Three Minute Thesis competition
The annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges competitors to be clear, compelling, and, above all, concise as they deliver a spoken presentation on their research topic in a mere 180 seconds with one static slide. The semi-final and final are in-person competitions, with an audience and judging panel.
Information sessions
We thoroughly recommend that you attend at least one or two of the three information sessions which will be available for you to attend either in-person or online before bookings for the try-outs open (links to sign up are in the table below). This will enable you to be fully informed about how to successfully take part in the competition.
Hybrid Try-outs
You will be able to book a 30-minute slot between 11 am and 3 pm, where you will have the opportunity to give your presentation alongside a small group of fellow applicants at our Try-outs on Friday 27 March. This session will not have an audience besides the small panel of selectors. Slots are bookable on a first-come, first-served basis. Some online slots will be available. Competition rules (see below) will be in effect. You will be notified after the session whether you will progress to the semi-final. All participants will receive constructive feedback on their presentations.
Dates for the 2026 competition
| Date | Session | Location | Time | Format | Booking link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 4 February | Insider's Guide to 3MT | PGR Hub | 2 to 3:30 pm | Hybrid | |
| Thursday 5 March | Presenting your Research | 10 to 1 pm | Online | Online | |
| Tuesday 10 March | 3MT Presentation Skills | PGR Hub | 10 to 1 pm | Hybrid | |
| Tuesday 10 to Tuesday 24 March | Bookings for try-out slots open | 9 am on 10 March to midnight 24 March |
Hybrid |
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| Wednesday 25 March | Deadline to email copy of slide | Midnight | bdc-engagement@bristol.ac.uk | ||
| Friday 27 March | 3MT Try-outs | PGR Hub | 11 am to 3 pm | Hybrid |
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| Friday 24 April | Semi-final | PGR Hub | 11 am to 1 pm | In-person |
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| Wednesday 6 May | Rehearsals with Piero Vitelli | Arts Complex B.H05 LT | Slots between 10 am and 1 pm | In-person |
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| Wednesday 13 May | Final | Arts Complex B.H05 LT | 3 to 4:30 pm | In-person |
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Prizes:
- Winner, £250 Love2Shop voucher plus entry into national Vitae & European Coimbra Three Minute Thesis competitions
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Runner-up, £75 Love2Shop voucher
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People's Choice Award, £75 Love2Shop voucher
About Three Minute Thesis
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.
Find out more about its origins on the Three Minute Thesis website.
FAQs
The following information is from the official 3MT handbook provided by the University of Queensland, However, if you want to ask a question that isn’t covered, please email bdc-engagement@bristol.ac.uk.
The University of Queensland's official 3MT guidance states that you're eligible if you're an active PhD or Professional Doctorate (Research) candidate who has successfully passed your confirmation milestone by the date of your first presentation. (This includes candidates whose thesis is under submission.) Graduates and MRes students are not eligible.
In practice, this means you'll be eligible to take part in our 3MT contest if you're undertaking one of the following research degrees:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Educational Psychology (DEdPsy)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Social Science (DSocSci)
- Engineering Doctorate (EngD)
If you have any questions about eligibility, please email bdc-engagement@bristol.ac.uk.
The official rules, as outlined by the University of Queensland, are as follows:
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) is permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations are to commence from the stage.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
- The decision of the judging panel is final.
2025 3MT winners
3MT Winner, Oroosa Anwar (English PhD), Archives of Dreams, Desires, and Selfhood
3MT Runner-up and winner of People's Choice Award, Shaiful Hakim Bin Mohamed Noor (Aerospace Engineering PhD), Tiny Twists, Big Impacts: The Hidden Power of Vortex Generators