Three-Minute Thesis Competition

The 3MT competition runs annually at UCL, as part of a wider national event.  The aim is simple: each competitor should speak about their PhD/EngD research, conveying the background, impact and significance of their work to an audience of non-specialists, in no more than three minutes, using just a single, PowerPoint slide.

Each department in UCL Engineering runs local "heats" with the top two students from each heat making it through to the "Faculty Final". The winner of the Faculty Final then goes forward to the UCL Final.

The UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering competition will be held on Wednesday 15th March at 13:00, online via MS Teams.

If you would like to participate and get the chance to represent Med Phys and UCL in the national competition, please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/e/1iKUVqH6zh by 23:45 on Monday 13th March 2023.

Eligibility 

Active UCL PhD candidates who have completed their upgrade (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels. Graduates are not eligible and Masters students are not eligible.  

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. 

Progression 

The following chart outlines the progression of competitors throughout the competition. 

Timeline

1. Departmental Heats - March 2023
2. UCL Faculty Heats - March - May 2023
3. UCL Final - 7 June 2023
4. National Semi-Finals - July / August 2023
5. National Final - September 2023

Please Note: The winner of each heat or final is expected to represent their 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. 

History 

The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 RHD students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. 

Since 2011 the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities across more than 65 countries worldwide. 

Since 2014 Vitae have proudly hosted the UK ®3MT competition which is the culmination of finalists from Vitae member Higher Education Institutions throughout the UK. UCL held its first campus wide 3MT competition in the 2014-15 Academic year. We are very proud of the fact that UCL winners from the past two years have progressed past the national semi-finals and represented UCL at the national competition.