Programming

Call for 3MT Proposals

3MT Overview

Effective communication is essential in almost all fields. Whether you are presenting at a stakeholder meeting, to a group of non-experts, or professional conference, you often have limited time to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively. In this Three-Minute Thesis competition, you will be challenged to present your dissertation ideas in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner to a non-specialist, lay audience. This will showcase your ability to translate research into meaningful relevance and strengthen your skills in research communication.

The first 3MT was held at The University of Queensland (AU) in 2008 with 160 graduate students competing. Today students from numerous universities across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Asia-Pacific region take part in their own regional and national events. West Chester University will host its inaugural 3MT competition final round event on March 24, 2026 in Anderson Hall Room 211.

Awards & Prizes

Cash prizes and additional awards will be given to the top three finishers, along with recognition from the Graduate School. The first-place winner will advance to represent West Chester University at the national 3MT competition.

Eligibility & Application Information

Doctoral students who have collected sufficient data to present on their research and whose presentation clearly describes the conclusions, outcomes, and impact of the study are eligible to apply.

The application window closes at 11:59 PM on February 12, 2026.

By completing the application form, applicants acknowledge and agree to either attend a required training session held between February 10–13, 2026, or view the recorded session. Completion of one training option by February 13, 2026 is required for an application to be considered complete.

Due to limited competition spots, individual academic programs will conduct an internal selection process to determine which applicants will advance to the university-level competition. Even so, all interested students must still complete the university application form.

Applicants will be notified by March 3, 2026 if they are selected to compete.

Additional Information

Presentation Rules:

  • Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (i.e. no poems, raps, or songs).
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when presenters start their presentation through movement or speech from the stage.
  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any kind) and is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Judging Criteria:

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

To get a feel for what your presentation could look like, consider viewing some sample 3MT videos: https://vimeo.com/threeminutethesis/videos

Design Considerations:

Communicating to a Lay Audience: Turning Your Research into a Compelling Message - Ben Rein at U. of Minnesota Graduate School - 5 parts

  • 3MT Framing Your Research
  • Identifying Analogies
  • Single Slide Design
  • Using Social Media
  • Expand

3 Minute Single Slide Design - UW-Madison Design Lab (2021) (5:44m)

  • Keep it visual and avoid large blocks of text
  • Focus on one or two key ideas
  • Use negative space effectively
  • Apply visual hierarchy to guide the viewer’s attention
  • Less is more—clarity is key

Additional Resources:
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition: Three Tips to Help You Prepare a Winning Presentation - ANU TV (2015)

3MT: The Three Most Common Mistakes - ANU TV (2015)

Important Dates:

  • February 12 – Applications close
  • February 10–13 – Students must attend a training session or watch the training video
  • February 16 – Doctoral coordinators will be notified of students who completed an application
    • At this point, doctoral programs should begin their internal process to determine which students will move forward to the competition.
  • February 27 – Doctoral coordinators submit participant and alternate lists 
  • March 3 – Selected students notified
  • March 3–17 – Optional training and support for participants (details provided in March 3 notification)
  • March 17 – Optional dress rehearsal in the competition space
  • March 24 – 3MT Event