Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition
Watched globally by an audience of thousands, the Vitae Three Minute Thesis® challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes.
Register to the 2025 Vitae 3MT® competitionCongratulations to the three Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) winners 2024
Judges’ Choice winner
Jo Baker, Newcastle University – ‘Elsa, the tiger and the Speech Sound Disorder’
People’s Choice winner
James McMullan, Ulster University – ‘Start young, live long: is reeling in a tasty catch the secret to longevity?’
Editor’s Choice winner sponsored by Universal Impact
Muhammad Muddasar, University of Limerick – ‘Harnessing the Power of Leftover Lignin for Waste Heat Harvesting’
About 3MT®
Three Minute Thesis challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes.
3MT® is an academic competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia. Its success has led to the establishment of local and national competitions in several countries.
Since 2014 Vitae have proudly hosted the UK 3MT® competition which is the culmination of finalists from Vitae member Higher Education Institutions throughout the UK.
Who is the Vitae competition open to?
All Vitae member organisations operating a 3MT® competition within the rules set out by the University of Queensland are welcome to send their competition winners to the national final supported by Vitae.
Current Vitae membership is required for the duration of the competition. The competition runs across two membership years.
I’m a member organisation from outside the UK. Can I join in?
Speak to us! 3MT@vitae.ac.uk
My institution is not running a competition. Can I enter the Vitae competition as an individual?
Sorry, we only accept entries that are winners of local competitions.
Can my institution run the competition online?
Yes you are free to run the competition in person, online, or whichever format you prefer.
What happens if my HEI’s finalist has completed their doctorate between the local competition and the semi-final or final?
As long as the participant had not yet graduated at the time of the local competition s/he will be eligible to participate in the semi-final and/or final.
If our winner is not able or does not want to enter the Vitae competition, can we send a substitute?
Yes. For example you can send a people’s choice winner or a runner up identified by the judges.
Does the video entry for the Vitae Competition quarter-final have to be recorded at our institution’s event?
No, but it does have to conform to the standard rules and requirements.
Where can I find the competition rules and criteria?
Please follow the University of Queensland 3MT® competition rules and criteria.
https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/resources
Can we run 3MT® without being involved in the Vitae competition?
Of course, but we think that offering the opportunity to compete at national level adds a lot to the participant experience.
Apart from increasing public engagement in research, the Vitae 3MT® competition brings many other benefits to all those involved.
Benefits to institutions
- Brings prestige to the institution along with positive media attention and PR
- Showcases the institutions’ research activities and impact
- Attracts funders to invest in research at your institution as well as attracts potential researchers and doctoral candidates
Benefits to researcher developers
- Demonstrates your commitment to the professional development of doctoral candidates
- Builds the recognition of your institutional researcher community, both internally and externally
- Presents opportunities for self development during the cycle of the project
Benefits to doctoral candidates
- Gains wider recognition of your research beyond the lab and its importance
- Trains you to effectively explain your research and its potential impact, to potential funders, the public and future employers
- Opens up more research career opportunities