Conference Details

The Conference

Our annual conference, DurMUN 2020, will be taking place on the 17th-19th January, where we will simulate the committees of the United Nations by engaging conversations between Member States about topical issues that require cooperation from other Member States. This gives delegates a chance to try their hand at international diplomacy, and gives them a better understanding of the constraints nations have in reaching deals, as well as the dynamics of multilateral negotiation. Each committee is dedicated to a particular area of interest, such as the UN Environment Programme or the Security Council, and may have different rules of procedure as well as varying levels of difficulty.

The full price for the conference per delegate is £45 overall for the whole weekend in great locations, including a formal dinner and a VIP night out. We offer a £5 discount for delegations (of more than 5 people) from other universities. If you are looking for accommodation options, please visit the accommodation page for more information. Committees and topics have been announced and can be found here.

Registration will be at the Chapter House in Durham Cathedral on Palace Green between 1-3 pm on Friday, and the opening ceremony will begin at 3 pm. Detailed programme will be released shortly before the conference.

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The Society

Durham University United Nations Society was founded in 2007 with the aim to educate and inform members about the mission and activities of the United Nations. This usually involves heated debates and rich dialogue, be that between members or with experts in their field. In doing so, we provide a platform for all those interested in international affairs (political, developmental, legal, etc.) to voice their opinions in our weekly MUN styled debates and by engaging with the speakers who come to address our society. In addition, we send delegations to different Model United Nations (MUN) conferences throughout the year in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Please visit the secretariat page to meet members of the committee for 2019/20.

The City of Durham

DurMUN is held every year in the beautiful city of Durham which boasts stunning sights such as the outstanding Norman cathedral, picturesque riverbanks lined with trees and a castle which is the oldest inhabited student accommodation in the world! Thankfully, it’s all enclosed on a peninsula by the River Wear and so on a short walk, you could see all of the old bailey and its colleges, the rowers training on the river, the busy Saddlers’ Street and also get a great view from the several bridges coming off it. The city’s information point is on Owengate road, leading onto Palace Green, if you’d like a map or more specialised knowledge. Otherwise, don’t forget to try the multitudes of delicious cafes that add to the local atmosphere, or the Saturday market on Market Place. Please visit this page for walking distances around Durham.

If you’re getting here by train, there are regular, high-speed services by Virgin East Coast from London or conversely, Aberdeen, Glasgow or Edinburgh. It’s only 17 minutes by train away from Newcastle, a major city in the northeast and an alternative spot if you’re looking for accommodation. By car, travel up the A1 and take the A690 off it into the city centre. The closest airport is either Newcastle or Durham Tees Valley, where you can take a taxi or the metro and train in the case of Newcastle, to the city.