  We regularise the 3d \lambda \phi^4 model by discretising the Euclidean time
and representing the spatial part on a fuzzy sphere. The latter involves a
truncated expansion of the field in spherical harmonics. This yields a
numerically tractable formulation, which constitutes an unconventional
alternative to the lattice. In contrast to the 2d version, the radius R plays
an independent r\^{o}le. We explore the phase diagram in terms of R and the
cutoff, as well as the parameters m^2 and \lambda. Thus we identify the phases
of disorder, uniform order and non-uniform order. We compare the result to the
phase diagrams of the 3d model on a non-commutative torus, and of the 2d model
on a fuzzy sphere. Our data at strong coupling reproduce accurately the
behaviour of a matrix chain, which corresponds to the c=1-model in string
theory. This observation enables a conjecture about the thermodynamic limit.
