Texas State 3MT®
Registration for the 2019 3MT® is now open!
WHat is 3MT®?
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) in which graduate students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis / dissertation research and its significance. 3MT® is not an exercise in trivializing or ‘dumbing-down’ research, but instead challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research discoveries so they can be presented concisely to a non-specialist audience.
The first 3MT® was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 students competing. Enthusiasm for the 3MT® concept grew and it has now been adopted by numerous universities in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong and the United States. The Graduate College is excited about providing our students the opportunity to participate in the Texas State University 3MT® Competition.
Eligibility
2019 Texas State University 3MT® Competition Eligibility
Graduate students currently enrolled in a Texas State University research Ph.D. or Ed.D. program and master's students on a thesis track are eligible to compete. The presentation must include findings/outcomes of research, i.e., you cannot present your proposal; you must have at least preliminary findings. Read more about the presentation rules and judging criteria.
How it works
Students registered by the deadline will receive the time and date of their assigned preliminary group shortly thereafter. Groups will consist of doctoral and master's students. Each group will send the top-scoring doctoral student, top-scoring master's student, overall runner-up, and the people's choice winner to the University Final.
University Final Competition
Awards at the University Final Competition are not categorized by master's or doctoral level, and include first place and runner-up (awarded by judges) and people's choice (awarded by the audience). First place and runner-up can also win the people's choice because the latter is awarded separately by the audience in attendance at the 3MT®.
3MT® Judges
Judges are selected from the Texas State and San Marcos communities. There are three judges for each preliminary round heat, and six judges for the final. Learn more about judging criteria and presentation rules.
Registration for participation in the 2019 Texas State 3MT® is now open!
The dates for the 2019 competition are as follows:
- Preliminary Round 1: March 27
- Preliminary Round 2: March 27
- Preliminary Round 3: March 28
- University Final: April 2
Shop Talks
Every semester, we host a Shop Talk, Introduction to the 3MT®, so you can learn more about the competition rules, how to prepare for the competition, and the next steps to take as a participant. (Attending the Shop Talk is not a prerequisite of participating, though.)
Previous Competitions
Need some inspiration? Watch students present their research in previous Texas State 3MT® Competitions:
- 2018 3MT® Competition
- 2017 3MT® Competition
- 2016 3MT® Competition
- 2015 3MT® Competition
- 2014 3MT® Competition
You can also watch 3MT® winners from competitions at other universities.
The 3MT® was such a rewarding experience because, after spending so much time by myself researching and writing my dissertation, I finally had the opportunity to talk about my work in a way that resonated and connected with others. — Sydney Granger Saumby, 2015 First Place Winner
Questions?
Send us an email at The3mt@txstate.edu or give us a call at 512.245.2581.
If you require accommodations due to a disability in order to participate, please contact 512.245.2281 at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
Texas State is a tobacco-free campus.
