Birmingham Three Minute Thesis

The average PhD thesis would take nine hours to present. You have...three minutes!

This page refers to the 2024 3MT competition and may be subject to changes. Applications for 3MT 2025 will open in the Autumn Term, 2024.

The University of Birmingham Three Minute Thesis 2024 Final took place on 15 May. Congratulations to our winner Eileen Masters with her presentation, 'Audit Committees in English Local Councils: Paving the Way for Reform'. You can view all of our presenters on our 3MT Finalists YouTube Playlist.

About the Competition

The University of Birmingham Three Minute Thesis

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland in 2008, in which doctoral researchers have just three minutes to deliver an engaging presentation on their thesis topic, its originality and its significance.

With universities across the world now holding their own 3MT competitions, we are delighted to be running a University of Birmingham 3MT and to invite our own doctoral researchers to participate in such a highly-regarded competition.

If you are a current doctoral researcher interested in developing your presentation and research communication skills, raising the profile of your research and having the chance to win an international research bursary, we warmly encourage you to take part in 3MT, in-person on the Edgbaston campus, or via Zoom if you are a distance learner.

All entrants will receive support and feedback on drafting a strong 3MT presentation and be invited to take part in the UoB 3MT Heats, with entrants from across the University. The top ten entrants from the Heats, will go on to compete for prizes in the UoB 3MT Finals. The competition will also give you the opportunity to compete for a place in the nationwide UK 3MT contest.

Rules and regulations

To enter the Birmingham 3MT competition, you must:

Be currently registered on a doctoral programme at the University of Birmingham. This includes students who have submitted their thesis but are still awaiting their viva on the date of the Heats.
Be available for the Heats event.
Be available, if shortlisted after the Heats event, for the Birmingham Finals event.
Be available, if successful, to participate in the UK-wide final in September
Agree to your presentation being recorded, uploaded to a University YouTube playlist and potentially used for future 3MT promotions UGS.

The rules for your 3MT presentation are as follows:

Your 3MT presentation should be based on research that is directly related to your doctoral thesis
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) are permitted.
No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
Presentations are to commence from the stage.
Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

How to Enter

Self-enrol on our Canvas training course now for a detailed breakdown of next steps, top tips and advice. This course will be updated anew for the 2025 competition.