Three Minute Thesis Competition
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland. Graduate students have just three minutes to present a compelling oration on their research and its significance to a non-specialist audience.
3MT at Texas A&M University
3MT season represents a prime professional development opportunity for graduate students. Participating can help students sharpen their research focus, improve their research communications skills, and perfect their elevator pitch while competing for up to $1,500 in prize money.
Eligibility, Rules and Awards
Currently enrolled Texas A&M master's and doctoral students, IN ALL DISCIPLINES, who are engaged in original research are eligible to participate in 3MT™. Presentations must focus on research students are conducting or have conducted during their current degree program, either by the student individually or as a part of a research team. The research must be at a stage where findings, preliminary conclusions, and broader impacts can be discussed.
A minimum of 5 competitors are required for each competition category. In the event that this threshold is not met OR the top competitors in the category have scores lower than the average of ALL competitor scores, the competitor category will not be held. The top 7-10 competitors overall will advance to the Finals.
Click here for information on the 2024-2025 3MT Competition Season, including development sessions, feedback sessions and how to register for the Preliminary Competition
3MT competitors get three minutes to present their research to a general audience, using just one visual slide.
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified. Note: a timer will be visible to the presenter and will chime when time is up. Speaking after the chime results in an automatic disqualification.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (no poems, raps, or songs).
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech.
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement’) and is to be presented from the beginning of the oration. Please make sure that you have copyright permissions for any imagery used on your slide.
- No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment, scripts, or teleprompters) are permitted.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Comprehension and Content
- Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question.
- Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research.
- Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research.
Engagement and Communication
- The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience.
- The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation.
- The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.
Doctoral Division
| Doctoral Winner | $1,000 |
| Doctoral Runner Up | $500 |
| Doctoral People's Choice | $500 |
Master's Division
| Master's Winner | $1,000 |
| Master's Runner Up | $500 |
| Master's People's Choice | $500 |
A minimum of 5 competitors are required for each competition division. In the event that this threshold is not met OR the top competitors in the category have scores lower than the average of ALL competitor scores, the Finals for that competitor division will not be held. The top 7-10 competitors overall will advance to the Finals.
All competitors who advance to the Finals receive a $100 scholarship to their student account.
Attend Development Sessions and Feedback Sessions hosted by the Graduate and Professional School, Center for Teaching Excellence - English Language Proficiency Program, and University Writing Center.
Prepare your script
- Write for your audience, the general public (not a technical audience)
- Remove jargon or at least clearly explain it
- Tell a story
- Sell why it's important. How does your research impact society? Why should anyone care?
Prepare your slide
- Less is more! In general, the most successful competitors have had a single image on their slide.
- The slide isn't delivering your message, you are. Use the slide the emphasize a point or the main take away
Your 3MT presentation
- Practice, practice, practice and get feedback!
- Watch example 3MT presentations - search 3MT on the Grad School Youtubepage.
- View an archive of presentations, sorted by student, competition year, and department here.
- Check out tips from Namgyun Kim, Texas A&M's 2021 winner and finalist at the Council of Southern Graduate Schools' 3MT regional competition, in the video below.
Earning Credit for the GRAD Aggies Professional Development Certificate
Since participation in the 3MT competition provides a valuable high-impact practice in developing students' research communication skills, 3MT is part of the Graduate Resources and Development for Aggies (GRAD Aggies) professional development program. Students who participate in any of the development sessions are eligible to earn 1 PDU towards a GRAD Aggies Professional Development Certificate upon completing the event reflections for the development sessions.
Find out more about GRAD Aggies