Three Minute Thesis

About

The 2024 competition has now closed.

An 80,000 word thesis would take 9 hours to present.

Your time limit…3 minutes!

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a National competition for postgraduate research students, run by research organisation Vitae. 3MT® challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes. The first 3MT® was held at The University of Queensland in Australia in 2008, and has been nationwide in the UK by Vitae since 2014. More information about the history of 3MT® can be found on the Vitae and 3MT® websites.

We are continuing to run the 3MT competition according to guidance from Vitae, and the rules set out by The University of Queensland. The process will be as follows:

• This competition is open to all current 'in progress' PGRs at any stage of their doctoral journey. MRes students and students on interruption are not eligible due to international rules.
• PGRs who wish to enter the competition should complete the application form by 5pm on Monday 27 May. Please note that we are unable to accept applications after this deadline. 
• Participants will be contacted for a timeslot to present their 3MT in-person to a panel of judges in an in-person event on Streatham Campus in Queens LT2, Queens Building, on Friday 14 June, 1-3pm.
• Participants will be asked to send their single PowerPoint slide to researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk by 3pm on Monday 3rd June.
• These live presentations will be judged by the judges in-person with the PowerPoint slides, who will independently score the presentations
• The scores will be combined and an average taken to identify our top three entries
• We will invite PGRs and staff to join us on campus to support our participants and enable the wider community to vote for a People’s Choice winner.

The prizes for this year's competition are as follows:

• 1st prize £100 voucher
• 2nd prize £75 voucher
• 3rd prize £50 voucher
• People's Choice winner £50 voucher

Training courses

Check out our Presentation skills for researchers course material on ELE for tips. We also have a blog post from the 2023 3 Minute Thesis winner Michael Schrauben, which contains some handy advice and the benefits of doing a 3 Minute Thesis presentation.

How to Apply

The 2024 competition has now closed.

Registration for Three Minute Thesis 2024 opened on Monday 18 March 2024, and closed at 5pm on Monday 27th May 2024.

You will need to prepare a brief abstract (maximum 650 characters inc. spaces) for your presentation, which will need to go in your application form.

Three Minute Thesis Rules

Make sure you read the international 3MT® rules before applying:

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
• 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 to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Conditions of entry

All entrants must be a current ‘in progress’ doctoral postgraduate researchers at the University of Exeter – MRes students and students on interruption, are not eligible due to international rules.

Judging

Three Minute Thesis Judging Criteria

Comprehension and content

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation - or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement and communication

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?

The judging panel in 2024 was:

• Professor Stacey Hynd, Dean of Postgraduate Research and the Doctoral College (Head Judge)
• Professor Kate Ellacott, Faculty Director of PGR for Health and Life Sciences
• Professor Jon Blount, Faculty Director of PGR for Environment, Science and Economy
• Dr Chris Wood, Head of Researcher Development and Research Culture