1. What is MUN?

Model United Nations is a debating form wherein sessions of the United Nations are simulated with a specific ruleset. In MUN you will represent a country in a certain committee and you will have to debate topics based on the policy of the country you are representing. You could be France in the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) which could discuss topics from cybersecurity regulation to conventional arms control for example. Likewise, there is a diversity of topics in different committees including human rights, environmental protection, maritime security, humanitarian crises, and more.

2. Do I need to have previous experience before joining Leiden MUN?

No! Everyone is welcome to join Leiden MUN, experienced or not. What we are looking for is the motivation to learn and develop your skills. Please note that you must be 18 years old by the time the conference of the preparation track beings. Specific dates of the conference in question can be found in the Delegations page of our website.

3. Can I become a yearly member of your association?

Leiden MUN does not run a yearly program like other MUN organizations in the Netherlands. We organize official delegations to three conferences annually with application phases beginning at least two months before each trip. When you return from the conference, you automatically become Leiden MUN alumni. If you wish to do another Preparatory Track with us, you must reapply and enter into another application phase. However, as an alumni delegate, you may attend fewer Prep Track sessions and participate in the conference with the full delegation .

4. Do I need to study International Relations or International Studies to join Leiden MUN?

Not at all. The United Nations consists of multiple committees that could discuss topics ranging from the legal spheres to medical topics (e.g. World Health Organization) to terrorism. Having said that, some knowledge of current international relations and current affairs is appreciated as those topics will be useful within all committees. We've had delegates who study a diversity of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees including History, Psychology, Law, Computer Science, Business, Medicine, and more.

5. Are you based in Leiden or The Hague?

As of March 2022, the Preparatory Track training sessions take place in The Hague. This decision was taken because the majority of our delegates and Board Members live in The Hague which means saving time travelling to Leiden and money as we often have many international students who don’t have access to a student OV card.

However, we do still host events in Leiden such as our annual DIMUN conference and some of the Prep Track sessions, and of course delegates from Leiden or cities further afield are always welcome! In fact, we always have a few delegates who travel from the cities of Delft, Amsterdam and Utrecht per delegation.

6. Can I join one of your sessions to see how it works?

Unfortunately, you cannot join one of our sessions individually, but we are happy to help you with any questions you have. This is because our sessions are tailored to the delegates in any given delegation, and we want to make sure to give them the best possible experience in a small-group environment. You can send us an email at info@leidenmun.com or reach us through our social channels on Facebook and Instagram.

7. I want to apply to one of your delegations, but I am not sure how the procedure works?

Our applications are always specifically for one conference. In general, you will have to send in your CV and a 500 word motivation letter, after which you might be invited for an interview. After all the interviews are concluded, you will hear from us if you are selected to join the delegation or not. This is a recurring process per delegation and each selection process is unique. Therefore, even if you have experience with Leiden MUN in the past, it is not automatic that you would be accepted in the future. Likewise, even if you have not been selected in the past, we still encourage you to apply again for another delegation.

8. When does the application procedure for any conference open?

Keep checking our website and/or social media to stay up to date as to when it will open! We will announce it with plenty of time for you to prepare your application.

9. How do you teach your delegates?

We teach based on four key skills: research, negotiation, public speaking, and resolution writing. We do this through three pillars: weekly Skills Labs on Tuesdays, Mock Sessions on Wednesdays, and our unique system in which you will get a board member assigned to you for individualized development. This is called the Personal Development Programme, or PDP, in which you will be personally guided to further develop your skills. 

10. Do I have to study at Leiden University?

Definitely not! In almost every delegation we have a few delegates who come from different universities and universities of applied sciences around the Netherlands. As long as you can commit to making it to our weekly sessions (Skills Labs and Mock Sessions), it does not matter where you study or where you live in the Netherlands. Likewise, exchange students are also welcome to apply! 

11. Do you accept international students?

Yes, we do! We always have a mix of international and Dutch students.