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Three Minute Thesis Competition

   

3MT® at Memorial

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed in 2008 by The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. Research students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance. 3MT is not an exercise in trivialising research, but challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research findings so they can be presented concisely to a non-specialist audience. The competition helps cultivate students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills.

Each presentation is evaluated by a panel of judges who do not have specialized knowledge of the research topic. The judging panel typically includes faculty members, alumni, marketing and communications professionals, and community members from various sectors, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives. Presentations are evaluated based on two criteria: comprehension and content, as well as engagement and communication.

The goal of the competition is to convey your research within a strict three-minute timeframe using language that is accessible to a non-specialist audience, ensuring that anyone can clearly understand the essence of your Master’s or PhD research. Participation in the 3MT competition offers valuable practice in developing students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills, and strengthens their ability to explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) will organize two rounds of the annual 3MT® competition in 2026. In the first round, each school or faculty will be invited to nominate graduate students and submit recordings of their 3MT presentations by Friday, February 6, 2026. Based on the judging criteria, a selection of nominees will advance to the final round.

The final round will take place in person on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Memorial University’s St. John’s campus. Selected students will compete with one another by presenting their research to a non-specialist audience. The winner of the SGS 3MT® Competition will represent Memorial University at the Eastern Regional 3MT Competition, hosted by Saint Mary’s University on June 5, 2026.

For questions regarding the School of Graduate Studies Annual 3MT® Competition, please contact xw8080@mun.ca.

ABOUT THE EVENT

Final Round of the 3MT® Competition

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026

Time: 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. NST

Mode: In-person

Location: TBD

Each three-minute presentation will be followed by a two-minute break for judges’ evaluation. The first place, second place, and third place winners will be selected and announced following the final presentation.

Prizes:

  • First Prize: $500 & the opportunity to attend the Eastern Regional 3MT Competition, hosted by Saint Mary’s University on June 5, 2026.
  • Second Prize: $250
  • Third Prize: $100
WHY PARTICIPATE?

Why Participate in 3MT?

3MT is part of an effort to provide research students with an opportunity to develop their academic, presentation, and research communication skills. 

Skills Training for Research Students

The exercise develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills, while developing research students' ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Building Research Culture in Schools and Institutes

3MT provides a valuable opportunity for research students to come together, get to know one another, and talk about their research. It also provides a supportive environment in which Schools and Institutes can provide presentation skills training.

Building External Relations for the University

The first-place winner of Memorial’s 3MT competition, hosted by the School of Graduate Studies, will represent the university at a regional competition, offering an excellent opportunity for networking and professional development. Competitors will also benefit from increased visibility of their research within the university and the broader community.

Prizes

  • First Prize: $500 & the opportunity to attend the Eastern Regional 3MT Competition, hosted by Saint Mary’s University on June 5, 2026.
  • Second Prize: $250
  • Third Prize: $100
RULES AND REGULATIONS

Eligibility:

  • Presenters must be currently registered in a thesis-based Master’s program or an active PhD program at Memorial University.
  • PhD students who have defended but have not yet graduated are eligible.
  • Presentations must be based on research that is directly related to the student's graduate program thesis.
  • Presenters must agree to be recorded live and photographed, and to allow any recordings to be shared on the School of Graduate Studies’ social media channels.
  • Presenters should conduct their presentation in English.
  • Presenters must be available to present live on the day of the competition. To advance to the Eastern Regional Competition, the first prize winner from Memorial must also be available to present live at the Eastern Regional 3MT Competition.
  • Presenters must not have placed in the top 3 of a 3MT competition before.
  • Memorial's first-place winner must be a current student at the time of the Eastern Regional Competition to compete. If the winner is no longer a graduate student at that time, the second-place winner will advance instead.

Rules:

Student Presentations

  • All presentations are strictly limited to a maximum of three minutes. Competitors who exceed the three minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
  • Presenters must use language appropriate for a non-specialist audience, avoiding disciplinary jargon or unexplained acronyms.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted during the 3MT presentation.
  • Any cultural attire worn for reasons of identity or tradition is permitted.
  • Presentations must be delivered in spoken word and regular prose. Poems, raps, or songs are not permitted. Quotes can be included from a poem or song if it's 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.
  • The presenter is allowed to interact with the audience; however, this should be limited and rhetorical in nature, and must not break any of the 3MT rules (e.g., no props, only spoken word). For example, a student may ask the audience to “raise their right arm” while demonstrating how to do so and explaining the reason for it.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

PowerPoint Slide

  • One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations, embedded videos, audio, or 'movement' is permitted. The slide must be displayed from the beginning of the presentation and remain visible until its conclusion.
  • The design and content of the 3MT® slide are left to the discretion of the student.
  • All images used in the 3MT® slide must comply with Canadian copyright law.
  • The slide should be created with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
  • The School of Graduate Studies will provide an introductory slide including the graduate student’s name, graduate degree and program, supervisor, and 3MT® title.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted during the 3MT presentation.

Judging Criteria:

Comprehension & Content

  • The presentation provided clear motivation, background, and significance to the research question.
  • The presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research.
  • The presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes, and impact of the research.

Engagement & 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.
3MT HANDBOOK

3MT Handbook

Other Resources Include:

Crafting a Winning 3MT Presentation

Research/Thesis Writing Videos

FAQs

If you are interested in competing in the 3MT competition, below are some Frequently Asked Questions that will help you get started.

What is 3MT? Are there any examples of competitions?

The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) is a skills development activity that challenges research higher degree students to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in three minutes or less. You can visit the official Three Minute Thesis site to view videos from past competition winners at other universities.

I have participated in 3MT before. Can I participate again?

Yes, you are allowed to participate in the 3MT competition multiple times over the course of your candidature, provided that you have not previously placed in the top three of a 3MT competition. You are only allowed to participate once per year.

How long is each 3MT presentation?

Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding three minutes will be disqualified.

Who is eligible to compete in 3MT?

Presenters must be currently registered in a thesis-based Master’s program or an active PhD program at Memorial University. PhD students who have defended but have not yet graduated are eligible. Graduates are not eligible.

What is allowed on the presenter's 3MT PowerPoint slide?

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' of any kind are permitted).

Can the presenter use a presentation title in non-specialist language other than their thesis title to facilitate their presentation?

Yes, the presenter can, and it is recommended.

Does the presenter have to put their personal information on the slide for the judges' panel to identify them?

No. The organiser will prepare a “title slide” for each candidate, including the candidate’s name, faculty, degree registered, and the presentation title. This “title slide” will appear before his/her video and their own single slide is shown.

May the presenter include copywritten images on the slide? 

Yes, however, it is recommended that the presenter contact their university library for any copyright concerns or questions to confirm the use of copywritten content.

Can sound or video be used during a presentation?

No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) is permitted during a 3MT presentation.

Can additional props be used during a presentation?

No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted during a 3MT presentation.

Can I use palm cards or notes during my presentation?

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

While presenters can't deliver their 3MT as a poem or song, can they quote from a poem or song?

Yes, quotes can be included from a poem or song if it's 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.

Can the presenter have interactions with the audience?

For example, if a student, during their presentation, asked the audience to “raise their right arm” while demonstrating how to do so, and explaining the reason for doing so, is that allowable in the competition?

Yes, the presenter is allowed to interact with the audience. This should be limited and rhetorical in nature and not break any of the 3MT rules (e.g., no props, only spoken word)

Is there a dress code?

There is no specific dress requirement, such as 'smart casual'. Some participants have worn suits with ties, while others have opted for t-shirts and jeans. Please wear whatever is comfortable for you; however, COSTUMES (including hats, masks, Dame Edna glasses, etc.) are not permitted.

What happens if I cannot attend the final?

The first-prize winner of the 3MT competition, hosted by the School of Graduate Studies, is expected to represent Memorial University's St. John’s campus at the next level of the competition. Should the winner be unable to attend, the second-prize winner will advance to the subsequent round of the 3MT competition.

Who do I contact to discuss my interest in the 3MT competition?

The School of Graduate Studies will be able to assist you and answer any additional 3MT questions that you may have. Please email xw8080@mun.ca.

 Previous Winners:

 

 

 

 

 

 3MT® resources on this website have been generously provided by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.