2026 UQ 3MT Competition

To register as a competitor for the UQ 3MT Competition you will need to complete the Competitor Registration Form.

Your 3MT Event Coordinator will contact you to confirm your participation and provide additional details about your schools 3MT competition. Please contact your School/Institute's GRC if you have any questions about participating in 3MT.

The School/Institute/Faculty heats for the UQ 3MT Competition are listed below:

The UQ 3MT Wildcard Competition will be held in September and will bring together the People's Choice winners, representing each of UQ's 5 Faculties and Combined-Institute 3MT Final competitions. The winner of this event will advance to the UQ 3MT Final as the Wildcard entrant.

Wildcard 3MT Competition
Date: September 2026
Competition: 
Location: 

Registration Coming Soon!

The 2026 UQ 3MT Final will be held on Wednesday 16 September and will bring together the 7 finalists, representing each of UQ's 6 Faculties, the winner of the Combined-Institute competition and a Wildcard entrant.

UQ 3MT Final
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026
Competition: 
Location: GHD Auditorium, Advanced Engineering Building (49-200), St Lucia, QLD 4072

To register as a competitor for the 2026 3MT Competition please complete the Competitor Registration Form. 

Your 3MT Event Coordinator will contact you to confirm your participation and provide additional details about your schools 3MT competition.

The format of the UQ 3MT Competition at all levels is a live in-person event and all competitors are required to be judged on a live in-person performance.

Below outlines a step-by-step process for competitors and 3MT event coordinators for the School/Institute and Faculty Final levels of the UQ 3MT competition:

• To compete in the 2026 UQ 3MT Competition all HDR candidates will need to complete the Competitor Registration Form.
• 3MT Event Coordinator will then provide instructions to competitors regarding their competition heat.
• Competitors prepare their 3MT presentations.
• Competitors email the following to their 3MT Event Coordinator for consideration in their School/Institute/Faculty 3MT competition:
  • Personal details;
  • 3MT PowerPoint slide.

3MT Information Session for HDR Candidates

Please find below the details to register for Presenting for the 3MT.

Coming soon!

Eligibility
Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone/progress review (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Graduates are not eligible.

Please note: MPhil and pre-confirmation PhD candidates who are active in program are still eligible to participate in the UQ 3MT competition up to and including Faculty/Institute finals but cannot advance to the UQ 3MT Final. 

Progression

In order to take part in the UQ 3MT Competition each participating school, institute and faculty will hold its own live in-person 3MT competition to select a winner. 

The winner of each heat or final is expected to represent their school/faculty/university at the next stage of the competition. If the winner is unable to attend the final, the runner-up will proceed to the next round of the competition in their place.

Even the world’s best public speakers prepare before important presentations. To assist you with your preparations, please review the 3MT Competitor Guide to help you in writing your presentation, creating your slide and  practising your presentation.

Rules

• 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.

At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

• Comprehension and Content
  • Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question;
  • Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research; and
  • Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research.
• Engagement and Communication
  • The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience;
  • The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation; and
  • The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.

Prizes are an important incentive for HDR candidates entering the competition. Prizes can vary at the discretion of your School or Faculty.

School/Institute Heats

• School/Institutes are welcome to provide prizes to participants

Faculty/Combined Institute Final

• School/Institutes are welcome to provide prizes to participants
• Winner progresses to UQ Final
• People’s Choice progresses to Wildcard Competition

Wildcard Competition

• No prize is provided for this event
• Winner advances to UQ 3MT Final

UQ 3MT Final

• First Prize: $5000 research grant
• Runner-Up: $2000 research grant
• People’s Choice: $1000 research grant
• Winner represents UQ at Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final
• Winner represents UQ at Virtual U21 3MT Competition

Asia-Pacific 3MT Final

• First Prize: $5000 research grant
• Runner-Up: $2000 research grant
• People’s Choice: $1000 research grant

Past UQ 3MT finalists can be viewed here.