An 80,000-word thesis would take 9 hours to present. Their time limit....3 minutes
What is the 3MT®
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) which challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research discoveries and present them to a non-specialist audience in under 3 minutes. The concept has developed rapidly, and 3MT competitions are now held in over 900 universities and institutions across more than 80 countries worldwide. Along with the opportunity to win prizes at both Faculty and University-wide levels, the competition provides students with an opportunity to develop their presentation and communication skills, raise the profile of their research and act as a career-booster for many participants (Vitae, 2020).
University of Greenwich Competition
At the University of Greenwich, students compete in four faculty heats to be named either the Judges’ or People’s Choice Winner (PhD/EdD) or People’s Choice Winner (MPhil); Judges’ Winners then progress to the university final.
Between the faculty heats and university final, a ‘wildcard round’ is held during which the videos from all eligible People’s Choice Winners (PhD/EdD) are considered. The winner of this round is also invited to participate in the university final where all participants compete for both prize money and the honour of representing the university in the national 3MT competition (sponsored by Vitae).
Eligibility
While the Faculty heats are open to all postgraduate research students, the University final is only open to postgraduate research students who have successfully transferred to PhD, and Professional Doctorate students in the research phase of their programme; this is due to wider 3MT competition rules and the ability to represent the university in the national Vitae semi-finals/final.
Competition Format 2022-23
Having moved from face-to-face to virtual competitions during the pandemic, this year the presentation format will be hybrid of both presentation styles with participants presenting ‘live’ video entries which will then be presented during the Faculty Heats; this is to promote accessibility and inclusivity for all students. Technical guidance and assistance will be provided.
Prizes
All prize money must be spent on research-related activities
Faculty Heats
Judges’ Winner (PhD/EdD students in research phase only) - £1,000
People’s Choice (PhD/EdD as above) - £350 activity.
People’s Choice (MPhil students) - £150 activity.
University Final
Judges’ Winner - £1,500
People’s Choice - £1,000
Training
Introductory training, presentation skills and 1-2-1 training for participants is offered throughout the competition. For more information, please see the RETI training brochure.
| Session | Time/Date |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Three Minute Thesis (3MT) | Fri 20 January 2023 | Online | 13:00-15:30 |
| Powerful Presentations Masterclass for 3MT Participants | Friday 27 January 2023 (10:00-13:00) |
| One to One Training for Finalists (External Facilitator) | Monday 24 April 2023 (10:00 start) |
Faculty Heats/University Final
| Education, Health & Human Sciences | Wednesday 22 February 2023 |
| Engineering & Science | Friday 24 March 2023 |
| Greenwich Business School | Wednesday 8 March 2023 |
| Liberal Arts & Sciences | Friday 24 March 2023 |
| University Final | Wednesday 24 May 2023 |
3MT Representatives
| Education, Health & Human Sciences | Rebecca Smith/Ambiea Begum |
| Engineering & Science | Lara Nolan/Sian Nicholson |
| Greenwich Business School | Celeste Leung |
| Liberal Arts & Sciences | Hope Freeman |
Useful Links
University of Queensland: Three Minute Thesis - University of Queensland (uq.edu.au)
Vitae Competition archives: https://www.vitae.ac.uk/events/three-minute-thesis-competition
You Tube: 3MT thesis competition - YouTube