Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®)

The Three Minute Thesis: Communicate, Compete, Succeed

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia. The exercise challenges higher degree students to present a compelling oration on their research thesis topic and its significance in just three minutes and allows them to us one static Power Point slide.

• 3MT® develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students’ capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
• These skills are critical for all graduate students across all academic disciplines.

The competition will be open to all graduate students, including masters, specialist and doctoral students.

• Several masters/specialist-level and doctoral winners will be selected, as well as a grand prize winner.
• The grand prize winner from the University of Mississippi will receive a paid trip to the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS) final 3MT® competition in Dallas, TX, March 19-21, 2025.

A team of qualified udges will determine the winners.

Why Participate in the Three Minute Thesis Competition?

3MT® is part of an effort to provide graduate students with an opportunity to develop their oral communication and presentation skills.

Skills Training for Graduate Students

The exercise develops academic, presentation and research communication skills, while developing research students’ ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Building Research Culture Across the University

3MT® provides a valuable opportunity for graduate students to come together, get to know one another and talk about their research. It also provides a supportive environment for presentation skills training.

Awards and Networking Opportunities 

The overall winner could be a master’s or doctoral student.

• There will also be awards given for the best master’s and the best doctoral categories.

The Graduate School covers the costs for the overall winner to represent The University of Mississippi and compete in the regional 3MT competition held as part of the Council of Southern Graduate Schools’ Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX, March 19-21, 2025.