• All USask Master's and PhD thesis-based graduate students are eligible to participate.
• A student whose thesis is under submission on the date of their first competition is still eligible to compete.
• Presenters must register for the event and be able to present in person.
• One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted.
• No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are permitted.
• Your slide is to be presented from the beginning of your oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

Suggestions,

• Less is more: text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your talk.
• Personal touches: personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.
• Creativity drives interest: do not rely on your slide to convey your message – it should simply complement your oration.
• Work your message: think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation – is there a metaphor that helps explain your research?
• An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is legible, clear and concise.

Submitting a recording for the virtual 3MT competition? Follow these steps:

1. Submit a recording of you speaking (no slide) | one file

Filmed on the horizontal
Filmed on a plain background
Filmed from a static position
Filmed from one camera angle
MP4 video format is preferred. Instructions on how to submit your video file will be sent to you after you complete the registration form.

Send only 1 static slide using 16:9 .pptx format then convert that to a .jpeg.
Do not include a title slide
Include this file with your registration form

Our team puts the two files together (the recording and the slide) once submitted to ensure a standardized format for every entry. 

The judging panel for the virtual preliminaries is selected from campus faculty/staff and students who have a communications background and/or previous winners of research poster competitions. They will be selecting up to 15 of the highest calibre talks to move forward to the finals on April 11th.

Of the 15 presenters selected each will receive a certificate of participation and a brief feedback summary.

[info coming soon]

Each recipient will receive a certificate of participation and a swag bag.

1. Presenters are allowed a single PowerPoint slide; no slide transitions, no animations or movement' of any kind, the slide is presented from the beginning and for the duration of the presentation.
2. No additional electronic media (ex: sound or video files) are permitted.
3. No additional props (ex: costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
4. Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum; presentations running over 3 minutes will be disqualified.
5. Presentations are limited to spoken word (ex: no poems, raps, or songs).
6. Presentations are to commence from the stage (ex: no dramatic entrances).
7. Presentations are considered to have commenced when the presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
8. The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

The competitors will be judged based on two criteria:

• First place - $1,500

• Second place - $750
• Third place - $500
• People's Choice - $250

All competitors must complete these forms and include them with their registration details.

• Photo release form
• Personal information release form

• Simon Clews (University of Melbourne) has prepared a helpful guide on preparing for the Three Minute Thesis Competition
• Jackie Amsden (Simon Fraser University) discusses how narrative frameworks can help grad students effectively tell their research story
• Matt Abrahams (Stanford University) provides Tips and Techniques for More Confident and Compelling Presentations
• Matt Abrahams (Stanford University) podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart: advice for impromptu speaking
• Anett Grant (Executive Speaking) addresses Six Pieces of Bad Speaking Advice That Just Won’t Die
• Inger Mewburn (RMIT University) developed How to Talk About Your Thesis in 3 Minutes
• Henry Miller (UT Health San Antonio) shares 11 Tips For The 3 Minute Thesis Competition

• At the high point, the 3MT Finals event page (2023) had 2.3K views and an event count (scrolls) on the page of 7.2K.
• The People’s Choice voting had over 2000 active hits with more than 919 actual votes placed from unique IP addresses.
• The live stream captured ~ 508 active watchers from across the globe. The heatmap below is a snapshot of where folks tuned in from.