Three Minute Thesis
An 80,000 word thesis would take nine hours to present. Your time limit... three minutes!
3MT is returning to Sussex for 2025! We are planning the last few details before we launch the competition in the new year. The final will take place on campus in mid-June as part of the Summer of Research.
About 3MT
3MT is an academic competition that challenges postgraduate researchers (PGRs) to deliver a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes. It started at the University of Queensland and competitions take place at institutions around the world each year.
Participants at Sussex compete for a chance to win £500 towards research and a place in the Vitae UK semi-finals. There are also prizes of £250 for the runner-up and People's Choice. Entrants are supported with training and a peer practice session to help hone those presenting skills.
About the 2025 competition
This year, to open the competition to more researchers, 3MT heats will take place in each of the four faculties, with the top three from each going forward to the Sussex final in June.
The heats take place in a more informal setting, giving you a more gentle introduction to presenting your research in the build-up to the big event, and are a chance to share your work researchers outside your immediate environment and across your broader discipline.
Key dates
- February: 3MT training for everyone entering heats
- March-April: Faculty heats
- Tuesday 13 May: 3MT training day for finalists to hone presentations
- Tuesday 3 June: peer practice day for finalists
- Mid-June: Sussex 3MT final
Why take part?
Taking part in 3MT allows you to showcase your research in a dynamic and concise way, helping you develop the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. It’s a chance to engage with a broader audience, as well as think critically about your research's core message, making it accessible and impactful to non-specialists.
We hope you find this unique opportunity a great way of developing your presentation and research communication skills, as well as meeting other PGRs from across the University who are taking on the challenge.
Check out what last year's finalists had to say about taking part in the 3MT.
Previous 3MT competitions
Take a look at previous events to familiarise yourself with the competition, including details of the winners, abstracts from all the finalists, and photos from the day.
Watch a recording of Sunisha Neupane's 2024 winning presentation on our 3MT 2024 webpage, and visit the Vitae website for more on the UK national competition.