Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a university-wide competition that challenges graduate students to present their research and its broader impact to a panel of non-specialist judges—in just three minutes and with only one static slide. The aim is to communicate complex ideas in an engaging, accessible, and compelling way.
Why Participate?
3MT® provides graduate students with a unique opportunity to showcase their research to a diverse audience, both within Ontario Tech University and in the wider community. This fun yet challenging event sharpens essential communication skills, helping students to distill their work’s core message for non-specialist listeners. For audience members, 3MT® is a rare chance to hear about the innovative and significant research being conducted at Ontario Tech and its potential impact on the world.
Competition Format and Prizes
Participants will compete in preliminary heats, with top performers advancing to the university finals. Winners from our 3MT® competition may have the opportunity to represent Ontario Tech at provincial, national, or even international 3MT® events. Prizes are awarded to finalists, and all participants benefit from presentation coaching and valuable feedback.
Who Can Attend?
The competition is open to family, friends, and community members, making 3MT® a powerful way to celebrate and engage with the important research conducted by Ontario Tech’s graduate students.
3MT® History
The 3MT® competition began at the University of Queensland, Australia, in 2008. Today, 3MT® is held at more than 600 institutions across 65 countries, with participants engaging a global audience.
Ontario Tech held its first 3MT® competition in 2013, and that same year, the inaugural provincial competition in Ontario took place. Canada’s first national 3MT® followed in 2014.
Be Part of the Experience
Whether you’re a competitor, a supporter, or simply curious about graduate research, 3MT® is an inspiring event that brings Ontario Tech’s research to life. We look forward to your participation!
2025 Important dates
Date |
Event |
| Thursday, January 9, 2025 | Registration opens |
| Friday, January 31, 2025 | Registration closes |
| February to March | Coaching sessions |
| Friday, February 7, 2025 | Supervisor form due |
| Monday, March 10, 2025 | PowerPoint slide due |
| Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 3MT® Heats |
| Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 3MT® Finals |
| Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | Provincial competition (held at University of Toronto) |
Why Paricipate?
- Learn how to concisely explain the significance of your research.
- Sharpen your presentation skills.
- Receive individual coaching.
- Compete to represent Ontario Tech at the provincial 3MT® finals.
- Win cash prizes of up to $1,000.
Coaching Sessions
Build your skills and confidence through a variety of coaching sessions. From individual consultations to interactive workshops, each session is designed to help you make the most of your three minutes and put your research into the spotlight.
Participant Resources
Tips and resources for your presentation
- Coaching videos by John Bandler, PhD (McMaster University)
- Making the Most of Your Three Minutes, Simon Clews, Writing Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia
- 3MT Presentation Skills Workshop slides 2013 - Queen's University (Williams, 2013)
- Communicating your research in lay language, Cristian A. Linte, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, May/June 2009, pages 5-7.
- How do you present years' worth of material in 30 minutes?
- 3MT Not Just for Scientists
- Using open images (from the Library)
- How to win Three Minute Thesis (Dr. Inger Mewburn, Australian National University)
Internal Competition
3MT® Heats
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | Time TBD
Location: TBD
3MT® Finals
Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 1 to 3 p.m.
Location: TBD
Prizes
The following prizes will be awarded at Ontario Tech's internal competition. The winner of the event will advance to the provincial finals.
| Winner | $1,000 |
| Runner-up | $500 |
| People's Choice Selection | $250 |
2025 3MT® Provincial Competition
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | Time TBD
Location: University of Toronto
Eligibility
To participate in 3MT®, students must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below:
- At the time of the 3MT® competition, students must be registered in a master's or PhD program and must have made substantial progress on their research and analysis. Students in programs with a major research project, paper or portfolio may participate. Course-based master's students are ineligible.
- PhD and master's students who have defended or have submitted their project, paper or portfolio, but have not yet convocated, are eligible.
- 3MT® presentations must represent the primary research the student conducted in their graduate program.
- Presenters must agree to be video-recorded and to allow those recordings to be made public.
Confidentiality and intellectual property (IP) considerations
Students must understand that the presentation of their research in 3MT® will be publicly accessible, i.e., in the public domain.
The presentation of the research will not affect any pre-existing rights following the competition, except as stated below:
- Due to the nature of the competition, we will not ask judges, reviewers, staff or the audience to sign non-disclosure statements. If your research is being/has been conducted under contract with an outside sponsor, you are required to discuss the related contractual terms of confidentiality and IP with your supervisor and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) before participating in this competition.
- All public sessions of the competition including, but not limited to, oral presentations are open to the public at large. Any and all of these public sessions may be broadcast to interested persons through media, which may include the Internet.
- Any data or information discussed or presented in public sessions should be considered public. If your research includes confidential, contractual, newly created IP or culturally sensitive material, you are required to discuss your competition entry with your supervisor(s) before entering the 3MT® competition. Please submit the 3MT® supervisor consent form signed by your supervisor(s) to the SGPS as evidence of this discussion.
In coordinating 3MT®, the university and any host institutions for the province-wide competition may take photographs, videotapes and/or audiotapes; make transcripts of the presentations; and/or copy material prepared for use in presentation at the 3MT® and any related events for promotional purposes and to support knowledge mobilization.
Testimonials will be requested of all participants after the events.
Rules
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or movement of any description, and the slide is to remain in view for the duration of the oration).
- Competitors must present in person.
- No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and/or video files) are permitted.
- No props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
- Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are to commence from the stage.
- Presentations are to be spoken (i.e., no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations must be made by memory; notes may not be used.
- The competition will be administered in English.
- The decision of the judging panel is final.
Judging criteria
Communication (score out of 100)
- Did the presenter use language and terminology that was clear and understandable?
- Was the pace of the talk effective?
- Did the presenter use non-verbal communication (i.e. eye contact, voice modulation, body language, etc.) effectively?
- Did the slide enhance, rather than detract from, the talk – was it clear, legible and concise?
Comprehension (score out of 100)
- Did the talk help you to understand the scholarly research and creativity?
- Did the presenter clearly outline the nature and purpose of the scholarly research and creativity?
- Did the presenter clearly indicate what is interesting about the scholarly research and creativity?
- Did the talk follow a logical sequence?
Engagement (score out of 100)
- Was the talk engaging?
- Did the talk inspire you to want to know more?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their work?
- Did the presenter capture and maintain your attention?
