What is 3MT?
The Three Minute Thesis® is a research communication competition devised by the University of Queensland that is now held in over 900 universities worldwide. It challenges doctoral candidates to present their research topic to a non-specialist audience, giving a compelling presentation explaining their work and its significance – in just three minutes.
Why Enter?
3MT® is an excellent opportunity for doctoral researchers to develop their communication skills. It is also a unique chance for you to share your research and your passion for it with the broader research community, and raise your profile as a researcher both within and beyond the University.
As well as winning a prize of £250 towards attending an academic conference of their choice, the winner is put forward as Sheffield Hallam’s entry to the UK national competition.
Read this blog post from the 2018 People’s Choice Winner ‘How a competition changed my academic life’.
Read this update from Sheffield Hallam and 3MT® Vitae 2019 National Competition winner Shruti Mandhani on the impact that 3MT has had on her career.
Watch these short videos where the 2022 Vitae National 3MT® Competition Finalists discuss their experiences of taking part in the competition:
How Do I Enter?
To enter the competition, you will need to submit a title and short abstract by 3.00pm on Thursday 17 April 2025 via the Expression of Interest form (please note you must be logged in using your Sheffield Hallam account in order to access this form). Initial videos must be submitted for the heat stage by 12.00pm on Friday 9 May 2025, further details on this process will be shared with participants. If you have any questions about taking part, please contact rida@shu.ac.uk.
Eligibility
All Sheffield Hallam doctoral students who will not have had their viva by 9 May 2025 are invited to enter. Only those doctoral students who have passed their Confirmation of Doctorate (RF2 or equivalent) by the date of their first 3MT® presentation will be eligible to proceed to the national competition. Those earlier on in their doctoral studies are still encouraged to take part in 3MT® as a developmental activity.
Top Tips for Producing a Winning 3MT® Presentation
Dr Jamie Gallagher, public engagement expert and former international 3MT® winner, has captured his top tips for producing a winning 3MT presentation in the following four videos. Please click on the images below and log in to Panopto using your usual Sheffield Hallam username and password to access these resources.
What Support Will I Receive?
Support is available via two development sessions ‘Short Talks, Lasting Impression’ on Monday 10 March 2025 and an opportunity to practice and receive feedback on your presentation ‘Short Talks, Lasting Impression’ – Presentation Practice and Feedback on Monday 24 March 2025. There are also a number of further resources to help with the development of your presentation linked under the Resources section of this page.
Participants who are shortlisted at heat stage for the Sheffield Hallam 3MT® final will then be matched with a staff mentor who will provide further support and guidance in the lead up to your final video submission on 4 June 2025 (TBC).
Sheffield Hallam 3MT® Timeline 2025:
| Stage | Date | Link |
| Competition opens | w/c 3 March 2025 | 3MT® Competition 2025 – Researcher and Innovator Development Academy |
| Short Talks workshop 1 | 10 March 2025, 1-4pm | Short Talk, Lasting Impression 2025 |
| Short Talks workshop 2 | 24 March 2025, 1-4pm | Follow up to workshop 1 (Presentation practice and feedback) |
| 3MT Entry deadline | 17 April 2025, 3pm | 3MT®Expression of Interest 2025 (Working title and short abstract) |
| Feedback from RIDA / Doctoral School Team | w/c 28 April 2025 | email rida@shu.ac.uk to arrange |
| Heat stage video entry | 9 May 2025, 12pm | Slide and video to rida@shu.ac.uk |
| Finalists confirmed | w/c 12 May 2025 | |
| Refining your presentation | with your 3MT mentor | |
| Final stage video entry | 4 June 2025, 12pm | Slide and video to rida@shu.ac.uk |
| Sheffield Hallam 3MT Final | June 2025 (TBC) | Live at City Campus |
Resources
Advice and Tips from winners of the 3MT competition on ‘Presenting your research effectively and with confidence’.
Watch the 2023 National Final Performances:
Top Tips for Successful Public Engagement
Links to further advice and guidance on preparing your 3MT Presentation: 3MT-Tips-2024
Internal Communications Guide – How to Take a Great Home Video on your Smartphone
The University of Queensland’s 3MT Video Recording Competitor Guide
Virtual Competition Rules
· Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
· Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing does not include the 3MT title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
Videos must meet the following criteria:
· Filmed on the horizontal;
· Filmed on a plain background;
· Filmed from a static position;
· Filmed from one camera angle;
· Contain a 3MT title slide;
· Contain a 3MT PowerPoint slide (top right corner/right side/cut to)
· A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute or submitted via email if not included in the presentation.
· The 3 minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
· No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
· Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
· No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.
· Submissions via video format (only video link provided to Event Coordinators). Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.
· Entries submitted for final adjudication to Wildcard or University Final are to be submitted from the School/ Faculty/Institute 3MT Event Coordinator. Competitors should not submit their videos directly to 3MT.
Please note: competitors *will not* be judged on video/ recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT PowerPoint slide.
Please note: After each competition round competitors have the option to either submit their current presentation or rerecord and submit a new presentation for entry into the next round.
The Researcher and Innovator Development Academy Team will add a 3MT title slide and combine your 3MT slide with your submitted video as required – please submit an MP4 recording and a separate slide.
Live Competition Rules
· A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
· No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
· No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
· Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
· Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
· Presentations are to commence from the stage.
· Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
· The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Judging Criteria
Comprehension and content
· Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question.
· Presentation provided clear positionality of the presenter to the research and research approach.
· 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.