Three Minute Thesis

1 slide, 3 minutes, outstanding ideas

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges research-based graduate students to articulate the impact and breadth of their research in a 3 minute presentation, using just 1 static power point slide.

The Three Minute Thesis was first established in 2008 by the University of Queensland (UQ), as a research communication competition that cultivates students' presentation and communication skills and provides them with invaluable networking opportunities. 

Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities and institutions across 65 countries worldwide.

3MT at Waterloo

From 2013-2020 the University of Waterloo hosted the largest 3MT competition in Canada, with heats taking place at the faculty and university-wide level. More than 1000 graduate students participated in the competition over the seven years in which it was held.

Videos of all the university-wide 3MT finalist presentations are available on the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral (GSPA) Affairs 3MT playlist on YouTube. The Three Minute Thesis hall of fame web page includes a list of champions since 2013.

In 2019 GSPA introduced a new research dissemination competition opportunity for graduate students called GRADflix. It challenges students to summarize their research in a one-minute video. GRADflix will replace the 3MT at the University of Waterloo for the foreseeable future.

Learn more about GRADflix.