Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)
Graduate students are given three minutes and one stationary slide to tell a compelling story of their research to a non-specialist audience. Friday, November 6, 2026, 2-4pm in Humanities 100
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland (UQ). Graduate students who participate in the University of Louisville 3MT competition are given three minutes and one stationary slide to tell a compelling story of their research to a non-specialist audience.
See below for more information!
Active doctoral and masters students are eligible to participate in UofL's 3MT Competition. Doctoral students who have achieved doctoral candidate status and are actively in the dissertation stage of training are eligible to compete for the first place and runner up prizes, while all graduate students are eligible to compete for the people's choice prize.
First Place: $500 professional development funds, and free Conference of Southern Graduate Schools attendance and participation (to complete with other regional 3MT competitors)
Runner Up: $250 professional development funds
People's Choice: $100 professional development funds
| Friday, July 21 | 3MT Competition Registration Opens |
| Tuesday, September 1, 12:30-1:00pm | Information and Interest Session (Virtual) |
| Thursday, September 17, 12:30-1:00pm | Information and Interest Session (Virtual) |
| Thursday, September 24, 2-3pm, Houchens 105 | 3MT Preparation Session: Telling the Story of Your Research |
| Monday, September 28 | 3MT Competition Registration Closes* |
| Wednesday, September 30, 12:30-1:00** | Semifinal Heats Information Session (Virtual)** |
| Friday, October 2 | Deadline to Sign Up for Heats Dates and Times |
| Monday, October 5 | Deadline to submit materials for Semifinal Heats |
| Wednesday, October 7, 11:30am-1:30pm** | Semifinal Heats** |
| Thursday, October 8, 2-4pm** | Semifinal Heats** |
| Friday, October 9, 1-3pm** | Semifinal Heats** |
| Tuesday, October 20 | 3MT Competition Finalists Announced |
| Tuesday, October 27-Thursday, October 29, times TBD*** | 3MT Competition Individual Coaching Sessions*** |
| Monday, November 2* | Deadline for finalists to submit materials for final competition* |
| Tuesday, November 3, 12-12:45pm* | 3MT Finalists Prep Session (virtual)* (link will be sent to finalists) |
| Friday, November 6, 2:00-4:00pm* | Fall 2026 3MT Competition* |
| *Required components of 3MT participation. | |
| **Students will sign up for a 1-hour slot during the Semifinal Heats. The six hours across three days simply provide options of dates and times. | |
| ***Finalists will sign up for a 1-hour individual coaching session between October 27-October 29 at one of the offered times. | |
View our previous 3MT® winners here.
Questions and More Information
Do you still have questions? Contact Dr. Michelle Rodems, Assistant Dean for Student Success.