The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) was founded by The University of Queensland in 2008. This competition allows graduate students to present key findings of their research in three minutes to a general audience. For more information, please visit, https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/.
Eligibility:
The following event rules and restrictions apply:
- Participants must be active doctoral candidates who will have successfully passed their candidacy by January 31, 2026.
OR
- Participants must be active Master’s degree thesis-option candidates who will graduate from their program during the 2026 calendar ye
- Participants are limited to three minutes total to:
- PhD candidates: Clearly present research background, design, findings, conclusion, outcomes, and impact in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience
- Masters candidates: Clearly present the concept of their research-based body of work in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience
Information Session:
Presenter: Dr. Ranjit T. Koodali, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for International Affairs
Venue: Senate Chambers
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025
Time: 11.30 AM to 1.00 PM
Submission Window of YouTube Video: November 10, 2025, to January 23, 2026.
Submission Instructions: Applicants will need to use the template (found here) and create a YouTube video and send only the video link by e-mail to gradinfo@nmsu.edu with the Subject “3MT Video Link ” by the deadline of January 23, 2026, 11.59 PM.
The finalists will be notified around January 30, 2026.
Competition Details:
Venue: Corbett Auditorium
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Competition Rules:
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified.
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description).
- Use the NMSU PowerPoint Template (found here )
- Presentations are to be spoken word (g. no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing does not include the title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking).
- No additional props (g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
- The decision of the judging panel is final.
Judging will be based on the criteria indicated below.
Comprehension and content
- Presentation provided clear motivation, background, and significance to the research question.
- Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research.
- Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes, and impact of the research.
Engagement and communication
- The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience.
- The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation.
- The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.
Awards*
1st Place: $1,000 Scholarship
2nd Place: $500 Scholarship
3rd Place: $250 Scholarship
All other finalists receive a $100 participation Scholarship
* Subject to Change
Previous Winners Presentations
Watch how the January 2025 3MT winners delivered powerful and concise presentations to present their research into compelling 3-minute stories.
