Research Culture: 3 Minute Thesis Competition
Challenging doctoral candidates to deliver a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes.
The winner of the Queen’s University Belfast final will be nominated to represent the University at the National Vitae 3MT final.
Schools are invited to take part by hosting their own internal competitions in advance and nominating the winner from their School for the finals. Following your School’s internal competition, the student who obtains first place will be put forward to compete in the Queen’s-wide final which we will be hosted at the Graduate School in June 2023.
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Who Can Take Part
Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) 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. Graduates are not eligible.
- Competition Rules
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) is permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes will be disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
- The decision of the judging panel is final.
- The Prize
- Only a single winner per institution may be put forward to the Vitae competition.
- For the final part of the competition taking place in the Graduate School, prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
- 1st place - £200
- 2nd place - £150
- 3rd place - £100
- History of the 3MT
The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 Research Higher Degree students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Due to its adoption in numerous universities, a multi-national event was developed, and the Inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2010.
Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities across more than 65 countries worldwide.
In November 2013, the first Universitas 21 (U21) 3MT competition was held with several universities from around the world competing in a virtual competition.
2016 brought an expansion of the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition to include a South-East Asia and North-East Asia. This competition is now called the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition.
- About Vitae
Vitae is the global leader in supporting the professional development of researchers, experienced in working with institutions as they strive for research excellence, innovation and impact. Vitae is part of the Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC), an independent UK registered charity with almost 50 years’ experience in enhancing the skills and careers of researchers. Organisational membership is available to Higher Education and research institutions internationally. Vitae membership enables organisations with a stake in realising the potential of researchers to build capacity in developing excellent researchers, bringing benefits to research outputs, innovation, society and the economy.