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3MT
An 80,000 word PhD thesis would take 9 hours to present. Their time limit... 3 minutes.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an international competition for higher degree research (HDR) candidates to showcase their research. Candidates present to an audience on what their research is and why it is important in plain language for three minutes, with only a single PowerPoint slide.
The winner of the #ANU3MT final will go on to compete in the Asia Pacific final, held at the University of Queensland each year. Find out more about the ANU 3MT.
WATCH: see our College's past winners
Jessica Rahman, 2020 People’s Choice winner
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Anushka Vidanage, 2019 People’s Choice winner
Ankur Sharma, 2018 ANU 3MT Final winner
Kiara Bruggeman, 2015 ANU 3MT Final winner
Key dates
2023 competition dates
| All College and School finals take place | 19-29 June |
| Finalists announced | 30 June |
| Finalists planning meeting | 4 July |
| One-on-one coaching for finalists | 10-14 July |
| Communication/presentation skills workshop 1 | 17 July |
| Communication/presentation skills workshop 2 | 19 July |
| Individual training sessions | 20 July |
| Technical rehearsal | 21 July |
| Full dress rehearsal | 25 July |
|
ANU 3MT Final |
27 July, 6pm |
| Asia-Pacific 3MT Final | 18 October |
To receive information about 3MT training, please complete the form here.
Prizes
In addition to the excellent skills you’ll develop and the people you’ll meet, there are competition prizes.
The Dean HDR will generously award a total prize pool of $12,000 at the 2023 final as follows:
- $4,000 will be provided to the winner of the ANU final
- $2,500 prize for the second runner up
- $1,000 prize for the people’s choice
- A $500 research grant will go to all remaining finalists presenting in the ANU 3MT 2023 final
Eligibility
Active ANU PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their Submission of thesis proposal for review (TPR; including candidates whose thesis is under submission) are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition.
MPhil and pre-TPR PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who are active in program are eligible to participate in the ANU 3MT competition up to and including the College finals but cannot advance to the ANU 3MT final.
Graduates are not eligible.
In 2018, a new rule was created to ensure fairness in the competition. ANU 3MT finalists are ineligible for any further competitions at the School or College level. Instead, we encourage their participation and involvement as role models and ambassadors.
