What is it?
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition is an academic research communication competition that challenges graduate students to explain their research project and its significance to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. During the presentation, students must explain and summarize their research in exactly three minutes using only speech and one static PowerPoint slide.
The 3MT competition was developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, and is designed to cultivate graduate students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. Additionally, students increase their capability to effectively communicate the importance of their research to a non-specialized audience.
About the 3MT® Competition
The 3MT competition rules and guidelines are based on the criteria set forth by the University of Queensland.
- Students will compete in a preliminary round (heat), with no more than 10 students per heat. The top three from each heat will move on to the Finals.
- The finalists from the preliminary round will compete again in the final round. Judges will select First, Second, and Third Place winners.
- The overall winner (first place) will receive a $1000 prize and continue on to the regional competition hosted by the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.
When is it?
The 3MT competition is held once per year. The 2025 competition will take place on Friday, November 7. All members of the USC community are welcome to attend.
Virtual info session: Tuesday, September 30 (3:00 - 3:30 PM), Zoom. Register here.
Preliminary heats: Friday, 11/7/25 (10:00 – 11:30 AM). Location TBA.
Finals: Friday, 11/7/25 (3:00 – 4:30 PM) (top three winners from each heat). Location TBA.
Registration
Register to participate in the 2025 competition here. The registration deadline is October 10.
Eligibility
Any current USC graduate student in any program is welcome to present on any research they have done at USC. This research does not have to be for a thesis or dissertation.
3MT Training
All participants are strongly encouraged to attend the training workshop.
Friday, 10/24/25 (1:00 – 3:00 PM) - Dr. Jon Edwards – Close-Hipp Room 583
Volunteer
Faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university are welcome to volunteer as judges for the competition. Please note that current students are not eligible to serve as judges.
Anyone interested in serving as a competition judge should complete the volunteer form.
Past 3MT Competitions
Champion: Habib Rostaghi Chalaki, Mechanical Engineering
1st Runner-Up: Michael J. Kaven, Biomedical Engineering
2nd Runner-Up: Julian P. Statzler, Chemistry
Champion: MD Fakreddin Patwary, Chemical Engineering
1st Runner-Up: Fakhreddin Emami, Mechanical Engineering
2nd Runner-Up: Zhendong Zuo, Business Administration
Questions?
Email Matt Klopfenstein at klopfenm@mailbox.sc.edu.