Skip to content

HDR student competitions

Learning to share the impact and significance of your research, in short, easy to understand and memorable ways, to a variety of audiences is one of the key communication skills that as a researcher you can learn to master!  

Engaging in HDR competitions is one such way to learn these skills, undertake training and gain feedback, showcase your research, stretch yourself professionally and go in the draw to win some amazing prizes, and who knows you could go on to represent UniSQ at national or international finals!  

We would encourage you to consider getting involved in some of the fabulous competitions below.  

UniSQ runs local versions of some of these competitions where we provide you with the training and coaching to develop your entry, and with others you are applying to enter a national field of competitors. We do have some valuable resources to get you started in this space!  

We have a whole self-paced module on how you can Present your Research with Confidence! If you want to learn how you can best present your research this is a valuable resource.  

The Virtual 3MT® Asia-Pacific Competition is an academic research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.  

It is the chance for Higher Degree by Research candidates (who have completed their confirmation of candidature) to enter a competition where they could go on to represent UniSQ, with national and international recognition, prize money, and new audiences for their research.  

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by HDR students. 3MT® cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.   

The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.  

Learn more about the UniSQ competition. 

University research has the power to enhance our economy, improve our societies and better the world. But how do you get the world on board with your research and the potential benefits it could deliver? You need to Pitch it Clever!  

Pitch it Clever is an annual competition from Universities Australia that challenges early-career researchers to communicate their research and why it matters to non-specialist audiences via video.  

There are three awards and three amazing prizes up for grabs in the Pitch it Clever Competition.  

Check back soon for details on the 2024 competition!
Which wall will your research break? Pitch your innovative idea in just three minutes, showcasing a breakthrough that creates a positive impact on science and society.  

The 2023 Brisbane competition will be held on Thursday 27 July at the University of Queensland St Lucia Campus in Brisbane. Applicants must reside in Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australia (QLD, NT, WA).  

Entries for the 2023 are yet to open. Please visit https://falling-walls.com/lab/apply/brisbane/ for further information.

There will be international lab competitions across the globe. To view confirmed lab locations near you visit the Falling Walls website.