Registration for the Three Minute Thesis Competition set to open

Registration for the 2026 Three Minute Thesis Competition is set to open on Monday, Nov. 3, and will close on Monday, Dec. 1.

The Three Minute Thesis competition invites graduate students to present a compelling discussion on their research topic, including its significance and relevance to the general public, in three minutes or less.

Participants will submit a three-minute video of their presentation for the preliminary round, and finalists will be chosen to compete in the live, in-person championship on Feb. 12, 2026. The competitors will be judged on content, comprehension, communication and engagement.

Each preliminary round winner will receive $250 and advance to the live championship round. The championship round winner will receive an additional $1,000. The champion will also advance to the Western Association of Graduate Schools Regional 3MT competition.

NDSU graduate students enrolled for spring semester 2026 are eligible to register. For more details, visit the NDSU Three Minute Thesis website.

The Three Minute Thesis competition was developed by the University of Queensland in 2008. NDSU graduate students have showcased their research for staff, faculty, students and community leaders since 2015.