In the University of Graz competition, 12 doctoral candidates from various disciplines will rise to the challenge and try to captivate the audience with entertaining and engaging presentations of their research.
Join this event to support the contestants as they contend for the People’s Choice Award and the 3MT Graz Title!
What: 3MT Competition - University of Graz
When: 6 March 2026, 7 pm
Where: Literaturhaus Graz, Elisabethstraße 30, 8010 Graz
Free Admission. Free Snacks.
The 3MT Competition was developed by the University of Queensland (Australia).
The Graz event is hosted by the Research Careers Campus and is the first stage of the European Coimbra Group 3MT competition.
Please note: In order to participate in the international Coimbra Group 3MT competition the presentations of the participants will be filmed, while the audience will not be visible on film. Further details will be provided at the event!
Friday, March 6, 2026, 7 pm–9 pm at Literaturhaus, 8010 Graz
Participating doctoral candidates are required to present concrete research results (not mere research plans). All doctoral candidates at the University of Graz who have already achieved results in their dissertation projects are therefore eligible to apply.
Not eligible for participation are:
- Doctoral candidates who began their doctoral studies in winter semester 2025/26
- Doctoral candidates who will have graduated by March 2026
Please make sure that you will be available on the following dates:
Mandatory Info-Event: Wednesday, 14 January 2026, 2 pm.
Workshop (recommended): 30 Jan, 4 Feb, 5 Feb, 2026, each day after 2 pm.
Coaching Sessions: 17+20 Feb, 2026, each day after 2 pm.
Send a mail to rcc@uni-graz.at with your name + field of study + a summary of your doctoral thesis in three clear-cut sentences
Application deadline: Monday, 5 January 2026
Notifications of acceptance will be sent out until Friday, January 9, 2026.
Winner 1250 Euro
People’s Choice 650 Euro
The 3MT competition will be recorded for the Coimbra Group competition, but only the winning video will be sent to Coimbra Group.
All participants will receive access to recordings of their presentations after the event.
Clips from the presentations will only be published with the participants' consent! Details and consent forms will be discussed at the information event on January 14, 2026.
What you can expect from the event on March 6, 2026 ...
... interesting and entertaining presentations from some of the brightest research prospects of the University of Graz
... free entry, the option to get refreshments at the Schrille Grille (self-pay basis), free snacks
... the chance to vote for your favorite presenter for the People's Choice Award
What is this event about?
The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition requires doctoral researchers to compete to deliver the best research presentation in just 3 minutes, with just one presentation slide to aid them in their presentation.
It is based on a concept developed by the University of Queensland in 2008 which quickly spread across Australia and New Zealand, and has gone global.
At the 3 Minute Thesis Competition Graz the participating doctoral candidates compete for the People's Choice (audience award) and the 3MT Graz title (jury award).
The Uni Graz competition is part of the international Coimbra Group Three Minute Thesis Competition. In order to participate in the international competition, the winning video of the Graz 3MT will be sent to the Coimbra Group after the event.
- Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question.
- Presentation provided clear positionality of the presenter to the research and research approach.
- Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research.
- Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research.
- The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience.
- The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation.
- The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.