3MT: Three Minute Thesis Competition

3MT: Three Minute Thesis Competition

Part of Our 2026 Homecoming Celebrations

Time: 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Program begins promptly at 1:00 p.m.)

• Round 1: 1:10 p.m.
• Round 2: 1:55 p.m.
• Final Round: 2:45 p.m.
• Winners Announced: 3:35 p.m.

Location: Palmer Commons

Sign Up to Attend: A homecoming email has been sent with an RSVP link for all homecoming events. Once you RSVP for 3MT, you may attend the full event or drop in to any scheduled round.

Join in the fun and listen to our grad students present their research in three minutes or less, using simple terms to explain it to an audience with no background in their field. They will be judged by a panel of staff, faculty and their peers and winners take home monetary prizes.

You might be asking, “What is 3MT?”

Well, quite literally, 3MT stands for ‘Three Minute Thesis’ and was created by the University of Queensland. The College adopted this competition and we are in our third year of hosting it.

Our PhD and master’s students participate in a friendly competition in which they are challenged to present their research in three minutes or less and in simple terms, to a live audience of faculty, staff, and their peers.

When we say simple, we mean they are challenged to explain their research in a way that their parents, grandparents, roommates, and neighbors would understand.

Then we vote! And the winners get prizes; up to $2,500 for first place!

We would love for our alumni to join in the fun and support our grad students.

What are our grad students competing for?

They can win up to $2,500 in prize money.  Four prizes are given out: 1st ($2,500), 2nd ($1,000), 3rd ($750), and a People’s Choice ($1,500) award!

Who is judging?

Staff, faculty, and your peers! And you can too! If you are interested in being an alumni judge, please email: [email protected].

Can alumni attend?

YES! We hope you will register to attend this event. You can drop in and listen to the first, second, or final round. You do not have to attend the entire event; all we ask is that you register.

Are you a grad student looking to sign up to participate in 3MT?

Visit the Grad Student event page for participation information.

3MT was created by the University of Queensland.