The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. It is an exciting, fast-paced event that is held annually in more than 900 universities in 85 countries.
This entertaining event gives thesis students the chance to present their research to a large audience while competing for a number of generous prizes. The presentation must be no more than three minutes, incorporating only one static PowerPoint slide. The overall University of Canterbury Doctoral winner will then go on to participate in the online Asia-Pacific 3MT® final.
First Place: $3000 research grant
Second Place: $1500 research grant
Third Place: $750 research grant
Peoples Choice award: $500 research grant
The top PhD candidate will represent UC at the Asia-Pacific virtual event finals (hosted by the University of Queensland). Note this will be a recorded submission but support will be provided around recording.
The competition is open to:
Master's Research Students who are currently enrolled in a thesis (90 points or greater).
PhD candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Must be currently enrolled in the thesis.
Pre-confirmation doctoral candidates who are active in program are still eligible to participate in the UC 3MT competition for the first round of their relevant competition (Department or Faculty) but cannot advance to the second round or the UC 3MT Final."
UC Thesis Master's and Doctoral students must communicate their research in no more than three minutes, with the help of only one static title slide, with the presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience.
Title Slide: All entries will need to include a static title slide, check with your Department Coordinator about these requirements or download the standard 3MT title slide here: https://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/mod/resource/view.php?id=3653305 (clicking this link will download the file directly to your device).
We are excited to announce that this year we will be hosting a live finals event once more!
Each Faculty runs its own 3MT heats, with the heat finalists progressing to the 3MT finals held at the Research Student Showcase Event. The best doctoral entry will represent UC at the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition on 30 October 2024 (virtual event).
Faculty heats information including entry links below:
Business Heats | Thursday 4 July | 12-1.30pm Meremere 236
Arts Heats | Thurs 25th July
Science Heats:
- Biological Sciences - Register now
- Chemistry & Physics (School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Friday 12 July 11am in Beatrice Tinsley 112)- Register now
- Psychology, Speech and Hearing (Wed 17th July, Psychology Building) Register now
- Earth and Environment (Thurs 18th July 4pm, ER263 Register now
Engineering Heats:
- Mechanical Engineering (Wed 10th July, 3pm, F1) Register now
- Human Interface Technology Laboratory Register now
- Chemical and Process Engineering (CAPE) - Register now
- Civil and Natural Resources Engineering- Register now
- Computer Science and Software Engineering- Register now
- Mathematics and Statistics (Friday 12 July 10am, Jack Erskine 445)- Register now
- School of Product Design- Register now
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (Friday 12 July 2pm, Link 309)- Register now
- School of Forestry (Thursday 27 June 1pm in F1) - Register now
Law Heats | Fri 26th July | venue tbc
Education Heats | Friday 26 July, 4pm | Rehua 429
Health Heats | Tuesday, 30 July 2024, 4pm | Rehua 002
3 Minute Thesis Workshop: Presenting your Research to Lay Audiences
Get tips about what makes a good 3MT presentation and to enhance your personal presentation skills.
Technical Support from the Academic Skills Centre
For students who are new to public speaking you might find it helpful to attend the Academic Skills Centre workshop on 'Giving an Oral Presentation', or you can review the resources from this workshop here: Giving an Oral Presentation - Academic Skills Centre
For students who would like feedback on a preliminary/draft recording before they make their final submission, the Academic Skills Centre can provide honest and constructive feedback on how well you have met the UC Final 3MT Judging Criteria. Please email academicskills@canterbury.ac.nz or phone 03 369 3900 and ask for a “quick query” with either Julie or Jessi.
Previous Competitions
UC 3MT winners & finalists 2023
1st Place - Henry Hoult
Mt Taranaki has a plumbing problem
2nd Place - Gladys Tan
Does the amount of citric acid matter?
3rd Place - Kate Wislang
What are you not seeing?
Sam Brett
Local Narratives of Climate in Response to Policy Consultation
Peiman Pishyar-Dehkordi
Multi-sensory Perception of Sound Sequences in Languages
Phoebe Eggleton
Defining exposure to the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (2010-11)
Victoria Leggett
Happy and you know it?
John Paul Smith
Authentic Engagement with Rainbow Communities in Social Marketing
Elyse Gagnon
You can’t be playing the woman card, stories of menstruation within the NZ Army
Juliet Robertson
Circular Supply Chains: Enhancing Consumer Engagement
Nicholas Lam
Reducing modelling uncertainty - Can we improve the precision of diabetes diagnostics?
Tina Yee
Reconceptualizing and Reforming New Zealand’s Deportation Law
