Three Minute Thesis

An 80,000 word PhD thesis would take 9 hours to present.
Your time limit... 3 minutes.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy students. 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, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

This will be a hybrid event, held on campus and via zoom with live presentations. All faculties will present on the same day and the presentation times will be released closer to the event. 

When: Thursday, 14 May 2026 from 10:00am
Where: Lewis Lecture Theatre and Zoom

The following prizes will be up for grabs for each faculty:
1st prize: $800
2nd prize: $500
3rd prize: $300

Eligibility

We encourage all Higher Degree Research candidates to take part in our university competition, however only candidates doing a PhD who have competed their Confirmation of Candidature will be able to take part in the University of Queensland Asia-Pacific Semi-Finals Competition. See the University of Queensland 3MT website for more information about eligibility.

2026 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition

The Winner of the University Final will advance to the Asia-Pacific Competition. The Semi-Finals will be held Monday 21 September and the Final will be held Wednesday 14 October. You can find more information on the University of Queensland 3MT website.

2025 UNE Competition

To watch our 2025 finalist videos, click HERE.

Riya Thapa from the School of Science and Technology was the overall winner of the University of New England 3MT final competition, and her video was submitted to the University of Queensland to take part in the UQ 3MT Semi-Final Showcase.

New England Award

With your participation in the Three Minute Thesis Competition, you can claim your contribution towards your New England Award. If you are new to the New England Award, sign up today at; https://my.une.edu.au/mynea/.

Visit the New England Award website for more information.

3MT Slide and Presentations

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) celebrates the exciting research conducted by research candidates. The exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.

The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research and its significance in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

  • 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 (timing does not include the 3MT title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking).
  • A single static slide is permitted in the presentation. This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ for a maximum of 1 minute.
  • No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted.
  • 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.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
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 the audience. For more information, please see the UQ 3MT Webpage

Comprehension and content
  • Presentation provided clear 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

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

FAQ for competitors can be found on the UQ website at Frequently Asked Questions

To watch past competition winners from around the world visit https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/watch-3mt

Please email une3mt@une.edu.au if you have any questions.