The process of awarding a PhD degree is carried out in a certain order in several stages. All of them are prescribed in legislative acts.
Studying and obtaining a PhD degree requires considerable effort, time and compliance with established rules and requirements. All these efforts lead to the successful completion of studies and allow the student to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The procedure for awarding the degree of Doctor of Philosophy takes place in several stages, which are set out in the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 44 of 12 January 2022, as amended by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 507 of 3 May 2024.
The main stages of the Doctor of Philosophy degree
1. Acquisition of knowledge and research.
The first step on the way to obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy degree is to acquire an appropriate level of knowledge.
- the applicant must acquire theoretical knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies according to the standard of third-level higher education in the relevant speciality;
- conduct scientific research in the form of a dissertation;
- publish the main scientific results.
2. Writing a dissertation.
A prerequisite for obtaining any academic degree is to conduct a scientific research and present it in the form of a dissertation.
- the dissertation must contain new scientifically based results that are important for a particular field of knowledge;
- it must be written in the state language or in English;
- the requirements for a dissertation are determined by the Ministry of Education and Science.
3. Scientific publications.
The scientific results of the dissertation must be covered in at least three scientific publications, including:
- articles in professional scientific journals of Ukraine;
- articles in publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection and/or Scopus;
- one patent for an invention that has passed a qualifying examination;
- single monographs or chapters in collective monographs.
Articles on the topic of the dissertation research are accepted only if they substantiate the scientific results obtained in accordance with the objectives, purpose of the article and conclusions. After the Procedure enters into force, articles are credited on the topic of the dissertation only if they have an active DOI. Such articles do not include publications containing information classified as a state secret or information for official use.
It is not considered self-plagiarism to use the results of the author's scientific works in the dissertation without indicating references to them if these results have been previously published to summarise the main scientific findings of the dissertation and are noted in the abstract of the dissertation.
4. Submission of the thesis for defence.
The thesis is submitted for defence in the form of a specially prepared manuscript.
It is attached to the defence:
- Scientific publications.
- Certificate of completion of the educational and research programme.
- Conclusion of the supervisor.
- Conclusion on the scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance of the results.
5. Submission of the application.
After receiving a positive conclusion on the practical significance and results of the dissertation, the applicant applies to the Academic Council of his/her higher education institution with a written application for the formation of a one-time council. It is important that the application must be received no later than two weeks after receiving the conclusion.
In the application, the applicant confirms that the dissertation was completed independently, adhering to the principles of academic integrity, confirms the availability of the final text of the dissertation for defence and indicates the language of defence (state or English at the applicant's request).
The application must be accompanied by:
- printed and electronic versions of the dissertation in PDF/A format with a text layer and a qualified electronic signature (using a qualified electronic time stamp);
- scientific publications or copies of them that highlight the scientific results of the dissertation;
- certificate of completion of the educational and research programme;
- conclusion of the supervisor;
- a conclusion on the scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance of the results of the dissertation.
It should be noted that applicants who are not residents of Ukraine may also use a qualified electronic signature (using a qualified electronic time stamp) in accordance with the legislation of the country of their residence.
6. Formation of a one-time council.
The Academic Council establishes a one-time council no later than two months after receiving the applicant's application.
- The one-time council consists of five people: the chairman of the council, reviewers and official opponents.
If the institution is not able to appoint two reviewers in accordance with the requirements of this Procedure, the one-time council is created as a part of the chairman of the council, one reviewer and three official opponents.
It is worth noting that official opponents cannot work at the same institution, nor have joint publications with the chairman of the board, reviewers and supervisor in the last five years. Official opponents are included in the ad hoc board only with their written consent.
- Members of the one-time council must have at least three scientific publications on the subject of the dissertation in the last five years.
7. Requirements for members of the one-time board.
Members of the council cannot be:
- the supervisor of the applicant;
- head of the institution where the council is formed;
- co-authors of the applicant's scientific publications;
- persons with a conflict of interest;
- persons who have violated academic integrity.
8. Dissertation defence.
The date, time and place of the public defence of the dissertation are set by the dissertation council.
- the thesis defence is held in public at a meeting of the one-time council;
- the defence consists of a report by the candidate, questions from the members of the council and those present, the candidate's answers and a discussion of the thesis.
The higher education institution broadcasts the thesis defence in real time on its official website. In addition, a video recording of the broadcast is published on the institution's website in accordance with all legal requirements.
9. Decisions of a one-time council.
- the decision to confer the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is made if it is supported by at least four members of the one-time council;
- the decision to refuse to confer the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is made if it is supported by two or more members of the one-time council;
- the decision is made by secret ballot.
10. Approval of the decision.
- the decision of the one-time council to confer the degree of Doctor of Philosophy;
- is approved by the Academic Council of the higher education institution or research institution;
- upon approval of the decision, a Doctor of Philosophy degree is issued.
In accordance with paragraph 33 of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 44 of 12.01.2022, if within 15 calendar days from the date of defence of the dissertation the higher education institution has identified violations set out in the Procedure, or if the educational institution receives a report of violations, the order of the institution to issue a Doctor of Philosophy degree to the applicant is issued if the Academic Council decides to uphold the decision of the one-time council.
The process of awarding the degree of Doctor of Philosophy includes the acquisition of relevant knowledge and competencies, conducting research, publishing the results, submitting and defending the dissertation to the one-time council, making a decision by the council, its approval by the academic council and the possibility of appeal.
