Three Minute Thesis Competition

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.

Competitors must explain their research and convince the judges and audience of its significance in no more than three minutes for a chance to win the $4,000 first place prize, $2,000 for the runner up, and $1,000 people’s choice prize. The winner of the UC Final will progress to the Asia-Pacific semi-final.

Please read the below information and resources carefully and attend the training opportunities to maximise your chances of success in this competition!

At the University of Canberra, competitors must present live and in person at both the heat and final competition stages. The University will create a video recording of each finalist’s presentation between the faculty heat and the university final. This video recording will be accessible on the UC 3MT 2024 competition webpage for:

• Public voting for the People’s Choice Award
• Submission UC Winner’s presentation to the University of Queensland for the Asia-Pacific Semi-Final stage

You can see examples of the 2023 pre-recorded presentation videos on the UC 3MT 2023 Competition webpage

UQ Resources

You’ll find a range of important guidelines and resources on the University of Queensland 3MT competitor guide webpage. We also encourage you to view past winning pitches and read the judging criteria and competition rules. 

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate Research (program composed of at least 2/3 research and eligible for RTP) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first virtual presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Graduates are not eligible.

Please Note: Students enrolled in any of the following programs, while welcome to participate in their Faculty Heat, are not eligible to progress to the UC Final or the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition:

• Masters by Research
• Professional Doctorate (less than 2/3 research)

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (in the case of pre-recorded presentations, timing does not include the 3MT title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
• A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute.
• For virtual presentations, the 3 minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
• 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.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
• Submissions via video format (only video link provided to Event Coordinators). Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.

Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT PowerPoint slide.

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 motivation, background and significance to the research question
• 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

People’s choice voting will open at 10am on Monday 19 August and close at midnight Sunday 8 September. Finalists and Faculty are encouraged to share the videos across their networks. These videos increase awareness of the range of research being undertaken at the University of Canberra.

The finalist with the highest number of unique votes at the end of the voting period will receive the people’s choice award and prize money at the UC Final.

• Thursday 12 September
• 5.30pm to 8.30pm
• 6 finalists will progress to the final from the Faculty heats
• Registrations to attend will open in August 2024

The University of Canberra 3MT Final will be an in-person only event and will held on campus. This event will include a networking reception. Along with the invited guest list there will be public tickets available. Registration to be part of the UC 3MT Final audience will open in August 2024.

There will be photography and videography at the event used for promotional purposes.

Finalists will have their video pitch professionally filmed in early August, along with a professional head shot taken for promotional use on the UC 3MT webpage and social media. This video will be used for people’s choice voting and will also be the video sent to University of Queensland for the Asia Pacific semi-final entry. 

View 3MT video recording guide

Prize money awarded at the UC 3MT Final will be through journal transfer to a cost-centre accessible to the individual prize winner. These funds may be used in the same manner as other HDR student funds, except that prize money must be acquitted in the year that is awarded. A candidate can nominate to receive their prize money either in the month following the UC Final OR in January the following year; this decision must be made no later than two weeks after the UC Final.