Subject
Politics and international relations
Competition Support · Humanities & Social Sciences
Model United Nations (MUN)
The debating and diplomacy simulation that builds the argument and public-speaking skills top applications reward.
Key Facts
Level
Years 9-13
When
Conferences run through the year
Format
Committee debate and resolution drafting
Rounds
Ongoing conferences and delegate awards
Run by
Schools, universities, and MUN organisations
University signal
Useful; stronger with sustained leadership
Why Model UN coaching is hard to find
The Model UN sits above the syllabus, so most tutors cannot teach it
A tutor who has only taught Politics and international relations to A-Level has not met these problems. Competition papers are not harder versions of the syllabus, they are a different kind of work, and coaching them means having sat them. That is why most agencies quietly decline this, and why students who want to prepare seriously are usually left with a past-paper archive and no one to mark it.
We do teach it. Every Oxbridge Mentors tutor is a graduate of the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge, and the ones who coach the Model UN sat it themselves and scored at the top of it. That is the whole reason we can offer this when others do not.
Who it is for
Applicants aiming at the most selective courses, where strong grades are the baseline rather than the differentiator.
Admissions signal: Useful; stronger with sustained leadership.
01
Section 01
What is the Model UN?
Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation of UN committees in which students represent countries, debate global issues, negotiate, and draft resolutions. Conferences run at school, national, and international level. Sustained involvement, especially in leadership or award-winning roles, develops the research, argument, and public-speaking skills that strengthen applications for Law, PPE, History, and International Relations.
In Model United Nations, students take on the role of a country's delegate in a simulated UN committee. They research their country's position, debate a global issue with other delegates, negotiate alliances, and work towards a written resolution, all under formal rules of debate.
Conferences run from single-school events up to large international gatherings, and experienced delegates can win awards or take on chairing and organising roles. Unlike a one-off exam, MUN rewards sustained involvement: the students who benefit most attend several conferences and grow into leadership over time.
For applicants to Law, PPE, History, or International Relations, MUN is valuable less as a line on a form and more for the skills it builds: structured argument, quick thinking under pressure, negotiation, and confident public speaking, all of which show up directly in interviews and admissions tests like the LNAT and TARA.
Run by Various schools, universities, and MUN organisations. See the official competition site for current dates and entry details.
02
Section 02
Format & Rounds
Preparation
Delegates research their assigned country and issue and write a position statement before the conference.
Committee debate
Structured debate under formal rules, with speeches, negotiation, and amendments.
Resolutions and awards
Committees draft and vote on resolutions; strong delegates receive recognition and can progress to chairing roles.
03
Section 03
Who Should Enter
Students from Year 9 upwards who enjoy debate, current affairs, and public speaking. It suits future Law, PPE, History, and International Relations applicants especially, and rewards those who commit to several conferences rather than attending once.
- Open across secondary school, typically Years 9-13.
- Joined through a school MUN society or by registering for conferences.
- No prior experience needed to start; skill and recognition build with participation.
04
Section 04
Key Dates & Timeline
Throughout the year
Conferences run at school, regional, national, and international level.
Over several terms
Delegates build experience, win awards, and move into chairing and leadership roles.
Windows are indicative and move each cycle. Always confirm exact dates on the organiser's site.
05
Section 05
How Our Tutors Help With the Model UN
1
Coaching on the skills MUN develops: structuring an argument, thinking on your feet, and speaking with clarity and confidence.
2
Guidance on researching a country position and drafting effective resolutions.
3
Support turning sustained MUN involvement and leadership into strong personal-statement and interview material.
4
A joined-up plan for Law, PPE, and related applicants that links MUN skills to LNAT and TARA preparation.
Tutoring is one-to-one and online, matched to the competition and the student. Packages start from over £50 per session with graduate mentors.
06
Section 06
How to Prepare
- Commit for the long term: the students who gain most from MUN attend several conferences and take on responsibility over time.
- Research your country's actual position properly, so your speeches and negotiation are credible rather than generic.
- Focus on clear, persuasive speaking. The transferable skill that matters for applications is the ability to argue well under pressure.
07
Section 07
Where It Leads
Model United Nations (MUN) is a strong signal for competitive applications. We connect competition coaching to the rest of your preparation:
Related A-Level Guides
Related Admissions Tests
Degrees This Strengthens
LawPPEHistoryInternational RelationsHSPS
Model UN: Frequently Asked Questions
It is most valuable when you can point to sustained involvement and the skills you built, rather than a single conference. Leadership or award-winning roles make it more compelling.
It is most relevant to Law, PPE, History, and International Relations, and the argument and public-speaking skills it develops help with interviews and tests like the LNAT and TARA across many humanities courses.
No. Everyone begins as a new delegate. The value comes from committing over time and growing into more demanding roles.