The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges PhD students to present their research clearly and concisely — in just three minutes and with only one slide.
Held annually at Aarhus University, 3MT celebrates the art of science communication and highlights the importance of making complex research accessible to a broad audience. The format encourages clarity, creativity, and engagement, offering a unique platform to showcase the impact of academic research beyond the university walls.
For more details, explore the competition below, see this year's competitors, and find out who won the 2025 3MT competition, including the two runner-ups, the Special Mentioned Award winners.
On 12 June, Uffe Kjærgaard participated in the prestigious final of the Coimbra Group Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, held during the General Assembly at the University of Bologna. Competing against doctoral candidates from leading European universities, Uffe delivered an impressive presentation that earned him a well-deserved joint second place.
This year’s competition featured 28 talented PhD students from across the Coimbra Group universities. Following a competitive selection process, Uffe was named one of just three finalists, representing Aarhus University at the live final in Italy.
The jury awarded a first prize of €2,000 and two runner-up prizes of €1,500 each.
Here you can rewatch Uffe's prestation from the competition held at Aarhus Universitet 19 March.
Every year, Aarhus University invites its PhD students to participate in the 3 Minute Thesis competition (3MT). In 2025, the competition will be held in Stakladen at Aarhus University on 19 March.
In 3MT, PhD students present their research project in three minutes for an audience of non-specialists with only one static slide – and no other resources. To prepare the participating PhD students for this challenging exercise, the PhD students are taken through a communication workshop, feedback session and practice session before the competition.
A internal AU jury will announce the internal AU winner based on the judging criteria mentioned in the Coimbra Group Call below.
The video of the performance of the internal AU winner will be submitted to the international competition held by the Coimbra Group of more than 35 European universities. A Coimbra Group panel will then select the top three candidates, who will be invited to present at the Coimbra Group annual conference. In 2025, the 3MT international competition will be held on 12 June at the University of Bologna.
The 3MT was founded at University of Queensland, Australia in 2008 and is held at over 900 universities across more than 85 countries.
Uffe Kjærgaard, Ph.D. student at the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University, emerged as the overall winner of the 3MT Competition 2025, held on March 19. Competing against 16 other talented researchers, Uffe captivated the jury with his ability to distill complex scientific concepts into an engaging and accessible presentation. His outstanding performance earned him the prestigious title and a grant of 35,000 DKK to support his research through international collaborations and conference travels.
The 3MT Competition 2025 also recognized two exceptional participants with Special Mentioned Awards for their remarkable presentations.
Kerstin De Keukeleere, Ph.D. student at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University, secured second place with a research presentation that combined scientific depth with humor, making her work both insightful and entertaining.
Marie Hélène van De Ven, Ph.D. student at the School of Culture and Society, earned third place with an engaging presentation that underscored the broader societal relevance of her research.
Meet Omeed Neghabat and Anne Lundahl Mauritsen - two former contestants in the 3MT Competition. Among other things, they for example learned how to structure and deliver a presentation in one coherent connection. Watch the two videos below and learn more!
