Birmingham Three Minute Thesis

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

About the Competition

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 join the Canvas Course to take part in 3MT 2021.

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, as the winner of the Birmingham competition will go forward to compete in the UK-wide 3MT semi-final.

Key dates

Applications for 3MT 2021 are open!

You can self-enrol on our Canvas training course. You should aim to complete the 60 min course by 20th April 2021. You must confirm your intention to compete and submit a draft slide and title by 23:59pm on Monday 26th April, via the Canvas training course.

3MT Drop-in Q+A

Wednesday 14th April 2.00 - 4.00pm GMT
Register on Zoom to join the Drop-in

3MT Presentation Workshop

Tuesday 20th April 2.00 - 4.00pm GMT
Register on Zoom to join the Presentation Workshop

3MT Heats: 2.00pm - 4.00pm on Wednesday 12th May 2021.

3MT Final: 2.00pm - 5.00pm on Wednesday 26th May 2021.

You can find a summary of all key dates including support sessions on the Canvas Course.

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, 12th May 2021.
Be available for the heat event
Be available, if shortlisted after the heat event, for the Birmingham final
Be available, if successful, to participate the UK-wide final in September
Agree to your presentation being recorded and uploaded to the UGS YouTube page

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
You should present in a style suitable for an intelligent but non-expert audience
ALL presentations should be NO LONGER than three minutes; competitors exceeding three minutes will be disqualified
You will be allowed one single and static PowerPoint slide to support your presentation (slide transitions or animations are NOT allowed)
No additional electronic media (such as sound or video) are allowed
No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted
No notes are permitted
Presentations are to be spoken word (no poems or songs)
The decision of the adjudicating panel is final

How to enter

Self-enrol on our Canvas training course now.

You should aim to complete the 60 min course by 20th April 2021.

To confirm your intention to take part, you must submit the application form, a draft slide and draft title by 23:59pm Monday 26th April. You will then be invited to a practice Heats event.