The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. Over 200 universities participate in this fun, highly informative and very entertaining event. UBC was one of the first Universities in North America to host a 3MT competition.
Our PHAS department has been participating since 2014, and every year we have PHAS grad students advance to the UBC Semi-finals, and almost every year, right through to the UBC 3MT FINALs. The PHAS heat is IN-PERSON only.
For full information, schedule, rules, eligibility, coaching sessions, judging criteria etc, see UBC 3 Minute Thesis
Please note that two of our recent PHAS finalists who placed in the top 3 (and won cash prizes!) in the past 5 years said they advantage of the
3MT Personal Presentation Feedback Sessions (20 min by appointment) Register for a one-on-one personal 3MT Feedback Session with Jacqui Brinkman and colleagues from Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Dates: Feb 18 to Mar 5, various days and times
Participate in one of the UBC Workshops for Grad Students and Postdocs on Feb 11, 13 and 14 on communicating your research.
After the UBC PHAS 3MT heat, the top PHAS presentation(s) will advance to the UBC-wide Semifinals, and hopefully we'll have a PHAS grad make it through to the UBC Finals, and maybe even the Canadian nationals and the International 3MT competition again!
Full details, times for the UBC-wide Semi-Finals and Finals will be on the UBC 3MT schedule
The overall UBC 3MT winner will advance to the Western Canadian National 3MT Competition at U Victoria this year.
And the top few Western Canadian participants will advance to the Canadian National 3MT Showcase, at the Delta Hotel in Ottawa on Nov 6, 2025.
Check out some UBC finalists and watch their 3MTs from past years: