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 Doctoral candidate will represent UC at the Asia-Pacific virtual event finals (hosted by the University of Queensland). Note this will be a recorded submission and 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).
Doctoral Candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidate whose thesis is under examination) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in the 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Graduates are not eligible.
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 Master's and Doctoral Thesis 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 to a non-specialist audience.
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 Wednesday 15th October 2025 (virtual event).
We are excited to announce that this year we will be hosting a live finals event once more!
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).
Arts
| Department | Heats | Registration info | Coordinator contact |
| Thurs, 17th July | Enter now | Maria Hellstrom |
Business
Education
| Department | Heats | Registration info | Coordinator contact |
| 11th July, 11.30am - 1.30pm | Email coordinator | Shweta Sharma |
Engineering
| Department | Heats | Registration info | Coordinator contact |
Heats: Monday 7th July, 2-5pm, E9 Faculty Final: Fri 18th July, 5:30-7:30pm, E9 | Enter now | (General enquiries) | |
(Registration enquiries) | |||
(Workshop enquiries) |
Health
| Department | Heats | Regisrtration info | Coordinator contact |
| Mon 14th July, from 4pm, Rehua 002 | To register email 3MT PowerPoint slide to SHSSadmin by Tues 1 July | Michael Tarren-Sweeney |
Law
| Department | Heats | Registration info | Coordinator contact |
| Fri, 25th July | Email Prof. Natalie Baird with your name and topic | Natalie Baird |
Science
| Department | Heats | Registration info | Coordinator contact |
| Faculty Final: Tues 15th July | You will need to participate in your Department Heat first | Marc Harris | |
| Biological Sciences | tbc | Email coordinator | Hazel Chapman |
| Physics & Chemistry | Mon 23rd June, 1-2pm | Email coordinator | Daniel Sando |
| Psychology | 27th June, 2-4pm, Psychology-Sociology rm 252 | Enter now | Andrew Vonasch |
| Speech and Hearing | tbc | Email coordinator | Maggie Lee-Huckabee |
| Earth and Environment | Tues 8th July, 1-3pm, Ernest Rutherford 263 | Email Bridget Ginley with your name and topic | Leanne Morgan |
Workshops & resources to support participants
Technical Support from the 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.
2024 3MT Competition Winners
1st Place - Brittany Ogden-Travis
Listening to Children in Aotearoa
2nd Place - Chris Kelly
Measuring Problematic Media Use in Children
3rd Place - Megan Eustace
Rongoā reo: Supporting Communication for Māori with Dementia
Previous Competitions
See who came 1st, 2nd and third place in past competitions, and view presentations of all finalists
