Could you reduce your 80,000 word thesis to 180 seconds to try and win £500?
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes using just one static PowerPoint slide.
Why take part?
3MT develops your academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of your capacity to effectively explain your research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience, and it’s a great experience! Don’t take our word for it; take a look at what previous University of Manchester contestants have to say.
How it works
In the UK, universities run their own competition and put forward one winner to the national 3MT final hosted by Vitae.
This year, we’re holding Faculty heats throughout March and April. Take a look at the dates and register for your Faculty:
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health 3MT heats
- Faculty of Humanities 3MT heats
- Faculty of Science and Engineering 3MT heats
The University of Manchester Final will then take place on Wednesday 20 May, 2-3.30pm in University Place, Lecture Theatre B.
Please read the Judging criteria and Competition rules before registering.
The prizes
First prize: £500 Amazon Voucher
Runner up: £100 Amazon Voucher
Audience favourite: £100 Voucher
Eligibility
3MT is open to all active second and final year PhD candidates, including candidates whose thesis is under submission, by the date of their first 3MT presentation in the heats.
You must be able to attend at least one of the scheduled heats and, if successful, the university final on Wednesday 20 May.
Support and Resources
All those who register to take part in the Faculty heats are invited to attend a 3MT training session on Tuesday 10 March 2020, 1-4pm.
Also take a look at the following to help you get started:
How to Talk About Your Thesis in 3 Minutes – The Thesis Whisperer
This presentation by the Dr. Inger Mewburn (aka the Thesis Whisperer), provides some useful insights and practical exercises to get thinking about you can present your own thesis to others in just 3 minutes.
We particularly like this top tip “Is there a story that you can use to talk about your research? Better still – can this story make us feel emotionally involved? Sometimes good stories are behind why we are doing the research in the first place.
3MT Student Handbook, The University of Queensland
This helpful guide gives you low down on background to the competition, the rules, shared experiences from postgraduate researchers who have previously taken part in 3MT as well as top tips for writing, creating and practicing your presentation.
We particularly like this top tip for slide design: “Less is more – Text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide rather than listen to your 3MT.”
Making the Most of your Three Minutes, Simon Clews, University of Melbourne
This practical guide will help you think about the development of your 3MT presentation in two key phases – pre-production and performance.
We particularly like this top tip “Every good performance – even the most spontaneous looking ones – is the result of a great deal of careful preparation and an enormous amount of rehearsal. You’ve only got three minutes …. so make every second count.”
Further information
For further information, take a look at the Frequently asked questions or email alexander.hinchliffe@manchester.ac.uk.