2026 Pitt 3MT Competition Timeline
The 2026 Pitt 3MT Competition is now open to ALL eligible PhD and SJD students.
- March 2026: School-level 3MT competitions
- Monday, April 6, 2026, noon-2 p.m.: Pitt 3MT Competition
Hillman Library, Room TBA
This annual event is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and University Library System.
National Competitions
- April 2026: The winner of Pitt’s competition will advance to the virtual 3MT Competition hosted by the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS).
- December 2026: The NAGS winner and runner-up will progress to the Council of Graduate Schools’ national 3MT Competition in December 2026.
What is a 3MT competition?
The 3MT competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
Who is eligible to enter?
PhD and SJD students who have successfully completed the dissertation proposal defense (candidate status) and are actively in the dissertation stage of training are eligible.
Prizes for the Pitt 3MT Competition
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and University Library System.
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First place prize: $1,000 travel/research grant
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Two runners-up prizes: $500 travel/research grant
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People's Choice prize: $1,000 travel/research grant
School Competitions
As part of the events leading up to the main competition, schools will be hosting their own individual competitions from which they will send finalists (one per school) to compete on April 6.
We encourage interested and eligible students to contact their school’s 3MT representatives for more details on how to participate, if you haven’t already done so.
The school competitions will occur in March. Check back soon for dates and times of school competitions and each school's 3MT contact.
Presentation Resources
To help you prepare, participants are highly encouraged to watch the following video recording: “Basics of Effective Communication to a General Audience” from Dr. John Radzilowicz, University Center for Teaching and Learning. This resource provides crucial tips on how to develop a winning 3MT presentation. Note that students must log in with Pitt credentials to view the recording.
Consult 3MT’s drafting guidelines and watch examples from past winners on 3MT’s Competitor Guide.
Ensure that your presentation adheres to the 3MT’s competition rules outlined by the University of Queensland, which founded the event.
Judging Criteria
Check back to see who our distinguished judges will be—and who will hear our competitors talk about their research.
Competitors are assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.
- Comprehension and Content
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- Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
- Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
- Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
- Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact, and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
- Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation—or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?
- Engagement and Communication
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- Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
- Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
- Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
- Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact, and vocal range; maintain a steady pace; and have a confident stance?
- Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation—was it clear, legible, and concise?
Questions?
Email graduate@pitt.edu.