The Three Minute Thesis Competition, or 3MT®, first held at The University of Queensland in 2008, is an academic competition that challenges graduate students to present a compelling oration on their thesis/dissertation topic and its significance to a non-expert audience in just three minutes using a single, static slide.
Click on presentation titles to view videos of winning presentations.
January 12 - Registration deadline (opening soon!)
February 11 - First round of competition
February 25 (tentative) - Final competition
Graduate students from all disciplines are invited to participate in the first round of competition. Up to 12 students will be selected to compete in the final round.
Awards
Final round judges will select first and second place winners, and the audience will select a people's choice award winner. The first place presenter will represent K-State at theMidwestern Association of Graduate Schools(MAGS) 3MT® Competition on March 27.
Must be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at Kansas State University in the Spring 2026 semester.
A student’s program of study must contain an original research project. The degree program need not formally require a thesis or dissertation. However, the 3MT® presentation topic must cover the original research project that is being conducted as part of the student's K-State graduate degree program.
The presentation must address research the participant conducted during their graduate career at K-State (not undergraduate research or graduate research conducted at another institution).
Students are not required to have reached a particular point in their research, but those who are further along in their research activity are likely to be more competitive.
Graduate students must receive approval from their major professor prior to registering for the competition.
The 3MT is an in-person competition. Participants must be available to give a presentation on the K-State Manhattan campus.
The first place winners from previous competitions are not eligible to compete this year; other award recipients from previous competitions are eligible to participate in this year's competition.
Present a compelling oration of your original research topic and its significance using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience
Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, raps or songs)
Time limit: 3 minutes. Competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified
Prepare a single, static PowerPoint slide that represents the purpose and importance of your original research; no slide transitions, animations, or 'movement' of any type are allowed; the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration
Props, sounds, and other materials may NOT be included in the presentation
Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech
The decision of the judging panel is final
Being successful in the 3MT involves much more than summarizing your research in three minutes. You need to be able to connect with your audience: explain your work in a way non-experts can understand and in a way that makes them interested in hearing what you have to say. Explore tips for success
Presentations will be evaluated on the following criteria:
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.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Support for K-State's 3MT® competition is provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research, and K-State's Chapter of Sigma Xi. If you would like to support the 3MT® or other Graduate School initatives, please visit our giving page.
Contact
Questions about the Kansas State University Graduate School’s 3MT® competition may be directed to Dr. Megan Miller, Assistant Director of Graduate Student Success, mmmiller@ksu.edu or 785-532-6191.
