Three Minute Thesis Competition

This entertaining event gives thesis students the chance to present their research to a large audience while competing for a number of generous prizes, with the overall University of Otago Doctoral winner going on to participate in the online Asia-Pacific 3MT ® final. There may also be an opportunity for the best master's contestant to represent the University at an online New Zealand Masters 3MT® National Inter-University Challenge. The overall Doctoral winner and runner up will be entered in the online Matariki Competition in October.

The competition is open to both thesis master's and doctoral students, who must communicate their research in no more than three minutes, with the help of only one static slide, with the presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience.

University of Otago Grand Final prizes 2025

Date: Thursday 4 September, 5:00pm
Venue: St David Complex Lecture Theatre LT01

• Best Doctoral presentation $750 grant to assist with research
• Best Masters presentation $500 grant to assist with research

Register your attendance at the Three Minute Thesis Grand Final event

2025 Finalists

To be confirmed. Divisional Heats will be held in the week of 21-25 July 2025.

For more information, please contact:

Graduate Research School
Email gradresearch@otago.ac.nz

Eligibility

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under examination, but not graduates) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in all levels of the 3MT® competition.

Master's thesis (90 points of research or more) candidates who are active in a programme (including candidates whose thesis is under examination, but not graduates) are eligible to participate in all levels of the 3MT® competition.

Competition rules

The University of Otago 3MT® competition follows the official rules of the founder, the University of Queensland.

Read the full competition rules