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Three Minute Thesis Competition

The competition

The 3MT competition challenges doctoral students to consolidate their ideas and research discovery into a brief, captivating presentation. You’ll have three minutes and one static slide to explain the impact of your work to a general audience.

Key Benefits

  • Skill Development: Build confidence in academic presentation and public communication.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Networking: Connect with research staff and peers from every faculty.
  • National Recognition: Our overall winner will be recorded after the event for entry into the national Vitae 3MT UK Competition.

Live Event: All contestants will present in person on the day of the competition.

Single Slide: Presentations are limited to one single, static slide (no extra media or props allowed).

Clear Language: Presentations must be aimed at a non-specialist audience.

Three Minute Thesis competition logo

What are the rules?

  • 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.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.

Read the FAQ for competitors

Read the competitor guide

Read the judging criteria

How to register, help and deadlines

How to register?

Complete the Three Minute Thesis competition registration form

Important dates:

  • Master Your 3-Minute Thesis: Live Online Workshop! Wednesday 19 May, 11:00 - 13:00 (online via zoom) 

 Want to nail your 3MT presentation? Join expert coach Priscilla Leigh for an interactive online masterclass on turning complex research into a winning 3-minute story.

What you'll master: 

  • Ditch the Jargon: Explain big ideas simply for a lay audience.
  • Slide Impact: Create one powerful, clutter-free slide.
  • Script the Gold: Find your core message and deliver it with punch.
  • Beat the Nerves: Build bulletproof confidence with tips from a pro.

Turn your research into a masterpiece. Reserve your spot today!

Register for the 3MT live online workshop

  • Monday 7 June: Deadline for submitting your slide
  • Wednesday 16 June 2027 
    • All presentations will take place from 11:00am in JHB 401. After the presentations are finished, the judges will gather and deliberate for prizes.
    • Prize ceremony and networking lunch will take place in JHB 402.
    • There are cash prizes for the winner, runner up and people's choice.
    • The winner will be sent to the Vitae 3MT competition, a UK-wide annual event.
    • If you prefer not to present at this time, but would like to support your peers, please join us on the day.

Useful resources

Register to present your research in 3 minutes

Videos from UK Vitae

Tips and hints from finalists

Past competitions

2026 winners

student with certificate and judges
Winner
student with certificate and judges
Runner Up
Student with certificate and judges
People's Choice Award

History

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia in 2008. By 2011, there were more than 900 countries worldwide holding these competitions. In 2020, 3MT moved to a temporary virtual format due to COVID-19 and continued to be held around the world in either a virtual or a live format.

At Oxford Brookes University, we started holding 3MT competitions at Faculty level before COVID-19.

In 2022, we held a multi-faculty virtual competition with fourteen research students presenting their thesis in a 3 minute video. Since then we have continued running this event every year.

Since 2025 all presentations are now live in the room, with exceptions for special circumstances.

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