No images? Click here
Kia ora ,
Welcome to our special 3MT edition of Doctoral News, featuring the 2026 University of Auckland Three Minute Thesis competition for doctoral candidates.
Read on to learn more about 3MT and how it can help you to grow your research communication skills.
Ngā mihi nui,
Te Kura Akoranga Tohu Paerua | The School of Graduate Studies (SGS)
Don't miss this opportunity
What is the Three Minute Thesis?
Every year, doctoral candidates from more than 900 universities – including the University of Auckland – take part in the highly acclaimed Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, which was developed by the University of Queensland.
No matter where you are on your doctoral journey, we encourage you to sign up for your 3MT Faculty Heat and attend the training sessions in May. We'll help you become an expert at sharing your research story.
You definitely don't have to be a confident public speaker to enter 3MT. All we're looking for is candidates who are passionate about their research and want to become a little bit braver about explaining it to others.
Discover how the competition works, learn more about the training sessions, and be inspired by videos of previous winners on our 3MT web page.
Watch: Click on the image above to view our one-minute 3MT promotional video, filmed at last year's University of Auckland 3MT Final.
How to enter your Faculty Heat
Everyone who enters 3MT can get their research noticed, make new friends across the University, and develop an entertaining and interesting talk to use at conferences, job interviews, and even with friends and family who want to know what you're studying.
Click on the links below to sign up for your 3MT Faculty Heat:
- Mon 8 June: Business and Economics / Law
- Tue 9 June: Arts and Education
- Wed 10 June: Science
- Thu 18 June: FMHS
- Thu 25 June: Engineering and Design
- Mon 29 June: Open Heat (online)
You can enter the Open Heat if your faculty/LSRI doesn't have a heat, if you're based off-campus, or if you can't attend your heat due to exceptional circumstances.
The winners from the Faculty Heats will qualify for the University of Auckland 3MT Final in July, with great prizes on offer and the chance to represent the University internationally.
Learn more about 3MT.
Join our training sessions
Whether you decide to enter 3MT or not, we invite you to take part in our research communications training. You can book by clicking on the links below.
All Faculty Heat winners will also have the opportunity to work with professional speaker trainers in preparation for the University of Auckland 3MT Final.
Why enter 3MT?
"Taking part in 3MT was one of my highlights from last year. I went into the experience with nerves and uncertainty, but left feeling confident, capable, and ready to share my research with a wider audience."
Caitlin Woods
Liggins
2025 3MT Finalist
"Taking part in 3MT was one of the most valuable experiences of my PhD journey. My advice is simple: apply first, think later. Even if you never saw yourself as a public speaker, the process can completely change the way you see your own research."
Mohamed Salman
Engineering and Design
2025 3MT Finalist
"3MT helped me think about my research in a simple way instead of getting lost in all the technical details. Getting positive feedback on my research made me feel more confident about the direction of my work and motivated me to keep going."
Maisha Boteju
Science
2025 3MT Finalist
"It was great to meet other doctoral candidates from different faculties and to gain confidence in sharing my ideas. The whole process was full of support and encouragement. I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone to go for it and enter – you never know who is listening, who you could meet and who you might inspire."
Rebecca O'Leary
Arts and Education
2025 3MT Runner-Up
"3MT changes how you think about your own research. You start to see what really matters. Don’t wait until your research is 'perfect'. 3MT is not about perfection; it’s about learning. The process itself is where the real benefit lies."
Huang Yuan
Business and Economics
2025 3MT Finalist
"I had no expectations of winning the University 3MT competition, so if you enter the heats, you never know, you may also make it through to the finals and win! There was quite a bit of publicity surrounding following the 3MT competition with radio interviews and magazine articles which has helped to raise the profile of my research."
Noah Bunkley
FMHS
2025 3MT Winner
"Taking part in 3MT opened up many opportunities for me. It helped my research reach a wider audience beyond my research group. It also boosted my confidence to speak in front of large audiences."
Himashi Rathnayake
Engineering and Design
2025 3MT Finalist
"When you can explain your work beyond technical language, your research starts to have impact beyond your own field. The training and feedback sessions were especially valuable, and I noticed that many of the finalists had taken part in them, which shows how important preparation can be."
Malinda
Sari Sembiring
Business and Economics
2025 3MT Finalist
“The 3MT experience challenged me to make my very niche PhD topic accessible to a diverse audience. Even just preparing a 3MT elevator pitch helps you develop a key scholarly skill: explaining why your research matters. It reconnects you with the purpose behind your PhD journey."
Patricia
Pillay
Arts and Education
2025 3MT Finalist
"3MT gave me the opportunity to explain my research in plain language. The workshops for participants are great at building these skills. At 3MT, we also learn about things that others are researching and expand our understanding of University life."
Ross Millar
Science
2025 3MT People's Choice
"I'd never realised quite how bogged down I'd become in esoteric terminology and legal concepts, and 3MT pushed me to explain my project in a way that cut through all that. Participating in 3MT really helped me connect with others and properly feel like a part of the University."
Kelly
Shuttleworth
Law
2025 3MT Finalist
