countries with similar policies. The first one or two unmoderated caucuses will be spent finding allies, but afterward most of the unmoderated caucuses are spent writing draft resolutions with your caucus bloc (your group of allies).
Resolutions will be presented either as they are ready or all at once near the end of the conference (sometimes this is called Formal Caucus).
Finally, all the countries in the committee will vote on whether or not they want a resolution to be passed.

THIMUN Procedure

Each committee is led by a Chairperson who facilitates the discussion for the committee.
The committee will then enter a whole day of Lobbying Sessions. Delegates are free to roam around the committee to work with other delegates. Delegates who work together are called Co-Submitters, and there is typically one Main Submitter to the resolution. Merging takes place during Lobbying Sessions.
Each submitted resolution will be discussed one at a time, and usually each resolution is allotted a certain amount of time to be discussed. The Main Submitter will be called upon to present the draft resolution. Delegates may then yield their time to questions-and-answers.
Amendments may be submitted by the delegates.
Delegates will vote on the amendments after time has elapsed for discussing each one, and delegates will vote on the resolution as a whole after time has elapsed on discussing all amendments to the resolution.

UN4MUN Procedure

Each committee is led by a Chairperson who facilitates the discussion for the committee. Before the conference, delegates will actually elect a Chair from among the pool of delegates, who will be trained and assisted throughout the conference by a “Secretary”, an appointed member of the conference secretariat. Formal Debate starts with delegates running through the Speakers List and delivering a single speech to the committee as their country.
The committee will then enter “Informal Consultations”. Delegates are free to roam around the committee to work with other delegates. Delegates will coalesce into Political Groups to write resolutions, and slowly begin merging with other groups until the committee collectively has 1 resolution that represents the interests of all groups.

At some UN4MUN conferences, the committee sessions are book-ended by Opening and Closing Plenaries. During the Opening Plenary delegates from all committees will come together to adopt the conference agenda, and during the Closing Plenary they will adopt the resolutions passed by committees ceremoniously.

Additional Opportunities

MUN Institute Summer Camp

UCLA Model UN camps offer global leadership training and summer fun. The MUN Institute Summer Camp provides a vibrant atmosphere with activities, simulations, trivia games, and social events.

The MUN Institute Summer Camp is where future leaders shine! Imagine a vibrant atmosphere with flags, maps, and global icons on the walls and contagious energy. From stepping into the shoes of world leaders in a final simulation to engaging in exciting trivia games, learning how to navigate meaningful conversations in our polarized society, campus tours, and social events, every moment is unforgettable. It’s a launchpad for your child’s future, blending hands-on learning with new friendships and endless fun.

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