We strive to have all graduate students be able to participate in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT). If you have concerns about your participation due to accessibility needs that require accommodations, please contact Niki Power
Take to the stage and present your research
The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition brings together the Dalhousie community to give graduate student researchers a platform to share and celebrate their ideas and compete for cash prizes.
How does it work? You have three minutes to present your research in as engaging a manner as possible for a non-specialist audience, with one PowerPoint slide permitted as a visual aid.
Participation in 3MT is open to all students in research-based master’s and doctoral programs.Â
The application period for the 2025 3MT is now open! . The deadline to apply is Friday, February 28, 2025.
Key dates
- Friday, February 28: Applications close for 3MT competition
- Tuesday, March 11: First round of the 3MT competition, preliminary heats, takes place (exact time and location to be announced)
- Tuesday, March 18:Â 3MT finals take place (exact time and location to be announced)
If you anticipate a barrier to your participation in the 3MT competition related to a protected characteristic and wish to request accommodation, please make an appointment to meet with an Access Advisor for more information. Â
Participate in the 3MT competition
Dal graduate students
Are you enrolled in a research-based master’s or doctoral program? Participate in this year's 3MT competition by registering before 9 a.m. on March 2. To participate, please submit your 3MT presenter slide to ThreeMT@dal.ca by March 10 at 3 p.m. (AT).Â
The first round of the competition — the preliminary heats — take place on March 14. The winners of the heats will move forward to the finals on March 20, during which various cash prizes will be offered:
First Place: $1,000 and the opportunity to represent pilipiliÂþ» at the eastern regionals
Second Place:Â $500
Third Place:Â $250
People’s Choice: $250 (in addition to any other prize money received)
Remaining Finalists:Â $100
Faculty and staff
Thank you to those faculty and staff that registered to serve as heats judges on March 14. Please check your email for details.
Members of the Dalhousie community (everyone)
Members of the Dal community and beyond are invited to join us for the 3MT heats on March 14 and finals on March 20. Cheer on competitors and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award winner during the finals, while learning about the important work being done by the grad student community.
Join the 3MT@Dal 2023 Brightspace community
To self register for the 3MT Brightspace community, access resources, and watch recordings of past workshops, follow the steps below:
- Log in to Brightspace at using your Dalhousie credentials.
- Next, click on the "Academic Support" tab in the top menu, and select "Self Registration."
- In the list of self registration course offerings, click on 3MT@Dal 2023 (course code: ONLC.3MT.DAL.23), and then click "Register."
- A form will appear that will auto-populate your credentials; ensure these are correct, and hit "Submit."
- You will receive an email confirming your enrollment in 3MT@Dal, and you'll become part of the online community in Brightspace. You may want to pin the course to your homepage for ease of access.
Upcoming 3MT workshops
Whether you're thinking of participating in 3MT or are looking to sharpen your communication skills, join our upcoming workshops. These sessions will introduce you to 3MT, help you prepare your presentation for the competition, and offer coaching and feedback.
3MT Coaching
Date: March 10 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Partner: Writing Centre and Studying for Success
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Upcoming Dal 3MT workshops
Are you a researcher or student working on groundbreaking ideas with commercial potential? Wondering how to protect your intellectual property and navigate the world of patents? This interactive session, led by Dal's Technology Transfer Office, will cover essential strategies for safeguarding your inventions, understanding disclosure requirements, and preparing for commercialization opportunities. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights and ask your pressing questions.
Date and time:Â February 20 from 2 to 3 p.m.
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Type: Hybrid
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:Ìý Room 1130, Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building or virtual via Teams
This session is designed to help graduate students prepare and excel in their Three Minute Thesis (3MT) presentations. Learn how to distill complex research into a concise, engaging narrative that resonates with a general audience. Discover strategies for structuring your talk, refining your delivery, and working with the rules and rubric. Leave equipped to confidently showcase your research in just three minutes.
Facilitator: Kala Clarke, Director, Professional Development and Student Engagement FGSÂ
Date and time:Â February 24th from 6 to 7 p.m.
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Type: Online via Teams
New date:Â
This session is designed to help graduate students prepare and excel in their Three Minute Thesis (3MT) presentations. Learn how to distill complex research into a concise, engaging narrative that resonates with a general audience. Discover strategies for structuring your talk, refining your delivery, and working with the rules and rubric. Leave equipped to confidently showcase your research in just three minutes.
Facilitator: Kala Clarke, Director, Professional Development and Student Engagement FGSÂ
Date and time:Â February 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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Type: In-person
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýJenkins Riverview Room, Truro Agricultural Campus
The 3MT requires you to condense the story of your research into 3 minutes for a general, non-specialist audience. The goal is to help you gain skills to expand the reach of your work, gain funding, and pursue both academic and non-academic job opportunities. This interactive workshop will help international students prepare for the 3MT by providing techniques to clearly and concisely explain their research in a way that is both informative and engaging. The 3MT is an ideal way for international students to practice their academic presentation skills within a supportive, encouraging environment.
Facilitators: Dr. Vanessa Lent, International Student Writing Advisor, Dr. Kala Clarke, Director, Professional Development and Student Engagement, Faculty of Graduate StudiesÂ
Date and time:Â February 27th from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Partner:Â Writing Centre, FGS
Type: In-person
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýRoom 2018, Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building
Attend one of our online drop-in feedback and coaching sessions being held this week to receive 1-on-1 constructive feedback before the 3MT Heats. Registration is not required and participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Coaches:
- Dr. Adam Auch, Writing Advisor
- Dr. Vanessa Lent, International Student Writing Advisor
- Janice MacDonald Eddington, Writing Centre Coordinator
- Graduate student tutors
- Dr. Kala Hirtle, Director, Professional Development and Student Engagement, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Date and time:Â March 3 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Partner:Â The Writing Centre
Type: Hybrid
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýIn person at the Writing Centre or online via Teams
Attend one of our online drop-in feedback and coaching sessions being held this week to receive 1-on-1 constructive feedback before the 3MT Heats. Registration is not required and participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Coaches:
- Dr. Adam Auch, Writing Advisor
- Dr. Vanessa Lent, International Student Writing Advisor
- Janice MacDonald Eddington, Writing Centre Coordinator
- Graduate student tutors
- Dr. Kala Hirtle, Director, Professional Development and Student Engagement, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Date and time:Â March 4 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Partner:Â The Writing Centre
Type: Hybrid
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýIn person at the Writing Centre or online via Teams
See 3MT in action
Visit our to view presentations from past competitions.Â