3MTT programme — master your 3-minute research pitch

Can you explain your entire research in three minutes? The 3MTT programme helps researchers do exactly that. It’s a short-presentation training built on the Three Minute Thesis idea: clear message, no jargon, and one strong visual. This guide gives you quick, practical steps to craft a tight pitch and a simple checklist to use before you step on stage.

How to structure your 3MTT presentation

Start with a one-line hook that grabs attention. Say what problem you solve and why it matters in one sentence. Next, add a single sentence about your approach—no methods detail, just the idea. Then state the main result or a clear outcome. Finish with one sentence on the real-world impact or next step. That’s five sentences max: hook, problem, approach, result, impact.

Use plain language. Replace technical terms with everyday words. If you must use a term, explain it quickly with an everyday example. People remember stories better than lists—so frame your work around a problem someone faces and how your research fixes it.

Keep visuals minimal. One static slide works best: a clear image, a short headline, and nothing else. Avoid bullet-heavy slides or multiple animations. The slide should support your message, not repeat it.

Practical tips for delivery and practice

Time your talk until it feels natural at three minutes. Practice out loud, standing up, with the slide. Record one run and watch for filler words and rushed endings. Aim for steady pacing; slow down on the key sentence you want people to remember.

Work on voice and body language. Use varied tone, short pauses, and one or two purposeful gestures. Keep eye contact with the audience—if you’re nervous, pick friendly faces across the room. Wear something comfortable and test the microphone beforehand.

Plan for questions if your event has them. Prepare one or two short extra lines that explain the method or future work, and know one clear takeaway you want judges and the audience to remember.

Organizing a 3MTT event? Set clear judging criteria: clarity of communication, significance of the research, and engagement. Give presenters at least two practice slots and a tech check. Keep rules simple: one slide, three minutes, no props.

Common mistakes to avoid: overloading with data, reading slides, using too many acronyms, and ending abruptly. Replace those with one clear story, one strong visual, and a confident closing line that ties back to your hook.

Quick checklist before you present: time your full run, test the slide on the event screen, memorize your opening and closing lines, remove jargon, and breathe. Want a simple test? If you can explain your research in a short message to a friend over coffee, you’re close.

Try one focused practice run today. Trim anything that doesn’t help your central message and aim to leave the audience with one clear idea they’ll remember.