Are you up for a challenge?

Each year, the Ohio State University Graduate School hosts an annual 3 Minute Thesis competition, challenging graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to present their research in 3 minutes or less. Colleges across the university hold their own competitions, selecting a college-level winner to advance to the university-wide competition. The winner of the university-level competition will then advance to the national 3MT competition.

Participation Guidelines

Students should review the information below and sent by The Graduate School for details about the 3MT competition requirements. Questions about the CFAES 3MT competition can be sent to the Graduate Education Program Manager, Kayla Kruse at kruse.231@osu.edu.

The deadline for the CFAES competition is typically the second Friday in January. The winner of the CFAES competition will advance to the university level competition (held in February).

The college competition will be held virtually. A recording of the finalist’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) video clip submission and 1 PowerPoint slide should be uploaded via the submission form. 

• Please use the PowerPoint template provided by the graduate school.
• If students have questions about uploading their video or need technical assistance, they should contact the IT Service Desk at: Phone: 614-688-4357 (HELP), Email: servicedesk@osu.edu.
• Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee.
• The Graduate School will determine the institutional nominee during their in-person 3MT competition, typically held the first week in February.
• This finalist will advance to the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition.

The Office for Research and Graduate Education will provide a grant to the top three competition awardees, transferred to their home department to be used for research and/or professional development:

• First place: $300 (and will advance to University competition as CFAES nominee)
• Second place: $200
• Third place: $100