What is Three Minute Thesis (3MT)?
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 Research Higher Degree students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held at hundreds of institutions worldwide.
3MT at Georgetown University
The next competition will take place on April 21 (Theses) and April 22 (Dissertations), 2026, in the Murray Room on the fifth floor of Lauinger Library. All graduate students in any phase of their thesis, dissertation or capstone research are invited to participate in 3MT by signing up for either the Thesis/Capstone or Dissertation competition for a chance to win a cash prize.
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place are $400, $250, and $150, respectively, with a $100 people’s choice award going to the crowd-favorite presentation.
Please contact Dexter Sharp, Director of Graduate Student Affairs, with questions about the competition.
Dexter Sharp, Director of Graduate Student Affairs.
dexter.sharp@georgetown.edu