Questions about the fee
I am an international Bachelor student enrolled in a Dutch university. How much do I have to pay to participate?
The participation fee is €129 for Bachelor’s students enrolled in a Dutch university.
Why are there two different fees?
UNISCA is an official Bachelor course recognized by the Dutch government. Thus, Master’s students or Bachelor’s students enrolled in a university outside the Netherlands have to pay €45 per credit to the University of Amsterdam. Since UNISCA is a 6 ECTS course, this means €270 payable for the university plus €129 for the participation fee, totalling €399.
What does the fee include?
The fee includes the participation in the whole conference, study materials, welcome bag and all social events organized by UNISCA. It does not include accommodation, local transportation, and flight tickets.
I cannot participate in the conference. Can I get a refund of the fee?
You can request a 50% refund of the participation fee (€129) two weeks before the start of the Summer school (before 17th June, 2019, 9am).
For more details about the refund policy, see General Terms & Conditions, points 20-24.
For more details about the refund policy, see General Terms & Conditions, points 20-24.
Eligibility
I am a Master’s student. Can I participate?
Everyone is welcomed to participate. Because UNISCA is a Bachelor’s course, the credits are not transferable to Master’s programs. The fee for Master’s students is €399.
I am a first-year Bachelor’s student. Can I participate?
We require students to have passed their first year of Bachelor successfully, which is equivalent to having at least 60 ECTS. However, we encourage motivated first-year students to apply. For a limited number of cases, we can wait until the results of the last examinations are communicated by the study advisor, even if they are not yet officially in the system.
I study a field unrelated to the United Nations (e.g. chemistry or mechanical engineering) Can I participate?
Everyone is welcomed to participate. Diversity plays a crucial role during the selection process. Please note, that the credits you earn might not count towards your studies but appear as extracurricular in your study plan.
Will the 6 credits be automatically recognized?
Some programs, like the PPLE and the Political Science Bachelor’s of the University of Amsterdam, automatically acknowledge the UNISCA Summer course as an elective. However, inclusion in the study plan for other disciplines is decided by the study coordinator of your program. It is the participants’ responsibility to check with the study advisor if the UNISCA credits count toward his/her diploma or will be listed as “extracurricular credits”.
Preparatory phase
When is the application period?
For the UNISCA 2019 conference application open on the 18th March, 9:00, and end 19th May, 23:59. UNISCA reserves the right to reopen applications at its discretion.
Do you have any scholarship opportunities?
We will publish more information about scholarships soon. Any update on available scholarships will be communicated through our website and newsletter.
Do you provide accommodation to the participants?
In general, participants are responsible to find accommodation during the conference in Amsterdam, however, we have a limited number of places available through the University of Amsterdam. The cost of this housing is approximately €400 for the duration of the conference. Exact process of application for the housing will be published soon.
I come from a country that requires a visa to enter the Netherlands. Do you provide assistance?
For selected participants we provide an invitation letter for visa purposes. The costs are covered by the participant.
During the summer course
Do we have a programme for the weekend?
There is no official activity organized by UNISCA for the weekend, however, we will give suggestions for day trips around Amsterdam.
I have resits during the summer conference. Can I be absent from lectures?
Presence is compulsory and checked during the UNISCA summer course. However, some exceptions can be allowed when the absence is justifiable, however it must be communicated in advance to secretary@unisca.org .
About the Academic week
What is the Dress Code during the academic week?
The Dress Code is business casual. This means no athleisure wear (such as sneakers, hoodies), no open shoes (such as sandals), and no inappropriate clothing (like short pants or jeans for men). Recommended is a smart shirt or pullover with a blazer, long non-jean pants or skirts for the women, and closed shoes.
What is the workload I can expect during the Academic week?
UNISCA is a summer course at the end of which students are awarded 6 credits, and the official ECTS guidelines which can be checked here apply. In general, participants should follow the lectures attentively and prepare thoroughly for the final exam.
How do I write a good position paper?
The position paper should cover all the committee’s topics and highlight their country’s policy goals. As this is a graded paper for a summer course, the requirements are higher than for a regular MUN position paper. The particular requirements for the position paper can be found in the study guides. In general, participants are advised to start the paper early.
What is a Study Guide and when do I receive it?
The Study Guide is a committee-specific syllabus that contains all the relevant information about the committee topics, the grading requirements for all graded components, namely the position paper, the general exam, the speech and MUN participation. The participants receive their study guides when they are officially admitted and selected into a committee.
About the MUN week
Is there a Dress Code during the MUN week?
The dress code for delegates and journalists is formal wear. This presupposed a suit and tie for men and pantsuit or skirt and blazer for women, combined with closed shoes.
What is the workload I can expect during the MUN week?
Before the MUN starts, delegates and journalists are required to prepare a speech, for which a minimum of 2 hours preparation time can be expected. Additionally, delegates need to be thoroughly informed about their committee topics and be prepared to argue for their particular goals.
Is there a formal protocol during the MUN?
Yes, every MUN follows strict rules of procedure, available here. Delegates should be acquainted with the rules before the MUN starts.
Can I choose the country of which I am going to be a delegate?
During the application process, participants can indicate their top three preferences for countries in their motivational letter and we will do our best to match their preferences.