3MT (Three Minute Thesis)

Share Your Research Story

Additional Professional Development Opportunities

UCF’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

The UCF Three Minute Thesis (3MT) features master’s and doctoral students communicating their research in just three minutes with only one static slide. Participants are judged on the ability to effectively convey the importance of their research in an engaging way to a non-specialist audience.

First developed in 2008 by the University of Queensland in Australia, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities across more than 59 countries worldwide.

This event is co-hosted by the Graduate Student Life and Research and Scholarship areas in the College of Graduate Studies. Questions? email us at gradcenter@ucf.edu.

Apply for the 2026 Three Minute Thesis Competition!

Applications are due on October 12, 2026 at 8am

$4,000 in Scholarships will be awarded

Applying to 3MT

Showcase your research to Knight Nation and compete for scholarships at the UCF 3 Minute Thesis competition. To apply for UCF 3MT:

Complete the online application and upload your 3 minute video.
Applications will be reviewed to confirm eligibility and reviewed based on the judging criteria below.
The strongest submissions in the Master’s and Doctoral categories will advance to the in-person preliminary rounds.

Master’s and doctoral students compete separately.

Competition Timeline

Application Deadline: October 12, 2026 at 8 a.m.
Preliminary Competitors Announced: October 16
Preliminary Rounds: October 26-30, 2026, in the Graduate Student Center
Finalists Announced: Monday, November 2, 2026
Finalist Preparation Session: November 12 & 13
3MT Finals: Thursday, November 19, 2026, at the Morgridge International Reading Center

Eligibility

Participants must be currently enrolled UCF doctoral or master’s students actively engaged in research under the mentorship of a UCF faculty member
A competitive candidate has a well-conceived project, compelling data or source material, and a novel story to share
The research presentation must be work conducted during the student’s current degree program.
The first-place winner and runner-up at the finals will be chosen by a panel of judges

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 three minutes and competitors exceeding three minutes will be disqualified
Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, rapping, or songs)
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

Scholarships and Awards

Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding Master’s and Doctoral presentations at the 3MT finals as follows:

Winners: $1,000 Scholarship
Runners up: $750 Scholarship
People’s Choice: $250 Scholarship

All scholarships awards are contingent on the finalist completing all required activities leading up to the 3MT Finals.

Judging Criteria

Communication style: Was the thesis topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience?
Comprehension: Did the presentation help the audience understand the research?
Engagement: Did the presentation make the audience want to know more? \

APPLY HERE

2025 Event Finalists

Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2025 UCF 3MT event!

Master’s

Maresca Brand – Industrial and Organizational Psychology MS
Alissa Burch – Emerging Media MFA – Studio Art and Design Track
Bianca Dagostino – Creative Writing MFA
Rashmi Ghonasgi – Clinical Psychology MS
Kenyari Gil Rosario – Emerging Media MFA – Studio Art and Design Track
Tina Glatz – Health Promotion and Behavioral Science MS
Olamide Osigbemeh – Mechanical Engineering MSME – Mechanical Systems Track (Runner-Up Awardee)
Saskia Papsova – Political Science MA
Lance-Nicolas Rances – Environmental Engineering MSEnvE (First Place Awardee)
Brian Sukhu – Health Promotion and Behavioral Science MS (People’s Choice Awardee)

Doctoral

Nidal Alsayyed – Industrial Engineering PhD
Ashley Brevil – Public Affairs PhD
Shahad Ibrahim – Civil Engineering PhD
Caroline Jasiak – Integrative Anthropological Sciences PhD
Meghan Kane – Psychology PhD – Industrial & Organizational Psychology
Moein Koohestani – Kinesiology PhD
Jesica Lovelace – Curriculum and Instruction EdD (First Place Awardee)
Ngoc Tran Nguyen – Hospitality Management PhD (People’s Choice Awardee)
Kamalakkannan Ravi – Computer Engineering PhD
Daejhanae Smith – Physics PhD – Planetary Sciences Track (Runner-Up Awardee)