Birmingham Three Minute Thesis

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

What is 3MT?

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an internationally recognised research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland in 2008. It challenges doctoral researchers to distill their thesis into a compelling three-minute presentation, communicating its originality and significance to a non-specialist audience.

Why Participate in UoB 3MT?

The University of Birmingham’s 3MT competition provides an exciting opportunity for doctoral researchers to:

- Develop and refine their presentation and research communication skills.
- Raise the profile of their research within and beyond the academic community.
- Compete for prizes and the chance to represent the University on an international stage.

Participants can present in-person at the Edgbaston campus.

What to Expect

- Comprehensive Support: All entrants will receive guidance and constructive feedback to help craft a strong 3MT presentation.
- University-wide Competition: Present your work alongside doctoral researchers from across all five colleges at UoB.
- Pathway to National Recognition: The top ten finalists will compete for prizes in the UoB 3MT Finals, with the winner representing the University in the national Vitae and international Universitas 21 3MT contests, gaining exposure on a broader stage.

Your Next Step

If you are a doctoral researcher eager to showcase your work, enhance your skills, and gain recognition for your research, we warmly encourage you to take part in the 2026 UoB Three Minute Thesis competition. Enrol on to our 2026 3MT Canvas course for detailed information on how to get involved and access essential 3MT information.

Enrol on to 2026 3MT Canvas course

Join us in making your research accessible, impactful, and memorable—all in just three minutes!

Make sure to complete the 3MT Registration Form by Sunday 8 February 2026 11.59pm

Key Dates

- Registration deadline: Sunday 8th February, 11:59pm
- Mock 3MT (optional, but a good opportunity to practice!) - Wednesday 25th February 1-4pm
- Deadline to submit your final 3MT slide and script - Sunday 8th March, 11:59pm
- 3MT Semi-finals (in-person, the first round of the competition) - Wednesday 11th March 1-4pm
- 3MT Finals (in person) - Wednesday 25th March 1-4pm

If you are a distance PGR and are participating virtually, you may need to be available on Tuesday 24th March 1-4pm to record your entry via Zoom, so this can be screened during the finals on the 25th.

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

Enrol on to our 2026 3MT Canvas course for detailed information on how to get involved and access essential 3MT information.

Enrol on to 2026 3MT Canvas course

Support in Preparing Your 3MT

Once you have completed registration, you then have until the final deadline of Sunday 8th March 11:59pm to prepare and submit your 3MT slide and entry information.

We recognise that condensing your research into just 3 minutes and one slide can be quite challenging, especially if you're new to 3MT. To help with this, we organise a range of different resources and activities to support you with developing your slide and script - including a mock 3MT competition to practice and a workshop to help you refine your ideas.

You can find guidance on how to develop your slide/script in the Developing your Presentation section of this canvas course.