THE 3MT COMPETITION

Calling all graduate research students! Are you up for the challenge? The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.

Present your research topic and its significance in three minutes, using just one slide.
Test your academic, presentation, and research communication skills.
Succinctly communicate your research to a wide variety of audiences, both academic and non-academic.

Eligibility Requirements Submit Competition Entry

Information Sessions

Students interested in entering the 3MT Competition are invited to attend an information session for general guidance on what to expect throughout the competition, eligibility, and how to craft a competitive entry.

Friday, December 12
Noon | Zoom

Thursday, January 15
4 p.m. | Zoom

WHY ENTER?

Get out of your comfort zone, rise to the challenge, and gain valuable experience that will help you grow personally and professionally.

Master the skill of concisely pitching your academic research to get a leg up on job interviews, networking, and presenting to venture capitalists or grant funding agencies.
Enhance your online reputation, CV, and resume.
Win prize money!

About the 3MT International Organization

WHAT TO EXPECT: 3MT TIMELINE

Submit your entry to the competition by Sunday, Feb. 8 at 11:59 pm. The video should cover:

What are you researching?
Why are you researching this topic?
What are the values or outcomes of your research?

Your video will be reviewed by at least three judges.

The 3MT Steering Committee will select the finalists who will compete in the Grand Finale on Tuesday, Apr. 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. The finalists will be announced by early March and will receive coaching prior to the Grand Finale.

This competition abides by the international 3MT rules and judging criteria, and uses the 3MT Competition Judging Rubric.

2026 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Coming soon!

GRAND FINALE PRIZES

Prizes are awarded as “cash prizes” and disbursed in check form without any obligation for future work or service.

First Place

$1,000

Second Place

$750

Third Place

$500

People’s Choice

$250

All Other Grand Finale Finalists

$100

*The IRS may consider these prizes "taxable income." Audience members who attend the final competition will be invited to cast a single vote to select the candidate who they believe best communicated their area of research to the audience. If the People’s Choice Award is also a grand finale winner, the cash prize will be added to their corresponding prize.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

You must be enrolled in a doctoral program for a minimum of 1 credit hour and have completed enough dissertation work to present some preliminary results by the submission deadline. By the same deadline, make sure that your adviser has completed the Advisor Agreement Form acknowledging the aforementioned statement and that the presentation consists of original research conducted by the student and not the work of the research team.
You must be available on the designated competition date to participate in the finale if selected as a finalist. The grand finale will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 6 p.m.
You must be in good academic standing within your program.
You must obtain permission from your academic adviser or committee chair to enter the 3MT competition.
You must obtain permission from any research collaborators if the research you plan to present incorporates the ideas or work of others.
Your presentation should take into account intellectual property issues. (If research content is embargoed or sensitive, the presentation will need to be structured to avoid compromising any future research or any other sensitive information).
All final presentations will be open to the public and published online.
By entering the contest, you must agree to allow the Office of Graduate Education and Life to use photographs and/or video from the competition in publicity surrounding the contest and/or in other contexts, such as websites, promotional materials, etc.

3MT GRAND FINALE COMPETITION RULES

A single, static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations, or movements of any kind are allowed. The slide is to be on display throughout the presentation.

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; competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified. 
Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, raps, or songs).
Presentations will begin when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.

The decision of the judges panel is final.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Judges will rate each presentation in the following categories: 

Comprehension
- Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
- Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes (or expected outcomes)?
- Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
Engagement
- Did the presentation make the audience want to know more?
- Was the presenter careful not to over-generalize their research?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
- Did the presenter capture and maintain the audience's attention?
Communication
- Was the research topic, including key results, significance, and outcomes, communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
- Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology, and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
- Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact, and vocal range; maintain a steady pace; and have a confident stance?
- Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of the presentation - or did they elaborate too long on one aspect or rush the presentation?
- Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?