Three Minute Thesis

Attention all aspiring researchers! Are you ready to take your presentation skills to the next level and make your research accessible to a wider audience?

The Graduate Research School's 3MT training program, has been designed to help you prepare for the Three Minute Thesis competition. This unique opportunity will equip you with the essential skills to captivate a general audience, refine your writing abilities, and master the art of delivering a compelling online presentation. All available via self-paced videos

CLICK HERE to participate in this online training.

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.

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.