On 18 December 2025, the GuildHE Research Postgraduate Peer Support community ran a very successful informal Three Minute Thesis competition for postgraduate research (PGR) students at GuildHE Research member institutions. Attended by twenty-four students in total, thirteen PGR students challenged themselves to go beyond their comfort zones and present their research in just three minutes. The fantastic event showcased the amazing breadth of research at GuildHE Research institutions and supported doctoral students to build confidence and communication skills.

In this article, GuildHE Research PGR Peer Support community coordinators, Susan Birch and Peter Underwood, reflect on the success of the event.

Beneficial for students at any stage of their PhD journey

The three-minute event was the result of our own experiences and student feedback through the Peer Support community. Having participated in Three Minute Thesis contests at our respective universities, we both know how challenging preparing for an event like this can be. Condensing years of work (or planned work) into a three-minute presentation is a unique problem to solve. We also know the wide-ranging benefits that the event offers students at any stage of their PhD journey. 

However, student access to Three Minute Thesis (and similar) events varies. Some students are able to participate, but have no resources to help them prepare; others do not have the chance to participate in a Three Minute Thesis event at all, either because the event is in-person or because one doesn’t exist at their institution. By hosting a Three Minute Thesis event for the GuildHE Peer Support community, we were able to address these gaps, providing a practice run and feedback for students participating in Three Minute Thesis contests at their own institution, and giving those unable to otherwise participate the chance to benefit from presenting their research in such a unique format.

From osteoarthritis to the impact of bank closures 

The GuildHE Three Minute Thesis event attracted thirteen presenters across a range of universities including Buckinghamshire New University, Falmouth University, and the University of Suffolk. It included a huge breadth of research topics, including: osteoarthritis outcomes, the impact of bank closures, pointillism and Japanese culture, and gastronomic acculturation of Romanian immigrants, just to name a few. In addition, eleven students attended as audience members interested in the concept of a Three Minute Thesis presentation, and looking to perhaps participate in the future. During the event, feedback was given to students by ourselves and Dr Ellie Woodacre of the University of Winchester (who also hosted a talk on how to prepare for the Three Minute Thesis for us in September). Peer feedback from all the attendees was also collected during the event, and passed on to participants in the following days. 

With such a range of quality presenters, it proved very difficult to choose a winner! Alexandra Constantinescu was selected as the winner because her presentation on memory and food combined the key elements of the competition: engagement and clarity. All the students gave excellent feedback on the event and stated that it had given them more confidence to present at another Three Minute Thesis competition. One participant has even been in touch seeking advice regarding creating a Three Minute Thesis competition at her university. 

I am deeply grateful for the award and for the great feedback received from the organisers and from the wider community of researchers. I strongly encourage doctoral students and researchers to take part in future competitions - it is a great opportunity to connect with the community, to disseminate research and receive constructive feedback.

Alexandra Constantinescu, Buckinghamshire New University

If you are interested in hearing more about the event, or developing a Three Minute Thesis competition at your university, please do get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

 

GuildHE Research would like to thank PGR community coordinators, Peter Underwood at Bath Spa University, and Susan Birch at University of Winchester, for all their work in delivering this hugely successful event.