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The Vitae Three Minute Thesis ( 3MT ) competition challenges Doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation (using one single slide) on their research topic and its significance, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience, in just 3 minutes.

Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes.

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Doctoral College

Three minute thesis (3mt).

Congratulations to Rebecca Evans. Rebecca impressed the jury with a presentation on 'What do school girls want?' and is the University of Warwick's entry into the Vitae 3MT Competition 2022.

We would also like to congratulate the two runners-up, Eleanor Molloy and Busola Oronti on their great presentations.

The Challenge

Can you present your thesis in just 3 Minutes? Are you up for the challenge? You have three minutes, one static slide, no props, and no materials – just you! If you get through the first round we will train and support you so that you are ready for a live Warwick final. The winner of this will get put forward to the regional finals – and who knows maybe the National Final.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition for doctoral students, originally developed by The University of Queensland. It challenges you to present a compelling oration on your thesis topic and its significance in just three minutes.

3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills by challenging you to effectively explain your research in engaging, accessible language to a non-specialist audience.

What are the judges looking for?

Here are the Rules of entry and Judging criteria

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) 2021 Competition

Evette hillman winner of 2021 warwick competition.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Here is a link to the video instead.

Helen Pocock Runner up of 2021 Warwick Competition

Useful links:.

• Online 3MT help via Moodle Link opens in a new window  
• Prezi by Inger Mewburn

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3 Minute Thesis

• Poster Competition

All 2023 entries can be viewed here

Three Minute Thesis

2024 Competition

How to Apply

Applications for 3MT are open, and will close at 5pm on Monday 27 May 2024. Please note we are unable to accept applications after the deadline.

The 2024 competition will take place in-person, Friday 14 June 2024 at 1pm in Queens LT2, Queens Building, Streatham Campus.

The prizes for this year's competition are as follows:

• 1st prize £100 voucher
• 2nd prize £75 voucher
• 3rd prize £50 voucher
• People's Choice winner £50 voucher

We are running two webinars to enhance your presentation skills:

• Creating impactful public engagement content , Wednesday 1st May, 10am-12pm
• Public speaking and presentation skills , Wednesday 8th May, 10am-12pm

Looking for advice on how to put together your Three Minute Thesis presentation? Our 2022 winner Michael Schraubden offers his thoughts and tips in this blog post .

An 80,000 word thesis would take 9 hours to present.

Your time limit…3 minutes!

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a National competition for postgraduate research students, run by research organisation Vitae. 3MT® challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes. The first 3MT® was held at The University of Queensland in Australia in 2008, and has been nationwide in the UK by Vitae since 2014. More information about the history of 3MT® can be found on the  Vitae  and  3MT®  websites.

We are continuing to run the 3MT competition according to guidance from Vitae, and the rules set out by The University of Queensland. The process will be as follows:

• This competition is open to all current 'in progress' PGRs at any stage of their doctoral journey. MRes students and students on interruption are not eligible due to international rules.
• PGRs who wish to enter the competition should complete the  application form   by 5pm on Monday 27   May. Please note that we are unable to accept applications after this deadline. 
• Participants will be contacted for a timeslot to present their 3MT in-person to a panel of judges in an in-person event on Streatham Campus in Queens LT2, Queens Building, on Friday 14 June, 1-3pm.
• Participants will be asked to send their single PowerPoint slide to [email protected] by 3pm on Monday 3rd June.
• These live presentations will be judged by the judges in-person with the PowerPoint slides, who will independently score the presentations
• The scores will be combined and an average taken to identify our top three entries
• We will invite PGRs and staff to join us on campus to support our participants and enable the wider community to vote for a People’s Choice winner.

Training courses

Check out our Presentation skills for researchers course material on ELE for tips. We also have a blog post from the 2023 3 Minute Thesis winner Michael Schrauben , which contains some handy advice and the benefits of doing a 3 Minute Thesis presentation.

Registration for Three Minute Thesis 2024 will open on Monday 18 March , and will close at 5pm on Monday 27th May .

You will need to prepare a brief abstract (maximum 650 characters inc. spaces) for your presentation, which will need to go in your application form.

Three Minute Thesis Rules

Make sure you read the international 3MT® rules before applying:

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Conditions of entry

All entrants must be a current ‘in progress’ doctoral postgraduate researchers at the University of Exeter – MRes students and students on interruption, are not eligible due to international rules.

Three Minute Thesis Judging Criteria

Comprehension and content

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation - or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement and communication

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?

The head judge this year will be:

• Professor Stacey Hynd,  Dean of Postgraduate Research and the Doctoral College

The rest of the judging panel will be confirmed closer to the date.

3 Minute Thesis 2023

Our 2023 competition has now taken place and the winners were:

• 1 st  place -   Nell Hartney , Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy  -  Weather in a puddle: using simple models in forecasting research
• Joint second place –   Jamie Plaatjes , Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy - Circular Businesses Representing the Social Interests ; Belinda Li , Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences -  L2 Motivation, Career Choices, Gender
• 3 rd  place - Hind Sabah Bilal , Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences -  Representations of Women’s Agency in Iraqi Plays about War and Terrorism
• People's Choice Award :  Belinda Li , Faculty oF Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences - L2 Motivation, Career Choices, Gender

You can watch the 3MT event here .

3 Minute Thesis 2022

Our 2022 competition has now taken place and the winners were:

• 1 st  place -   Michael Schrauben , College of Medicine and Health - Harnessing Gene Editing tools to understand Alzheimer's Disease 
• Joint second place –  Fatma Sabet , College of Social Sciences and International Studies - Sustainable school meals in England: A realist evaluation;  Ollie Lewis , College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences - Measuring Humidity: Plane and Simple!
• 3 rd  place - William Rees , College of Humanities - Manifesting Decadence: How Nineteenth Century Decadence Shaped 1970s Disco Culture  

You can  watch all the presentations online now .

3 Minute Thesis 2021

Our 2021 winners were:

1st place-  Communities of Risk: Dealing with the Unpredictable in the Age of Sail - Jake Dyble

2nd place-  Stick to the status quo: How justifying the justice system affects juror verdicts - Maddy Millar

Joint 3rd place-  Remote sensing for heritage preservation and tracing possible archaeology- Israa Kadhim

Joint 3rd place-  Social Identity Switching - How effective is it and how much control do we have- Anna Zinn

People's Choice-  Communities of Risk: Dealing with the Unpredictable in the Age of Sail - Jake Dyble

3 Minutes Thesis 2020

Our 2020 winners can be found below:

1st place-  Jessica Hill- 'You've got Mail'

2nd place-  Shayma Alathari- 'Development and application of genomic tools for ISKNV outbreaks in tilapia: Giving Power to Farmers' 

3rd place-  Asqa Farooq- 'Fighting Fake News: How to save a generation from misinformation' 

People Choice Vote:

-  Paige Robinson- 'The gift of knowledge: Do the experience a fish have help their future generations deal with the world?

-  Jane Masoli- 'Blood pressure in older adults' 

You can view all the entries for this year's  competition here . 

3 Minutes Thesis 2019

Our 2019 prize winners are as follows:

• 1st Place – Jennifer Finlay (CLES) -  Cleaning up salmon farming with lumpfish
• 2nd Place – Hannah Meinertzhagen (CLES) -  How does wind affect seabirds?
• 3rd Place – Nina Van Volkinburg (UEBS) -  Disruption to Destruction: The Effects of Digital Disruption on the Value Creation Processes within the Fashion Industry
• People's Choice - Jennifer Finlay (CLES) -  Cleaning up salmon farming with lumpfish

Jennifer Finlay went on to represent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals.

3 Minute Thesis 2018

Our 2018 prize winners were as follows:

• 1 st  Place – Harriet Goodrich (CLES) –  Using integrative physiology to optimise diets for sustainable aquaculture
• 2 nd  Place – Joo Hou Ng (CLES) -  How willingness to adapt to British culture shapes international students’ experiences of, and performance within, different spaces on campus
• 3 rd  Place – Anne Blancflower (SSIS)  -  Kurdish cross-border, multi-party cooperation from the 1890s to the present

Harriet Goodrich went onto represent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals.

3 Minute Thesis 2017

Our 2017 prize winners were as follows:

• 1 st  Place –  Tim Gordon Marine Biology (CLES) –  Helping Nemo Find Home
• 2 nd  Place –  Holly East  Geography (CLES)  -  Maldivian Coral Reef Islands: A Drowning Nation ?
• 3 rd  Place -  Elisabeth Matthews  Astrophysics (CEMPS)  Through the Looking Glass

Tim Gordon went on to represent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals.

View our photos from the 2017 3 Minute Thesis competition here .  

3 Minute Thesis 2016

Our 2016 prize winners were as follows:

• 1st Place- Simon Dickinson Geography (CLES) - How is Welfare Constituted Post-disaster? Exploring Emergent Spaces of Public Action After the Christchurch (New Zealand) 2010-11 Earthquakes
• 2nd Place- Lauric Ferrat Mathematics (EMPS)-   Emulation of Mathematical Models to Study Epilepsy
• 3rd Place- Elisabeth Matthews- Astrophysics (EMPS)-   Using Telescopes and Rainbows to Take Photographs of Planets

Simon Dickinson went on to repsent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals. 

Three Minute Thesis

What is the three minute thesis.

Could you explain your doctoral research to a lay audience in just three minutes?

Our Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in 2024 will challenge doctoral candidates to present the complexities of their research in a clear, concise and accessible way to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. It celebrates the exciting research conducted by doctoral candidates across King's College London and gives them the opportunity to develop their academic, presentation, and research communication skills.

The rules are simple:

• explain your research to a non-specialist audience in three minutes
• you can only use one single static PowerPoint slide
• no props, sound, moving images, poems, raps, songs or mimes are allowed

The winner of the King's 3MT competition will progress through to the national competition, where they will be considered for a spot at the Vitae Three Minute Thesis UK finals.

Interested in taking part this year?  Find out more about how you can take part in this year’s King’s Three Minute Thesis competition on SkillsForge (PGR600) or by watching the recording of the 3MT Informational Webinar .

Three Minute Thesis 2023

• Winner and UK 3MT Semi-Finalist: Sean Maroney , Faculty of Arts & Humanities, 'Empathy and Understanding Our Own Emotions'
• Runner-Up: Hogan Wai , Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, 'The War for Bacterial Supremacy in Paediatric Eczema'
• People's Choice Award: Hannah Deasy , Faculty of Arts & Humanities, 'The Boy Chorister through his Voice'

Sean represented the university at the national 3MT competition and was selected as one of the twelve UK national semi-finalists.

You can watch all of our 2023 3MT finalists entries below.

Three Minute Thesis 2022

Winner and UK 3MT Finalist: Julia Fajardo-Sanchez , Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, 'Seeing the Whole Picture.'

Runner-up: Alex Martin , Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, 'The role of the father in reducing the risk of depression within families.'

Julia represented the university at the national 3MT competition and was selected as one of the six UK national finalists.

Read our blog post, King’s 3MT Grand Final 2022 , to learn more about the 2022 finalists and their advice for future participants. You can also watch the finalists presentations from this year and previous years below.

Three Minute Thesis 2021

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Researcher Hub

Three Minute Thesis

An 80,000 word PhD thesis would take nine hours to present. Your time limit... three minutes.

The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition was developed by the University of Queensland to celebrate the exciting research conducted by doctoral research students. Since the inaugural event at the University of Queensland in 2008 the popularity of the competition has reached truly global heights with 900 universities holding events across 85 countries.

In 2024, The Academy will host the competition to decide who will represent the University of Liverpool at the national 3MT competition run by  Vitae .

Why should I take part?

• Develop your presentation and public speaking skills
• Develop your research communication and public engagement skills
• Networking opportunities
• The winner will represent the University of Liverpool at the National Vitae 3MT competition
• Raise your own researcher profile
• Prizes to be won
• Watch the videos of the previous year's finalists and winner, and learn more about their work here . 

Competition rules

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs)
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final

Key dates and information

7th February 2024: 3MT Introductory Session (online)

The Academy Researcher Development team will provide a Three-Minute Thesis Introductory session online on 7th February 2024. This session will cover all aspects of the University of Liverpool competition process, including eligibility and how to enter. This session will be recorded and made available online for those who cannot attend live.

This session was recorded and as is available here .

25th March 2024: Three Minute Thesis workshop

Dr Jamie Gallagher, public engagement expert and former international 3MT winner, will provide a workshop on 25th March to help to prepare PGRs to enter the UoL 3MT competition. This workshop will offer guidance on presentation narrative, slide design, and presentation style. Book your place here .

Dr Jamie Gallagher has captured his top tips for producing a winning 3MT presentation in the following four videos:

• Rules and Judging

8th April 2024, 2pm: Deadline to submit entry video for faculty heats

See how to enter section (below) for more information and guidance.

Early May: Faculty winners announced

The winner of each faculty will receive a £50 voucher.

Mid-May 2024: 1:1 Individual coaching sessions for finalists

Each finalist will have 1:1 coaching session with Dr Jamie Gallagher, former international 3MT winner and public engagement expert.

19th June 2024: University of Liverpool 3MT Final  

This year the 3MT final will take place at the University's first ever PGR Development Conference.

Celebrate the exciting research conducted by postgraduate researchers at the University of Liverpool and watch the finalists battle it out to be crowned the 3MT® champion. The winner will receive the prize of a £100 voucher and will go on to represent the University at the national Vitae competition. 

Support our finalists and have your say on the day by voting for your favourite presentation for the people’s choice award, who will win a £100 voucher. 

Booking details coming soon.

June 2024: University of Liverpool Winner 3MT® enters national competition hosted by Vitae

How to enter

Find out how to enter the competition and eligibility requirements on our  How to enter page.

Frequently asked questions

Back to: Researcher Hub

Judges will be selected from a variety of academic and professional roles across the University of Liverpool.

Judging criteria*

At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question
• Presentation provided clear positionality of the presenter to the research and research approach
• Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
• Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research

Engagement and communication

• The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
• The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation
• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention

* Judging criteria set by the University of Queensland

Faculty Heats

Judges’ winner: £50 voucher

University of Liverpool Final

Judges’ winner: £100 voucher

People’s choice award: £100 voucher

The Academy Researcher Development team will provide a Three-Minute Thesis Introductory session online on 7th February 2024 . This session will cover all aspects of the University of Liverpool competition process, including eligibility and how to enter. This session will be recorded and made available online for those who cannot attend live.

Dr Jamie Gallagher, public engagement expert and former international 3MT winner will provide a workshop on the 25th March 2024 to help to prepare PGRs prepare their entry to the UoL 3MT competition. This workshop will offer guidance on presentation narrative, slide design, and presentation style.

External resources

How to prepare your 3MT - Competitor guide 3MT®, University of Queensland  

How to record your 3MT  – Video recording competitor guide 3MT®, University of Q

Is it worth doing the three minute thesis? - By Mary Woessner, Victoria University

How to win the 3 minute thesis - By Dr Inger Mewburn (aka @thesiswhisperer)

Making the most of your 3 minutes - Simon Clews, University of Melbourne

Talk nerdy to me  – Melissa Marshall’s TED talk

Presenting your research effectively and with confidence  - By previous 3MT finalists (Taylor & Francis resource)

How a competition changed my academic life  - By Jamie Khoo, 2018 UK People's Choice winner

3MT: Three Tips to Help You Prepare a Winning Presentation , Australian National University

The three most common 3MT mistakes  from the Australian National University

Watch winning 3-minute thesis presentations from around the world

Watch the 2022 Vitae UK 3MT® competition

The deadlines are there to enable us to meet the timeline for the national Vitae competition. Therefore, it is imperative for you to meet these deadlines for consideration in the competition.

If your viva will take place before the date of the university final you are not eligible to enter the competition.

There is no stipulated dress requirement such as ‘smart casual’. Some have worn suits with ties, others t-shirts and jeans. Please wear whatever is comfortable for you, although no costumes are allowed.

One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. In preparing the slide, remember that 'less is more'. It does not have to include text. Visual cues are very effective in assisting the presenter's explanation of their research (no slide transitions, animations, sound or 'movement' is permitted).

Quotes can be included from a poem or song if it is relevant to the presenter's thesis topic. Poetry and song lyrics are not permitted to be used to present the entire 3MT and their use should be very limited.

Yes, it is possible for you to win a place (first, second, etc.) and win the People’s Choice Award at the university finals.

The top 3 entries from each Faculty heat are expected progress to the next stage of the competition. If a Faculty finalist is unable to attend the university final, the next runner-up will proceed to the next round of the competition.

Yes, palm cards and/or speech notes are acceptable, however this option may detract from the delivery of the 3MT and is not recommended.

In total, there will be up to nine finalists that progress to the university final from the faculty heats. At the university final a judges’ first prize will be awarded alongside the people’s choice award. Only the overall judges’ winner will be entered into the Vitae national competition.

Please contact the Academy's Researcher Development team at  [email protected] .

We do not explicitly require your supervisors’ permission to enter this public engagement competition.

If your research is based across multiple faculties you will be given an option to select which faculty heat you would like to enter on the online registration form. You may only enter one faculty heat.

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Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) 2024

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• Supervisors

University of Manchester Three Minute Thesis Competition 2024

Once again the University of Manchester will be taking part in the national Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in 2024. Postgraduate Researchers from across the University are invited to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes only using one static PowerPoint slide.

In the UK, the 3MT national competition final is hosted by  Vitae.  Individual UK universities run their own competitions and put forward one winner per participating institution for the national finals. 

Why take part?

3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development to effectively explain research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

You will also have access to exclusive   3MT participant training  on 28th March 2024.

Also, don’t forget the prizes…

• Winner – £500
• Second prize – £250
• Third prize – £100

What are the rules?

The  rules  are simple:

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes (presentations exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified).
• 1 static slide is required to accompany the presentation.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.

All presentations will then be judged according to the same  3MT judging criteria . 

Am I eligible?

The competition is open to all active second to final year PhD candidates (including candidates in their submission pending period or whose thesis is under examination) by the date of the registration deadline (2nd April 2024). 

How do I register?

You have until Tuesday 2nd April to register. You can register using the  online form .

What is the timeline?

• Sign up for 3MT  online training session  on Thursday 28th March 2024.
• Complete the  registration form  for your expression of interest by Tuesday 2nd April 2024.
• Create your presentation slide and  film your presentation .
• Submit your final 3MT presentation / slide by Tuesday 23rd April 2024- please use  https://wetransfer.com/  (or similar) to email your video file and slide (either PDF or JPG) to  [email protected] . 
• Video Judging (Wednesday 24th April – Tuesday 7th May)
• Finalists announced – Tuesday 7th May
• Finalists training session with individual feedback – Tuesday 14th May.
• UoM Final Event – Wednesday 5th June, 2 – 5 pm, Zochonis Building Lecture Theatre A  
• National Final – September 2024 (date TBC)

Is there any guidance on how I should construct my slide and video?

Yes, we have created a  guide  to help you create your slide and video. There are also some useful external guides / resources that you might want to refer to:

Presenting your research effectively and with confidence  – By previous 3MT finalists (Taylor & Francis resource)

How a competition changed my academic life  – By Jamie Khoo, 2018 UK People’s Choice winner

Is it worth doing the three minute thesis?  – By Mary Woessner, Victoria University

How to win the 3 minute thesis  – By Dr Inger Mewburn (aka @thesiswhisperer)

Making the most of your 3 minutes  – Simon Clews, University of Melbourne

Talk nerdy to me  – Melissa Marshall’s TED talk

Vitae’s 3MT webpages

How to Talk About Your Thesis in 3 Minutes – The Thesis Whisperer

This presentation by the Dr. Inger Mewburn (aka the Thesis Whisperer), provides some useful insights and practical exercises to get thinking about you can present your own thesis to others in just 3 minutes.

We particularly like this top tip “ Is there a story that you can use to talk about your research? Better still – can this story make us feel emotionally involved? Sometimes good stories are behind why we are doing the research in the first place .”

https://prezi.com/jwhwyydfzqxo/how-to-talk-about-your-thesis-in-3-minutes/

3MT Student Handbook – The University of Queensland

This helpful guide (*) gives you low down on background to the competition, the rules, shared experiences from postgraduate researchers who have previously taken part in 3MT as well as top tips for writing, creating and practicing your presentation.

We particularly like this top tip for slide design: “ Less is more – Text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide rather than listen to your 3MT. “

Download the  3MT Student Handbook  (pdf)

Making the Most of your Three Minutes – Simon Clews, University of Melbourne

This practical guide will help you think about the development of your 3MT presentation in two key phases – pre-production and performance.

We particularly like this top tip “ Every good performance – even the most spontaneous looking ones – is the result of a great deal of careful preparation and an enormous amount of rehearsal. You’ve only got three minutes …. so make every second count .” Download the  Making the Most of your Three Minutes Guide  (pdf)

2021 Winners

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Three-minute thesis

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)   is a competition established by the University of Queensland in 2008 that has since spread to more than 600 universities across the world.

Could you explain your thesis in 180 seconds?

Doctoral students are challenged to condense their research into a talk of three minutes or less that is engaging, inspiring and entertaining for a non-specialist audience.

One static PowerPoint slide, no other resources or props, and a three-minute countdown timer.

Visit the official  3MT website  to learn more about the competition history and rules, gain valuable preparation tips, and check out videos.

The University of Surrey 3MT® competition 2023 is now open.

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the amazing research conducted by Postgraduate Researchers at Surrey.

PGRs from all faculties who have passed their confirmation milestone are invited to submit a three-minute video.

This professional research communication competition – originally founded by the University of Queensland – cultivates PGRs’ academic, presentation, and professional communication skills. Along with the opportunity to win prizes, it is an opportunity to raise the profile of your research and boost your career.

Additionally, you can use your 3MT® video:

-          On LinkedIn for professional networks and prospective employers to see.

-          On other social media (e.g. Twitter, TikTok, Instagram) as a means of communicating your research to your wider networks.

Zoom briefing session

To find out more about the competition, sign up HERE for our virtual briefing session on 27 th March 2023, 15.00-16.00 (UK time).

Training Workshops

To support the development of communication and presentation skills, knowledge of the competition and to help build confidence PGRs are invited to participate in one of the following virtual 3MT skills workshops:

-          Friday 14 th April, 10.00-12.00 (UK time).

-          Tuesday 18 th April, 14.00-16.00 (UK time).

These workshops are useful for skills development, even if you are unsure whether you want to participate in the competition, and there is no obligation to participate after attending the training. For full workshop details and to book your place, please log into  Surrey Self Service .

Submit your video

To submit your recording please complete the  3MT submission form   where you will be asked to upload your video file. The deadline for recorded 3MT submissions is Tuesday 2 nd May, 10am (UK time).

Finalists, winners and prizes

The Surrey 3MT Judges’ Choice Winner and the People’s Choice Winner will be announced at the  2023 PGR & ECR Research Conference, 15 th of June .

Six Surrey Finalists will each win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers and the overall Judges’ winner will win £100 voucher, with the Judges’ Runner up and the People’s Choice Winner each receiving £50 worth of vouchers.

The Judges’ Choice Winner will be entered into the national competition, coordinated by Vitae.

Watch a Three Minute Thesis

Three Minute Thesis

3MT ® is an international research communication competition in which graduate students explain their research to a general audience. Students in research-based master’s and PhD programs from all disciplines are eligible to compete, and prizes will be awarded to the winners.

2023-2024 Competition

Eleven students competed in the 2023-24 Three Minute Thesis ® final competition on February 16, 2024. To watch the winner’s recorded presentations, click on the title of their talks below.

First Place and People’s Choice Award: Rudy Dieudonne

Lighting, Noise & Behaviors

Second Place: Katie Ryan

Microbes vs Worms: Searching Nature for New Antiparasitic Compounds

Third Place: Kristen Kehl-Floberg

Getting the Signal: Brain fog and disability in Long COVID

What to expect when you compete in the 3MT:

Preparation (4 to 7 hours)

• Read the rules, requirements, and judging criteria
• Browse the resources in the Canvas site, which you’ll receive access to after registering
• View example presentations
• Attend or watch the video of the the Writing Center workshop “You’re Researching What? Crafting a 3-Minute Research Talk that Appeals to the Public” – available in Canvas (optional but encouraged)
• Meet with a DesignLab consultant (optional but encouraged)
• Create your slide, develop your presentation, and practice
• Divisional semi-finals

Additionally, the winner of the finals will travel to St. Louis to represent UW–Madison at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) regional 3MT ® competition in spring 2024.

For Competitors

• Requirements & rules
• Judging criteria
• Prize levels
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) is permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the judging panel is final.

At every level of the competition, each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question
• Presentation provided clear positionality* of the presenter to the research and research approach
• Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
• Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research

*Positionality is the social and political context that creates your identity in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability status. Positionality also describes how your identity influences, and potentially biases, your understanding of and outlook on the world.

Engagement and communication

• The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
• The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation
• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention

Semi-Final Winners: $100 each

• First place: $1,000
• Second place: $750
• Third place: $500
• People’s choice: $500

3MT Communication Badge

Graduate students participating in the 2023-24 3MT ® competition will be the first students eligible to earn the UW-Madison Graduate School’s 3MT Communication Badge .

Why earn a digital badge?

A badge demonstrates that you have gone above and beyond academic requirements to acquire specialized knowledge or expertise in a particular area. Badges serve as a visual representation of accomplishments, can enhance your resume or curriculum vitae, and showcase your achievements to prospective employers. Digital badges are easily shareable on social media, personal websites, and professional profiles.

How do I earn the 3MT ® Communication Badge?

All semi-finals participants will be evaluated by competition judges on their ability to adapt messages to meet the needs of diverse audiences, create graphics as a communication tool that enhances the message, and demonstrate competence in presentation skills. If judges determine that all of these learning objectives have been met, you will be eligible to earn the badge at no cost to you. Decisions about earning the badge are separate from the judges’ decisions about which competitors advance to finals. The Graduate School will provide additional information about badges.

The Three Minute Thesis ® Final Competition is presented by The Madison Chapter of Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) and the Graduate School Office of Professional Development.

Sponsorship and judging are provided by BioForward, Elephas, Promega, Stem Pharm, Thermo Fisher, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Science is Fun, and various individuals at UW–Madison.

Find your course

• Aston Graduate School

3MT - Graduate School

Three minute thesis (3mt).

An academic competition challenging doctoral researchers to present their research topic and its significance in just three minutes. 

About Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

3MT is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia . The competition challenges doctoral researchers to present their research and its significance in just 3 minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 

Aston Three Minute Thesis competition, run according to guidance from Vitae and the official 3MT rules set out by the University of Queensland, celebrates the exciting research conducted by our doctoral researchers at Aston University. 

Watch our doctoral researchers who competed in the 2023 internal Aston University competition below. 

Aston University Winners  

Aston 3MT Winner 

Diana Galiakhmetova - Dementia treatment by light. 

Diana reached the semi-finals of the national 3MT Competition organised by Vitae. 

People’s Choice Winner

Calum Upton - Chemotherapy with no side effects? 

People's Choice Runner Up 

Ayah Al-Rababah - Do cataracts affect perception of speed? 

Ben Dages - The future of food? How scaling production could bring cultivated meat to your local supermarket. 

Caroline Godfrey - The battle for English is metaphorical: A conflict hidden in plain sight.  

Daniel Addae - Paving the sustainable future with modified cold mix asphalt. 

Mohammed Alhumayzi - Factors affecting employees' acceptance of blockchain in HE institutions. 

Paul Jones - Moving from survive to thrive.

Rebecca Preston - The backbone of the primary classroom, our the humble English textbook. 

Sadri Shadabi - Let's take a journey to the Earth and bring back a low-carbon souvenir for others. 

Saira Hussain - 'Little' ears. 

Yuan Feng - How to get people to go green for home heating. 

Comprehension and content

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation - or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement and communication

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?

Physics Ph.D. candidate wins 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition

3/22/2024 By | Katya Hrichak , Cornell University Graduate School

“I want you to remember a time when you were in a setting where you felt like you didn’t belong. I want you to remember how you felt in that setting, maybe isolated or out of place, and how much you felt like you wanted to continue going back to that setting—probably not much. These feelings are all too familiar for undergraduate women pursuing their studies in science, and in physics specifically,” began Meagan Sundstrom, a doctoral candidate in physics at the ninth annual Cornell University Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

Alongside seven other finalists, Sundstrom presented her dissertation research in just three minutes on March 20 to a panel of judges and an audience from across campus while additional friends, family, advisors, and lab mates watched online. In the first in-person Cornell 3MT since 2019, presentations were judged by how clearly and compellingly students summarized their research to a general audience, using only one static slide.

Sundstrom’s presentation, “Recognizing and Removing Barriers for Women in Physics,” earned her first place and $1,500. Second place and $1,000 was awarded to information science doctoral student Sterling Williams-Ceci for her presentation, “AI Helps us Write – but at What Cost?”

After nearly 60 in-person and 70 virtual audience members cast their ballots, votes were tallied and the People’s Choice Award and $250 were presented to biomedical and biological sciences doctoral candidate Sharada Gopal for her presentation, “Worming Our Way to a Longer Life.”

This year’s judges included Jane Bunker, director of Cornell University Press; Joe Ellis, director of online degree program development at eCornell; David Lodge, the Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability; and Bob Riter, patient advocate for the Cornell Community Cancer Partnership. Organization of the competition and coaching of presenters was provided by the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development.

“As grad students, there are a lot of opportunities to give your elevator pitch at conferences and more professional settings to more senior people in your field, and I thought this would be a really cool opportunity for me to try to tailor that pitch to a more general audience—how would I describe my research to my family and friends?—so that was fun,” said Sundstrom.

Being able to “zoom out” and view her topic from a different perspective was also helpful for Sundstrom, who is currently writing her dissertation and appreciates having both formulated a storyline and thought about the broader impacts of her work.

Williams-Ceci similarly enjoyed the chance to speak to a different type of audience than she is used to addressing.

“I hadn’t really had an opportunity in grad school to try communicating to a broad audience, it’s always just to my lab, so I wanted to practice having a chance to really tell a story and not just go through the slides,” she said. “It really helped me know for a fact that I can tell a convincing story about a project that I’ve done.”

Gopal shared that the 3MT was a fun way to combine her longtime artistic interests with her science.

“It seemed like such a fun event. I did a lot of theatre in college so I thought, ‘What can I do artistically here?’ and this seemed like a good mix of my scientific interest and my artistic theatre interests,” she said, adding that she also benefitted from looking at the bigger picture of her work and its impacts.

The 3MT competition was first held in 2008 at the University of Queensland and has since been adopted by over 900 universities in over 85 countries. 3MT challenges research degree students to present a compelling story on their dissertation or thesis and its significance in just three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Cornell’s Graduate School first hosted a 3MT competition in 2015 and the event has grown steadily since that time. As the winner of Cornell’s competition, Sundstrom will now go on to compete in northeast regional competitions.

“Our Three Minute Thesis final round is a highlight of the year for those of us in the Graduate School—literally we talk about it all year long,” said Kathryn J. Boor, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education. “We look forward to it because it’s just plain fun, and it’s an opportunity for us to watch and learn from our accomplished and creative graduate researchers.”

“I could not possibly be more proud of the work we saw,” she said.

Read the story on the Cornell University Graduate School website.

Eight students advance to 3MT finals

Replica theory shows deep neural networks think alike

Choosing connection: Physics professor teaches Arab youth in Israel

Poised for Oscar gold, Oppenheimer boasts a Big Red distinction

Virtual competition

• Hold a 3MT competition Access resources to run a 3MT competition.
• Using the 3MT brand Request permission to use the 3MT brand.
• Virtual competition rules Learn more about the competition rules.
• Judging criteria and panel Find out how the 3MT competition is judged.
• Eligibility, progression and wildcard Who is eligible to participate? How do they progress?
• 3MT video recording competitor guide Fine-tune your 3MT video presentation
• Prizes Prizes are an important incentive for HDR candidates.

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https://www.vitae.ac.uk/events/three-minute-thesis-competition/3mt-2021/uk-3mt-competition-2021-process

This page has been reproduced from the Vitae website (www.vitae.ac.uk). Vitae is dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development.

• Vitae members' area

Vitae 3MT® competition 2021 process

In 2021, we will once again host the Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition , open to all  Vitae members  holding an institutional 3MT® competition for their own researchers by the end of June 2021.

Format for 3MT ®  2021

Single institutions or pairs/groups of institutions holding 3MT ®  competitions should conform to the rules set out by the University of Queensland at www.threeminutethesis.org .

• Each Vitae member institution needs to register their intention to hold a 3MT® competition with  Vitae . If your University has not previously held a 3MT® competition, please ensure you also register with the  University of Queensland .  It is important that the University of Queensland's revised criteria is applied to all 3MT ®  competitions . Vitae judges will be scoring using the revised criteria
• The 3MT® branding guidelines publicised by the University of Queensland should be followed on all web pages, printed and other materials associated with local competitions
• Our UK semi-final will be an online event
• Our UK final will be an online event, provisional date September 2021,  to be confirmed
• At the final, a judges’ choice winner and a people’s choice winner will be chosen
• The video entry to the semi-final should be provided to Vitae by 2nd July. It is advisable for you to have this ready by 25 June 2021
• The online semi-final will run during July and August  
• The six finalists will be announced by 20 August  
• The final will take place online. All six finalists will need to attend the online event and will present to event attendees.

Eligibility

• Doctoral candidates who have not yet had their viva at the time of the local competition will be eligible to enter this national competition
• Semi-final entries may be filmed during the local competition or separately
• The same rules apply to the online stage as apply to the live events (1 slide, no props, 3 minutes maximum etc)
• No individual entries to the online semi-finals are permitted. Semi-finalists must be winners of a local competition. Only a single winner per institution may be put forward to the Vitae competition.
• Details of how to enter the online semi-final will be publicised to all Vitae member institutions, online and details will be sent directly to those who express an interest in joining the 2021 competition
• Participating institutions should be prepared to cover expenses incurred by winners taking part in the nation-wide competition, such as travel and accommodation costs for the live final, if applicable

Contact us at [email protected] or call 01223 460277.

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News & Events

View the contact page for more contact and location information

Eight compete in Trinity’s Three-Minute Thesis competition final

Posted on: 22 March 2024

Eight speakers competed in the final event, which requires researchers to present their research, armed with just one slide, in a manner that makes sense to a non-specialist audience, and within a fixed time limit of three minutes.  

Rosie Giglia (below) from the School of Medicine was this week named the winner of Trinity’s annual Three-Minute Thesis competition, for a presentation about her research into Multiple Sclerosis. 

The runner-up at the event involving graduate research students from all faculties was Lamya Al Shuhaimi, from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, whose presentation was called: Enhancing Prescribing in Older Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. The People’s Choice award also went to Lamya Al Shuhaimi.  

In this time speakers must explain in an engaging manner the purpose of the research, outline what actions they took and the impact of their findings.  

Originally developed by the University of Queensland, the event is designed to support graduate research students in their development as confident research communicators.  

The judges at the final event were Dean of Graduate Studies Martine Smith, Prof. Brian Broderick and University Spokesperson Catherine O’Mahony. 

As chair of the judging panel, Prof. Brian Broderick paid tribute to all the finalists (pictured below) for the extraordinarily high standard of their work. 

In 2023, the winner of the Trinity Three-Minute Thesis event, Lianne Shanley, also won the first national Three-Minute Thesis competition. 

The competitors and their topics were as follows: 

Wai Qian Tham , School of Engineering: Enhanced Daylighting in Buildings for Occupants’ Health 

Lamya Al Shuhaimi , School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: Enhancing Prescribing in Older Adults with Intellectual Disabilities 

Clíodhna Daly , School of Biochemistry and Immunology: MRSA and the Host, An Encounter to Remember 

Anna Rosická , School of Psychology: Neureka! Brain Health Research in Your Pocket 

Rosie Giglia , School of Medicine: Unravelling Cognitive Dysfunction: Crafting New Tools for Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis 

Mark Lyons , School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: From Sword to Scalpel - Development of Orellanine as a Treatment for Kidney Cancer 

Sharon Chi Tak Lee , School of Psychology: Get it Right, From the Get-Go: A Digital Revolution in Precision Psychiatry 

Stephen Huws , School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies: Through the Stained Glass: How Art Illuminates Our Heritage. 

Media Contact:

Catherine O’Mahony | Media Relations | [email protected]

• Announcements
• In The News

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Davis College doctoral student wins second place at national pitch competition

Sindupa De Silva, doctoral student from the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, showed his savvy research communications skills at the Three-Minute Thesis Regional Competition in Greenville, South Carolina, by winning second place.

As the 2023 WVU 3MT Competition winner, De Silva represented WVU at the annual Conference of Southern Graduate Schools by participating in a two-day competition against 60 contestants who were all 3MT competition winners from East Coast schools.

The internationally renowned 3MT competition, founded by the University of Queensland in Australia, challenges doctoral students to present their dissertation research in just three minutes using a single PowerPoint slide. 

De Silva’s presentation, “Human Land-Use Practices and Their Impacts on Nature’s Kidneys,” focuses on how 30% of the world’s population — 2.2 billion people — do not have access to clean water, and how protecting wetland ecosystems globally can help protect the availability of clean water.

Betty Mei, program director for graduate student success in the Office of Graduate Education and Life , helped coach De Silva to perfect his pitch performance.

“It was my pleasure working with Sindupa ahead of the regional competition,” Mei said. “Competing with 3MT winners from over 60 universities is no easy task. I am so proud of Sindupa for giving his best performance yet to garner a second-place award.”

De Silva plans to continue pitching his research dissertation. Next up, he will compete at the Council of Graduate Schools Annual Conference’s 3MT competition in St. Louis later this fall. 

WVU holds the annual competition during Graduate Student Appreciation Week. This year, 10 finalists will compete for cash prizes beginning at 6 p.m. April 3 in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. The public is invited to attend the event and cast votes for their favorite presentation for the People’s Choice Award. 

For questions, contact Mei at [email protected].

Research on risks of excessive supplements wins three-minute thesis competition

Video research on risks of excessive supplements wins three-minute thesis competition.

• Duration 3:08

Ph.D. candidate Parisa Varshosaz won Laurentian University’s three-minute thesis competition describing her research on some supplements and their link to certain birth defects.

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