The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition celebrates the research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students. 3MT strengthens students’ academic presentation skills by developing their ability to explain their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.

1. Developing Communication Skills. 3MT is an opportunity for students to refine their academic presentation skills by succinctly explaining their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 3MT is also an opportunity for universities to provide presentation skills training.
2. Encouraging Socialization. 3MT affords PhD students with opportunities to get to know one another and talk about their research. This kind of socialization has the added advantage of fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations by drawing students out of their disciplinary “silos”.
3. Enabling Professional Development. National and international 3MT competitions provide excellent networking and professional development opportunities.
4. Supporting University Outreach. Students who compete in national and international 3MT competitions may be regarded as ambassadors for their universities.

Winner of the 2014 UQ 3MT Dr Megan Rossi talks about how the 3MT competition helped her career: https://vimeo.com/138709200

Eligibility:

• Active PhD candidates who have passed their PhD Qualifying Examination (including candidates whose thesis is under submission)
• Graduates are not eligible.

Register for Training Workshop (29 May 2025 & 5 June 2025)

Register for NUS Competition: Preliminary Round (21 June 2025)

NUS 3MT Final

• Winner: $400
• 1^st runner-up: $300
• 2^nd runner-up: $200
• Audience’s Choice: $100 each (up to 3 nominees)

National 3MT Final

• 2 x People’s Choice Awards worth $250 each

Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition

• Winner: $5000 research grant
• Runner Up: $2000 research grant
• People’s Choice: $1000 research grant

U21 Three Minute Thesis Competition

• 1st Prize US$2,500
• Highly Commended US$500
• People’s Choice Prize US$1000

2025 3MT Key Dates

• 3MT Training Workshop on 29 May & 5 June 2025 (2 pm to 4 pm) @ CELC Seminar Room (#02-30)
• 21 July – NUS Preliminary Round Video Submission Deadline
• 24 July – Selection of 6 Finalists
• 31 July – NUS Final Round and Announcement of the Top 3 – Winner, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up
• September – Singapore 3MT Meet (Top 3 to represent NUS)
• 12 September – Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition Video Submission Deadline
• 15 October – Asia-Pacific 3MT Final
• 16 October – U21 3MT Competitor Video Submission
• 19 January 2026 – U21 3MT Competition Announcement of Winners

• Watch 2023 U21 3MT 1st Prize Winner: Seow Wei Lun, Mark; Integrative Sciences & Engineering Programme (ISEP), National University of Singapore
• Watch 2022 Asia-Pacific 3MT Finalist – Philippe Vachon National University of Singapore
• Watch 2021 Asia-Pacific 3MT Finalist – Sharmelee Selvaraji National University of Singapore
• Watch 2020 Asia-Pacific 3MT Finalist – Gabriel Chew Guojun (Duke-NUS)
• Watch 3MT presentations from around the world

Dr Rafi Rashid

NUS 3MT Coordinator

Email: ngsrr@nus.edu.sg

Tel: 6601 5840

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• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs)
• Presentations are to commence from the stage
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final