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Education Guide to Thesis Writing

Guide to Thesis Writing

Guide to Thesis Writing (from 2021):

If it doesn’t download any of them, you can try the right-click and save the link.

The leaflet entitled “Guide to Thesis Writing” supplements the regulations regarding thesis writing and summarizes the most important formal requirements, the ways of citing literature, and the compilation of the bibliography of the TDK thesis requirements: https://tdk.univet.hu/eng/2024requrements.php.

If you have any questions or need further information, please get in touch with the librarian in person or by email ([Click to see email]).

Thesis FAQ

How many pages should a thesis be?

There currently need to be specific rules on the length of these. Generally, the shortest theses at our university are 31-33 pages long, and the average dissertation is 35-45 pages long, but there are also some 50-80 page theses. This refers to numbered pages, so it does not include, e.g., the thesis statement. Still, it does include the title page, the contents, acknowledgments (if any), a list of abbreviations (if any), the main text, and the bibliography.

In many cases, the topic will determine the optimum length, and the topic leader can help you ensure that everything the topic requires has been covered.

Is there a limit to the length of a citation?

One or two sentences or short paragraphs (3-5 lines) are usually taken. Then, please follow with your thoughts (at least a few sentences), followed by a new quote if you need to.

How many times is it possible to quote in the thesis?

It is possible to cite as many times as you like (appr. 20-50), but it is essential to do so mainly at the beginning of the thesis, during the literature review.

Except for the cover of the physical paper, which is not included in the electronic version, the two materials must be completely identical. Both versions must contain the full text of the paper along with the appendices, the thesis progress report, and the supervisor’s sheet (which records the consultations).

If an author cites someone, should I cite the original author or the one I found the citation?

If there is a citation in the literature you have read, you should look for the original (at least online). The original material should be cited, not the citation.

Can sentences only be quoted verbatim in the thesis?

Naturally, quotation is not limited to word-for-word repetition. You can also cite a line of thought or an idea, and in that case, the student conveys the original concept in their own writing, while still properly indicating that it is a citation at the end. When you paraphrase or summarize an idea this way, you do not need to enclose the sentence in quotation marks.

Do the paper and electronic versions of the thesis have to be identical?

Except for the cover of the physical paper, which is not included in the electronic version, the two materials must be completely identical. Both versions must contain the full text of the paper along with the appendices, the thesis progress report, and the supervisor’s sheet (which records the consultations).

What are “Thesis progress reports for veterinary students” (with confirmation)?

The Thesis progress reports are managed by the supervisor during the semester and given to the student when the paper is finished. You must include them in your thesis (both paper and electronic versions).

Does the referencing in the TDK paper need to be formatted according to the instructions in the document titled ‘Guide to Thesis Writing’?

No. Unlike a formal thesis work, TDK papers don’t require a uniformly applied referencing style across the entire university’s body of work; it’s only necessary for the references to appear ‘in an appropriate manner’ in the text and for all of them to be listed in a bibliography/list of references.

Do papers previously submitted within the framework of the TDK need to be formally or substantially revised or rewritten to comply with the current thesis guidelines?

No. The paper accepted by the TDK must be submitted as is, without modification, for consistency purposes; only a declaration regarding the consistency needs to be added.

Are papers checked for plagiarism?

A plagiarism check via Neptun is mandatory for all theses submitted in the academic year 2025/2026. The thesis supervisor evaluates the results, and if necessary, the thesis is modified and re-uploaded before final submission. The similarity check will also cover TDK papers submitted in 2025/26. Still, it will not apply to documents successfully submitted for a TDK in the past and now submitted as a thesis with an equivalence statement because they have already been written and accepted based on a previous event.

Turnitin Similarity searches (and finds) text similarity in more than 90 billion currently available and archived web pages, 80 million library databases, textbooks, articles available in digital collections, publications published in or submitted to the Crossref database and in the University’s HuVetA repository.

You don’t need to do anything in advance for the verification; you must upload your thesis to Neptun by Friday, 28 November 2025.

After the Neptun submission deadline for Turnitin check, your thesis will be checked for similarity with Turnitin Similarity. The results will be sent to your supervisor, who will evaluate and let you know if any changes to the thesis are needed. The final deadline for thesis submission is Friday, December 5, 2025.

For specific rules for TDK (e.g., dates), please look at the TDK website.

Can I use text generated by artificial intelligence in my thesis?

The university’s regulation, which comes into effect from August 2025, permits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) under strict conditions and with the students’ full assumption of responsibility. The prerequisites for this are mandatory preliminary consultation with the supervisor and the precise specification in the written work of the AI tools used and the manner of their application. The full description is available here. On the page below, we have compiled some thoughts and the characteristics of well-known AI services, as well as what they might be suitable for in a higher education environment.

I have heard that the Copyright Statement is not required but is included at the end of the Guide to Writing a Thesis. Should I still attach it to my thesis?

No. Since 2023, there has been no need to submit a Copyright Statement because higher education institutions must publish students’ theses.