The UNSW Debating Society participates in and runs several tournaments every semester on the national debating circuit. Major tournaments happen four times per year, which are held both in Australia and internationally, usually drawing more than 300 people; whereas Mini tournaments run frequently, with dozens throughout the year in most cities in Australia. Our society also runs internal competitions at UNSW throughout the semester, and has regular internal debates every Monday night.

Major Tournaments

Australian intervarsity debating championship (easters)

Easters is one of university debaters' first introduction to the debating circuit, and is the largest competition in Australia. The tournament runs for 5 days over the university break, and it is primarily aimed at newcomers or 'novices' to university debating, only allowing one experienced member per team of 3. The tournament draws over 400 people to cities around Australia each year, and UNSW Debating Society usually sends around 40+ students to the tournament. Trials for Easters will be held on March 2019 with more information to come at our Facebook page, and the tournament itself in 2019 will be held at UNSW.

Australasian intervarsity debating championship (australs)

Australs is one of the world's largest debating tournaments and the largest in the Asian region, held over the Australian winter university break in July each year. Australs is a fantastic opportunity for debaters to travel internationally during the break throughout the Asian region, to debate some of Asia's most experienced debaters. The tournament has been held in South Korea (2015), New Zealand (2014) and Malaysia (2013) in recent years, and in 2019 will be held in Bali. 

Australasian womens debating championship (womens)

Womens is an excellent developmental opportunity for all female identifying and non binary debaters. Teams of 2 in 'British Parliamentary' debating style (our style of debating in Semester 2) compete each year at cities in the Australasian region over the mid semester break in Semester 2. Womens is a great experience to hone in your debating skills and travel with your mates. Womens has been hosted in Sydney (2013, 2014), Brisbane (2015) and New Zealand (2018).  

Worlds universities debating championships (worlds)

Worlds is the most prestigious and largest tournament on the international debating circuit, drawing close to 1000 people from across the world to debate in the British Parliamentary debating style and dance the night away over the New Year holiday. Worlds has previously been hosted in Botswana, Turkey, Germany, Malaysia and in 2019/2020 will be held in Thailand. You can follow live updates of Worlds at our Facebook or Instagram pages! Check out more at the Worlds wikipedia page.

Madrid Worlds, Madrid, Spain, 2023

UNSW Mini Tournaments

UNSW Pre-Major Tournaments

UNSW Debating Society runs three round robins per year, which are styled as Pre-Easters, Pre-Australs and Pre-Worlds tournaments. These competitions are designed for teams heading to those tournaments to practice, as well as anyone looking to debate over the weekend. 

unsw iv

UNSW IV (UNSW Intervarsity) is UNSW Debating Society's flagship tournament that is run usually in August/September that prides itself on weird, wacky and bizarre topics to give everyone a fun weekend out. Held over two days, this tournament is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable on the debating circuit with our championship dinner social on Saturday night and break to semi finals on Sunday. 

maher-kintominas cup

The Maher-Kintominas Cup is our largest "Internals" competition that is normally run in the latter half of Semester 1. Each round is held at one of our regular internals on a Monday night, with teams made up of you and your friends in a round-robin format over 4 weeks. This tournament is a great way to get involved with university debating for a first time or develop your skills; we can place you with our experienced pros to learn how to debate and the winning team at the end receives the illustrious Maher-Kintominas Cup for the year. Sign-ups for the tournament will open in April.

Summer Open

During the summer holidays between calendar years, UNSW Debating Society runs debating rounds on Sundays. It’s a good way to practice and keep your debating skills fresh before the season re-starts!