National 3-MINUTE Thesis Competition

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) in Canada

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an internationally recognized competition for thesis-based graduate students in which participants present their scholarly and creative activity and its wider impact in 3 minutes or less.
 
The challenge is to present complex research in an accessible and compelling way with the assistance of only one static slide. Created in 2008 at the University of Queensland, Australia, the competition celebrates exciting and innovative graduate student research while promoting communication, public speaking, and storytelling skills.
 
The first 3MT competition to be held in Canada took place at the University of British Columbia in 2011, and in 2014 the first national 3MT competition was held. Today, dozens of Canadian universities and research institutes host annual competitions, with winners moving on to one of three regional competitions (Western, Ontario, Eastern) before competing in the National 3MT Showcase. The top two winners of the Canadian event advance to compete at the North American 3MT Showcase.
The Canadina National 3MT Showcase is hosted annual by CAGS and, for 2026, will be held in Regina, SK, in early November. The North American 3MT Showcase is hosted annually by the Council for Graduate Schools (CGS) and, for 2026, will be held in Los Angeles, CA, in early December. 

2026 3MT CAnadian Circuit

Western Regional

  • Host: To be determined
  • Date: To be determined
  • Primary Contact: To be determined
  • Email: To be determined

Ontario Regional

  • Host: Brock University
  • Date: To be determined
  • Primary Contact: To be determined
  • Email: To be determined

Eastern Regional

  • Host: Saint Mary’s University
  • Date: Friday, 5 June 2026
  • Primary Contact: To be determined
  • Email: To be determined

2026 National 3MT Showcase

  • Host: Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS)
  • Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026
  • Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
  • Primary Contact: Ian Wereley
  • Email: ian.wereley@cags.ca
    • 3MT®