Early career researchers and students

The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that assists current students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Interested students registered on an educational, training or development course (e.g. undergraduate, masters or PhD degree programme, medical residency) are invited to submit abstracts to this competition. Anyone who is currently enrolled as a student or was enrolled as a student at any point between June 2025 and March 2027 is eligible to participate.

Applicants can submit their abstract to be considered for the 3MT student competition as well as for the free paper and poster sessions given the latter enables a more fulsome overview of their work.

Mentoring opportunities* are available upon request.

View the guidelines for the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) student competition (PDF, 129 kB)

* Mentoring
ISPO wants to support the students to bring their best to the 3MT competition. Mentoring is offered to support students with writing their abstracts and / or preparing their presentations. Students can request mentorship for abstract writing until Monday, 3 August 2026 to receive feedback by the end of August. Mentorship for preparing presentations can be requested by the end of January 2027. Please request support by emailing to info@ispo-congress.com .

A free paper is a professional communication describing qualitative / quantitative / mixed methods research such as a technique, case study, case series, clinical trial, review, experiment delivered as an oral podium presentation during the congress. Top ranking free papers are selected for oral presentation.

A poster may describe qualitative / quantitative / mixed methods research such as a technique, case study, case series, clinical trial, systematic review, or experiment. In contrast to free papers, a poster may present preliminary results or works in progress. Selected presenters of the highest ranked posters may be invited to present in rapid fire poster pitches.

Prior feedback (abstract triage)* is available upon request.

View the guidelines for free paper and poster abstracts (PDF, 150 kB)

* Feedback opportunity: Abstract triage

Feedback prior to submission (abstract triage) is available upon request. The intention of the offer of feedback relates primarily to the formatting, composition and structure of the abstract.

Abstract triage is primarily aimed at authors:

• a) who are new to scientific research,
• b) do not have mentors available to give critical feedback,
• c) whose feel they would benefit from advice on English language and / or
• d) whose submissions have been rejected previously.

Authors can consider the reviewer feedback and revise their abstract before formally submitting it to the usual peer review process. Reviewers will handle all information in the abstract confidentially.

Please note that integrating the reviewer feedback does not guarantee acceptance.

To request feedback by the end of August, please send your abstract in word format by Monday, 3 August 2026 to info@ispo-congress.com .