The biennial competition aims to enable young researchers to present their scientific results, receive feedback on their work, and be recognized. One of these awards is the Pro Scientia Gold Medal, which has been given to 48 students. 

Written by: Tamara Reichl, Cover photo: Marcell Kiss 

The next person to be interviewed in our TDK series is László Marcell Kiss, a former student of Corvinus University of Budapest. He graduated in 2025 with a degree in economics and financial mathematics in an undivided programme. That year, he also received a prestigious award, as he was awarded the Pro Scientia Gold Medal. Marci’s wide range of interests and perseverance have helped him to achieve this award, as well as his impressive results at the OTDK as well. 

University years 

In addition to being an excellent student and an enthusiastic researcher, Marci also strengthened the FAKT College for Advanced Studies during his university years. According to him, this environment helped him through the initial period, as he came to Budapest from the countryside and found the transition difficult at first. However, at FAKT, he found a group of people who helped him in every way possible, and in addition to the good atmosphere and having fun, they also spent time studying together. 

“Between two classes, you can have a seat in the college’s office, and there’ll definitely be someone there with whom you can laugh, listen to music together, or even complain to each other. That’s why this office was one of the highlights of my university years.” 

All about TDK 

All members of the FAKT College for Advanced Studies are required to write at least one TDK thesis, and that’s how Marci started on this path. He told us that they get a lot of support in this. College students have the opportunity to attend self-organized preparatory courses, which conclude with assignments that resemble a shorter thesis. In addition to this, they inspire each other, and the motivation of others helped Marci in his own work. 

Once he started his research, it was difficult for him to stop: during his studies, he wrote five TDK theses on various topics. These include, for example, the impact of the decisions of major central banks on the financial environment of smaller countries or the development of quotas between different continents at the World Cup. In his work, he was able to rely not only on his own determination and the inspiration from his FAKT fellows, but also on his advisor, Milán Badics. 

“I learned the true researcher’s approach from Milán, and I think what he does in terms of TDK mentoring is outstanding. I’m glad that life brought us together!” added Marci gratefully. He felt that they both spent a lot of time on their joint work, his advisor helped him with many relevant articles and ideas, and always listened to his doubts too. 

Marci can boast many great results, but he felt it was important to emphasize that he didn’t really work on his research in exchange for recognition. He really enjoyed the journey he took while writing his thesis, and the awards were just the icing on the cake! The most memorable event for him was the OTDK of 2025 and the awards he won there. He earned two first places and a special award for his achievements, and subsequently received the award for Most Successful Student. 

“As a freshman, seeing the Pro Scientia Gold Medal students, I felt very distant from them professionally. I never thought I’d be one of them one day!” – began Marci by describing how it felt to receive this award. 

However, he added that the medal wasn’t as big of a surprise to him as his earlier OTDK placements. To him, it felt great to be called out several times and then be congratulated by many, he was proud of himself for being able to achieve this. 

Marci also offered advice to those considering writing a TDK thesis. He said that it’s essential to choose a good supervisor who is easy to work with and knowledgeable about the subject. He also emphasized the importance of choosing the right theme. In his opinion, it’s worth thinking about the main question of research very carefully so that it won’t become boring, because if you enjoy doing something, working with it will also become easier. He also shared with us that there’s no need to be afraid of publication; if someone has such ambitions, they should go for it! 

Present and future 

Although currently Marci isn’t working as a researcher, he does not rule out the possibility of obtaining a PhD in the future. He’s also interested in psychology and has already started his undergraduate studies in it. Whatever field he ends up working in, we wish him continued success! 

If you’re interested in research, you can write and submit your TDK thesis as early as the fall semester, by November 12! Also, don’t miss Corvinus TDK’s next event, TDKarakter, where stories, ideas, and insights will take center stage in a light-hearted conversation. Former TDK students and a Pro Scientia award-winning student will share their experiences. Although this event will be held in Hungarian, Corvinus TDK also organises events in English, so be sure to follow their page to stay informed about upcoming events.