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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 3MT 2024 competition webpage for:

• Public voting for the People’s Choice Award
• Submission º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 3MT 2023 Competition webpage

UQ Resources

You’ll find a range of important guidelines and resources on the . 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ.

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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Final.

Faculty heats will run in June 2026, with the following combined formats: 

Faculties	Heat Date	Registrations Close
Combined Business, Government & Law + Education + Arts & Design Faculty Heat	Wed, 3 June 2026	Wed, 27 May 2026
Combined Health + Science & Technology Faculty Heat	Tue, 9 June 2026	Tue, 2 June 2026

3MT Training Day

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 · 12:30PM – 4:30PM

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Workshop – Preparing for the Faculty Heats

Presented by Professor Bernie Bissett

Planning to compete in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, or looking to strengthen your research presentation skills?

This interactive workshop is designed to support HDR candidates as they prepare for the 3MT Faculty Heats. Jess Gillan, Senior Coordinator (HDR Development), will begin the session with an overview of the 3MT competition, including the rules, structure, and what to expect throughout the 3MT process.

The workshop will then be led by Professor Bernie Bissett, an experienced 3MT trainer and judge. The session will focus on refining narrative structure, communicating complex research clearly to a non-specialist audience, and delivering a confident, engaging presentation within the strict three-minute format.

Participants will gain practical strategies to sharpen their message, improve clarity and impact, and present with confidence under time pressure. While the workshop is 3MT focused, the skills covered are valuable for any HDR student interested in communicating their research more effectively.

Presentation Run Through & Feedback Day

Tuesday, 26 May 2026 · 10:00AM – 1:30PM

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 3MT – Presentation Run Through and Feedback

Join us for a supportive and collaborative session designed to help you refine your Three Minute Thesis (3MT) presentation. This session provides an opportunity to practise delivering your talk to a live audience and receive constructive, peer-to-peer feedback. Participants will also engage in giving feedback to others, helping sharpen critical evaluation skills and deepen understanding of effective communication techniques. Faculty members and supervisors may also be invited to offer additional insights and guidance. Whether you're polishing your delivery or testing your narrative, this session is a valuable step in strengthening your presentation ahead of the competition.

Finalist Coaching

Friday, 3 July 2026 · 9:00AM – 1:30PM

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 3MT Coaching Session

This coaching session is designed for º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 3MT finalists as they prepare for the 3MT Final. Led by Professor Bernie Bissett, participants will receive expert guidance on refining their presentation, enhancing clarity, and strengthening audience engagement within the three-minute format.

Through targeted coaching and practical feedback, finalists will have the opportunity to polish their delivery, sharpen their key messages, and build confidence ahead of the competition. This session offers invaluable insights to help elevate presentations to a final-ready standard.

Finalists will be contacted directly. No booking required.

• Wednesday 26 August 2026
• 5.30pm to 8.30pm
• Eight finalists will progress to the University Final from the Faculty heats
• Registrations to attend will open in July 2026

The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 3MT Final will be an in-person only event held on campus. The event will include a networking reception. Along with the invited guest list, there will be public tickets available. Registration to be part of the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 3MT Final audience will open in July 2026.

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

Finalists will have their video pitch professionally filmed in August, along with a professional head shot taken for promotional use on the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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. 

Prize money awarded at the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Final OR in January the following year; this decision must be made no later than two weeks after the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Final.