Overview
Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland. Graduate students have just three minutes to present their compelling research and its significance to a general audience.
Winning participants earn the opportunity to advance to Idaho’s Statewide Three Minute Thesis competition, where they compete against graduate students from the University of Idaho and Idaho State University.
Eligibility
Currently enrolled master’s and doctoral students in face-to-face, hybrid, and online programs at Boise State University are eligible to participate in 3MT®.
Note: While students can compete remotely through the preliminary rounds at Boise State, the final competition and the statewide competition require in-person attendance.
- Students who graduated are not eligible
- Previous winners of the 3MT® competition are not eligible.
Prizes
A panel of judges from the Boise State community determines the winners.
First Place: $1000
Second Place: $750
Third Place: $500
Fourth Place: $250
Audience Choice: $250
Scoring
Judges will score participants based on the follow criteria:
Communication Style: Was the thesis topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
Comprehension: Did the presentation help the audience to understand the research?
Engagement: Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
Rubrics and Templates
Check back soon!
Countdown to 3MT®
Registration closes Sep 29, 2025
Winning Impact
In 2023, Adrian Rodriguez, a graduate student in the Master of Public Health program, placed in all three regional Three Minute Thesis competitions with his research titled, “Improving Hispanic Family Caregiver Projects.”
- First Place — Boise State University Competition
- First Place — Idaho Statewide Competition
- Second Place — Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS)
Proven Success
+5000
in awards earned each year
+200
contestants since 2016
+12
university and statewide winners since 2016
An Academic Tradition
The University of Queensland hosted the first Three Minute Thesis competition in 2008. Today, over 900 universities in more than 85 countries hold the competition. Boise State University introduced the competition in the spring of 2016, featuring 15 student presenters and three winners. In the spring of 2019, Idaho launched its statewide competition, where Boise State frequently competes for first place.
Prepare To Compete
Learn more about how the Graduate Student Success Center can help you prepare for 3MT®, format your thesis or dissertation, and polish your writing skills.