How the 3MT competition works

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech.
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or "movement") and is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear motivation, background, and significance to the research question.
• 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.
  

Engagement and communication

• 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.

• All currently enrolled doctoral candidates are eligible to compete in the University of Auckland 3MT Competition. This includes doctoral candidates whose theses are under examination by the date of their first presentation.
• On-campus participants must normally compete in their Faculty Heat.
• Participants whose faculties have not organised a Faculty Heat may join the online Open Heat.
  
• Participants who are registered as off-campus candidates may also join the online Open Heat.
• Cross-faculty entrants must compete in the heat organised by the faculty of their main supervisor. If this faculty has not organised a Faculty Heat, then they may compete in the online Open Heat.
• The online Open Heat winner will be invited to take part in the Finals in person.
• If a doctoral candidate would like to take part in the Open Heat due to exceptional circumstances, they would need to apply to register via the 3MT Open Heat online registration form.
  

• The University of Auckland 3MT competition is structured in heats, consisting of in-person Faculty Heats and an online Open Heat.
• For heats with fewer than eight participants, one winner and one runner-up may be chosen. A draw is not permitted. The winner will qualify for the University of Auckland 3MT Final. If the winner is not able to attend the Final, the runner-up may be invited to attend in their place.
• For heats with eight or more participants, one winner, one runner-up, and one third place may be chosen. The winner and the runner-up will qualify for the University of Auckland 3MT Final. If the winner or runner-up are not able to attend the Final, the entrant who has placed third may be invited to attend in their place.
• The organisers reserve their right to add in additional wild card entries for the University of Auckland 3MT Final.
• All the heats are judged by a panel of three, who will provide feedback on the quality of the presentations. 
• At the University of Auckland 3MT Final, prizes will be awarded to the winner, the runner-up and the people's choice. No feedback will be provided during the Final, but feedback may be requested from the organisers after the event.

• Finalists will be required to agree to media exposure for their presentation and research, and accept that the Final may be filmed and made available to view on the University of Auckland website and other platforms and channels associated with the University. Recordings may also be used for the purpose of training and workshops.
• The winner will compete in the Asia-Pacific 3MT Virtual Competition (run by the University of Queensland, Australia) and the U21 3MT Virtual Competition. If the winner is unavailable for those events, the runner-up may be invited to represent the University instead.
• While all currently enrolled doctoral candidates are eligible to compete in the University of Auckland 3MT Competition, candidates who compete in the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition and the U21 3MT Competition must have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation. Therefore, if the winner of the University of Auckland Final has not been confirmed into their programme, then the top-scoring confirmed candidate will be invited to compete in the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition and the U21 3MT Competition instead.