Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) guidelines
Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland in 2008. Participants present their thesis work in a short presentation using a single slide. The competition challenges students to distill their research ideas and discoveries into a concise, compelling presentation that can be understood by a general, non-specialist audience.
The 2023 3MT will take place during the Graduate Research Symposium, March 6-8, 2023. GRS attendees will score the presentations and select a winner, who will move on to compete at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools on March 31 in Chicago, IL.
The submission period for the 2023 3MT is closed.
Eligibility
The competition is open to graduate students completing a thesis or a dissertation.
Rules
- Participants can use only one static PowerPoint slide. (No transitions, animations, or movement are allowed.)
- No additional electronic media are allowed.
- No props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, models, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to three minutes; competitors who exceed the time limit will be disqualified.
- Presentations must be spoken word. No poems, raps, or songs are allowed.
- Participants must deliver their remarks from the stage.
- Presentations are considered to have begun when participants begin speaking or moving.
- The winners of the 3MT competition at the GRS will be selected by popular vote and the decision will be final.
Judging
Presentations will be judged by the participating audience. Every member of the audience will vote for their top three presentations according to the criteria listed below. (Each audience member can vote only once for a specific competitor.) The scores from all audience members will be compiled to determine the winners.
Comprehension and content
- Did the presentation help the audience understand the research?
- Was the thesis topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience?
Engagement and communication
- Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
Awards
- First place - $1000 plus the registration fee to attend the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools competition
- Second place - $500 award
- Third place - $300 award
Resources
Tips
- 3MT Competitor Guide by The University of Queensland (2017)
- 3MT: The Three Most Common Mistakes, a video featuring Inger Mewburn, director of research training at Australian National University
- 3MT: Three Tips to Help You Prepare a Winning Presentation, video featuring Rosanna Stevens, 2014 winner of the Australian National University 3MT competition
- How to Talk about Your Thesis in Three Minutes, a Prezi presentation by Inger Mewburn (2012)
- Making the Most of Your Three Minutes, a guide by Simon Clews
- Winning Tips for Preparing a Three-Minute Thesis Presentation, video by Sean McGraw