Preparing for a dissertation defence takes a lot of time: it is necessary not only to write the scientific work itself, but also to publish articles presenting its main results. How many publications are required to defend a dissertation in Kazakhstan, and in which journals can they be placed?
Requirements for scientific publications for defending a dissertation in Kazakhstan
The procedure for defending a dissertation in Kazakhstan is characterised by a complex structure and a high level of regulation. Applicants are expected not only to conduct thorough scientific research, but also to meet certain requirements for publication activity. Specific criteria have been established for the defence, relating to both the quantitative and qualitative parameters of scientific publications, which must be prepared well in advance of the submission of the dissertation.
It should be emphasised that these requirements are mandatory for applicants for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor on a profile. In this context, publication activity is a key indicator of a researcher's scientific maturity and readiness to defend their dissertation. Careful planning of publications and a strategic approach to the selection of journals can significantly optimise the preparation process for the defence and increase its effectiveness.
According to the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Approval of the Rules for Awarding Degrees”, applicants can choose one of several options to meet the publication requirements.
Option 1: Publication in a high-ranking international journal
The first option involves the preparation and publication of at least one scientific article or review paper in an international peer-reviewed journal that meets the established scientometrics indicators. In particular, the journal must:
- be included in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and have an impact factor
- be indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (in particular in the AHCI, SCIE or SSCI sections)
- have a CiteScore in the Scopus database of no less than the 25th percentile
In addition, the applicant must publish the research results in journals included in the official List of the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KOKSNVO). The number of such publications depends on the category of the journal.
Option 2. Publication of two works in international scientific journals
The second option involves the preparation of two scientific publications – these can be two articles or a combination of an article and a review in a 1:1 ratio – in international peer-reviewed journals that meet certain scientometrics criteria. In particular, such journals must:
- be represented in the Web of Science Core Collection (AHCI section)
- belong to the first three quartiles in terms of impact factor according to JCR
- have a CiteScore in the Scopus database of no less than the 35th percentile
Option 3. Publication of a chapter in an international monograph
As an alternative to article publications, it is permissible to prepare a chapter in a collective or individual monograph, provided that the established requirements are met:
- the doctoral student's contribution must be at least one printed sheet
- the monograph must be published by well-known international academic publishers, such as Elsevier, Brill, CRC Press, De Gruyter, Edward Elgar Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, McGraw-Hill, Palgrave Macmillan, Peter Lang, Prentice Hall, Routledge, SAGE Publications, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, Wolters Kluwer, or by a university press included in the top 100 of the US News Best Global Universities Rankings, Academic Ranking of World Universities or Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Option 4. Combined publication model
The fourth option is based on a combination of scientific publications. It involves:
- publishing one article in an international peer-reviewed journal that belongs to Q1 or Q2 according to the JCR indicator, or has a CiteScore level of at least the 35th percentile
- publishing one scientific paper in the proceedings of an international conference, published in sources with a JCR impact factor and indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection
Features for humanities majors
Special conditions are established for applicants to certain educational programmes:
- 8D017 – Training of teachers of Kazakh language and literature
- 8D060 – Philology
- D050 – Philosophy and ethics
- D053 – History
- other areas of pedagogical and humanities
Possible options for fulfilling publication requirements:
- The first option involves preparing at least one article in an international scientific journal that is indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (AHCI section) or has a CiteScore in the Scopus database of no less than the 25th percentile, as well as publishing works in journals included in the official List of Scientific Journals. The number of such publications is determined by the category of the respective journal.
- The second option involves publishing articles in journals included in Lists 1 and 2 of the List of Scientific Publications, with one of the publications being in English, and two (2) oral presentations at international scientific conferences.
Publications must belong to one of the following types:
- article
- review
- article in press
- conference paper
- conference proceedings
How are publications considered during the defence of a dissertation?
The quartile or percentile indicators of a journal are determined considering the year of publication of the article, the previous year or the status at the time of the dissertation defence.
The publication of research results in interdisciplinary scientific journals (in particular, Multidisciplinary, Interdisciplinary and similar categories) is permitted.
Articles published in foreign scientific journals may be counted as equivalent to publications in KOKSNVO journals, provided they meet the established criteria.
How many articles in journals from the KOKSNVO are required to defend a dissertation?
- List 1: one article is sufficient
- List 2: two articles are required
- List 3: three articles are required
Obtaining an academic degree confirms the highest level of competence in conducting research and developing scientific methodology. The awarding of degrees is official recognition of a researcher's high scientific qualifications. The earlier you start submitting materials to scientific journals, the greater the likelihood of timely publication, which will contribute to the successful defence of your dissertation and the dynamic development of your scientific career.
Do you want to publish scientific articles in time for your dissertation defence? With Scientific Publications, you will receive reliable support at every stage! Our specialists will help you choose the right journal and prepare a high-quality article for publication. Have questions? Fill out the form below, and our manager will contact you for a free consultation in the near future. Together to successful publication and dissertation defence!
