UCC Three Minute Thesis Competition 2026

14 Jul 2026

Are you a doctoral researcher who wishes to develop as a confident research communicator by sharing your research with a diverse audience?

The Office of the Dean of Doctoral Studies and the Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation are delighted to announce the launch of the 4th annual University wide UCC Thesis in Three Minutes competition.

The UCC Three Minute Thesis competition will support doctoral students to develop as confident research communicators. All postgraduate research students are eligible to enter. Entrants are asked to present their research using one slide taking a maximum of three minutes; performances are also welcome. The aim of the presentation is to communicate your research to a diverse audience, and to support your development as a confident research communicator.

Competition guidelines

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and entries exceeding 3 minutes are invalid.
• A single static slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description).
• A video accompanied by audio should be submitted (audio and video in one file).
• The presentation should be continuous (i.e. one take, no editing).
• The video timing commences when the candidate starts speaking.

What does the winner receive?

1st place: €500 cash prize.

The winner will also represent UCC at the Irish Universities Association (IUA) National Three Minute Thesis final in Dublin on 16^th December 2026.

How to enter?

Only entries submitted through the Three Minute Thesis submission form are accepted.

Submission deadline

The closing date for entries is 5pm on Monday 31^st August 2026.

Shortlisting committee

The judging panel will comprise of the Dean of Doctoral Studies and the Vice Dean of Graduate Studies in each college.

• Professor Orla Lynch - Dean of Doctoral Studies.
• Professor Eric Moore - Vice Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science.
• Dr Barry Monahan - Vice Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.
• Professor Jane Bourke - Vice Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Business and Law.
• Professor Elaine Lehane - Vice Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Medicine and Health.

Awards ceremony

Shortlisted entries will present at the in-person finals of the Three Minute Thesis competition on Tuesday 13^th October 2026.

Got a query?

Check out our competition website for full information, and direct all further queries to the Dean of Doctoral Studies, Professor Orla Lynch (Email: dds@ucc.ie)