On this page we explain what TDK is, how you can take part and what benefits it can offer you. If you’re curious, scroll down to find out more.
Student research conference, or TDK for short, is a fantastic opportunity for students in higher education to develop their talents and delve deeper into a subject of their choice.
The history of the TDK dates back to the 1950s, when the conference was first organised, and it has been one of the most important forms of talent nurturing in Hungarian higher education ever since. Students work around a supervisor to carry out scientific research, solve specific problems and create creative projects. The result of the joint project work is an essay that goes beyond the scope of the taught curriculum, is scientifically rigorous and presents the topic from a new perspective. It takes a lot of learning, research and months of work to produce such a paper, and the close collaboration of a dedicated consultant and their student is essential.
Higher education institutions regularly organise conferences to showcase the results of their TDK work. Participation in an institutional TDK conference requires the preparation and submission of a paper summarising the work done and an oral presentation, which is evaluated and scored by a professional jury. The most successful essays will be invited to the biennial National Student Research Conference (OTDK). It is Hungary’s largest scientific event, presenting and evaluating the scientific and artistic achievements and research projects of the most outstanding students, with more than 4 000 entries today. The growing importance of the TDK is also demonstrated by the fact that the number of universities, including those from abroad, joining the movement has already increased significantly in the last century.
How does the TDK process work? How can you do a TDK?
Choose a topic that not only interests you and that you would like to explore, but that you would be happy to present your research on to others. If you don’t have an idea of your own but would like to do some research, look around your university: there are TDK student circles that can help you choose.
Find out which lecturers or researchers can help you write your paper or ask a sympathetic mentor from your institution to inspire you and with whom you can choose a topic and work together on the research and the resulting paper.
This is the point of the TDK. You are more by researching, discovering and doubting. Find out everything you can about your topic, dig in, confirm your hypothesis or find out if you started out with the wrong idea. Do your own research that no one else has ever thought of or that supports other people’s theories.
Writing a thesis is a longer process. A thesis is usually a 20-50 pages long publication that includes your research findings and methods. It is a good idea to start by reading the content and format requirements for the papers in the section you want to apply for at the OTDK.
Institutional student research conferences are held in all higher education institutions in Hungary and in many other countries every six months or every year. Your TDT officer will be able to provide you with information about the TDK conferences held at your university and how to apply.
The TDK conference is a very exciting event: you can finally present your research and hear how far other students have come in their own research. Judges, teachers and researchers will give their opinions, score your results and advise you on how to take your research forward. There are two options: 1. If you are not recommended to participate in the National Student Research Conference, you can go back to point 3 or 4, you should continue working on your research so that you are better prepared for the next institutional TDK conference. 2. If your entry is recommended for OTDK, then you can apply for the OTDK!