Publishing in a Scopus journal is not a single action or a single date on the calendar. It is a sequential process consisting of several stages, each of which adds weeks and months to the overall timeline. At the same time, the requirements of the Committee on Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Ministry of National Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan introduce a critical nuance that neither journal editors nor universities warn authors about.
This article provides real figures on apartments in accordance with KOKSNVO requirements, highlights key pitfalls, and outlines the minimum planning horizon needed to ensure your defense is not denied.
What Makes Up the Full Publication Cycle
The entire process for an article, from submission to the point when KOKSNVO counts it as published, consists of four consecutive stages:
1. Peer review. Initial editorial review (desk check) plus external reviewers. Turnaround time: 2–4 weeks for fast-track open-access journals (MDPI, Frontiers) to 3–6 months for top-tier journals from Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley.
2. Revision rounds (revision). Authors' response to reviewers' comments. Typically, there are 1–3 rounds, each adding 2–8 weeks for the authors and another 2–4 weeks for the editorial staff.
3. Production (layout and online publication). Proofreading, DOI, online publication as an “Article in Press.” Usually 1–4 weeks after acceptance.
4. Indexing lag (delay in indexing in Scopus). The time lag between the date of online publication and the article’s appearance in the Scopus database. Median according to Adeosun (2024): 36 days. Major publishers with automated data submission (MDPI, Frontiers)—1–4 weeks; journals with manual submission—6 weeks or more.
⚠ A full cycle consists of four stages, not just a single number from the log description.
The Main Pitfall: The Issue Date vs. the Online Publication Date
Before looking at the deadlines, it’s important to understand exactly which date matters to the COKSNVO. That changes the whole picture.
⚠ The Committee on Scientific and Technical Publications of the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan considers the publication date of the print issue—not the date the article was accepted or the date of online publication (Article in Press).
What does this mean in practice:
— The article has been accepted by the journal and published online. It is already listed in Scopus. However, since the print issue has not yet been published, the publication does not count.
— The time between online publication and the release of the print issue: 1–6 months, depending on the journal and publisher.
— Even among «fast-track» OA journals (MDPI, Frontiers), the process for assigning issue numbers may vary. Be sure to check this with each journal individually—by contacting the editorial office directly—before submitting your manuscript.
— Recommended lead time before submitting documents to the dissertation committee: at least 2–3 months after the print issue is published.
The current requirements are set forth in the Order Ministry of National Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 289 dated June 3, 2025, which remains in effect without changes as of July 2026.
Actual turnaround times for articles: from submission to publication of the print issue
All deadlines in the table below are calculated up to the publication date of the print issue—this is the date recognized by KOKSNVO. The calculation includes all four stages: peer review, revisions, layout, and delays in assigning an issue number.
| Journal Type | Issue → Print Issue |
|---|---|
| MDPI / Frontiers Q1/Q2 (OA fast)* | 4–6 months |
| Springer / Wiley mid-tier Q1/Q2 | 5–9 months |
| Elsevier / Nature's flagship Q1 | 10–24+ months |
| Q3 Commercial Averages | 7–14 months |
| Q2/Q3: Free university courses | 14–34 months |
| Magazines on the KOKSNVO List (2026 Batch) | 7–15+ months |
MDPI/Frontiers is the fastest option. However, it is precisely because of the speed of the peer-review process (37 days on average) that they are often criticized within the scientific community for the depth of their peer review. Before choosing a journal, we recommend checking its reputation.
Important: The quartile alone does not determine publication speed. A Q1 journal published by MDPI may be published faster than a Q3 journal from a major commercial publisher. Publication speed depends on the publisher and the specific journal.
Read our article «Which Publishers» Journals Will Never Be Removed from Scopus”, to choose a journal that won’t disappear from the database right before your thesis defense.
For more information about the waiting lists and actual wait times in the journals listed in the Directory, see the article «Waiting Lists for Publication in Journals of the KOKSNVO and MNVO of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2026.».
Why Did the Deadlines Get Extended in 2026?
The situation regarding publication deadlines has worsened for several reasons at once.
Waves of Scopus deindexing. In 2025, 56 journals were officially removed from Scopus, and another 8 were removed in November 2025. Authors are flocking to submit their manuscripts to the remaining «safe» journals, resulting in growing backlogs at reputable publications.
KOKSNVO Rule on De-indexed Journals. Articles from a journal published in the year it was removed from Scopus and the preceding year do not count toward the defense. If a journal is removed in 2025, articles published in 2024 and 2025 do not count.
Reform of the List of COKSNVO. Order No. 289 reduced the list from ~860 to 172 journals. According to expert estimates, no more than 20% of the previously included publications meet the new criteria. Competition for spots in the remaining journals has increased sharply.
Most doctoral students realize this too late. A survey of 53 Kazakhstani PhD candidates and graduates (Frontiers in Education, April 2026) revealed that 66% had never submitted a paper to Scopus or WoS; only 11.3% had a paper accepted. 45% cited publication requirements as a source of constant stress. This is a systemic lack of experience—and that is precisely why the actual deadlines come as an unpleasant surprise.
For more information on why doctoral students are denied admission to their defense due to details of the publication process, read the article «70%: PhD Students Denied Permission to Defend Their Theses: 5 Real Reasons for Rejection in 2025–2026».
How long to plan for: the minimum planning horizon
Based on all the data provided—a realistic timeframe from the submission of the manuscript to the point when the publication is recognized by the KOKSNVO, plus the recommended buffer period before submitting the documents to the dissertation committee:
| Script | Recommended margin before protection |
|---|---|
| MDPI/Frontiers Q1/Q2 — optimistic | at least 7–9 months |
| MDPI/Frontiers Q1/Q2 — realistic | at least 9–12 months |
| Springer / Wiley / Elsevier Q1/Q2 — average | at least 12–18 months |
| University Q2/Q3 — Free | at least 18–24 months |
| Journals on the COKSNVO List — 2026 Batches | at least 10–18 months |
The estimate includes: the time required for publication prior to the release of the print issue + a 2–3-month buffer period before submitting the documents to the dissertation committee.
Key checkpoints:
— Start preparing the manuscript: at least 12–18 months before the planned defense.
— Submission to a journal: at least 10–12 months before the defense.
— Check the journal's status in Scopus: immediately before submission and again 2–3 months before the defense.
— Time remaining after the issue is published: at least 2–3 months before submitting the documents to the dissertation committee.
To learn how to speed up the process without compromising reliability, read the article «How to Speed Up Publication in Scopus Journals.»
Conclusion
Publishing in Scopus is a structured process that requires advance planning.
The actual time from manuscript submission to the point when the publication is recognized by KOKSNVO: from 4–6 months in the most optimistic scenario (MDPI/Frontiers, without unnecessary revision rounds) to 14–34 months in free Q2/Q3 university journals.
However, KOKSNVO considers the date of the print issue, not the date of online publication. This 1–6-month gap undermines the protection of those who did not take it into account in advance.
Start planning at least 12 months before your defense. Choose journals from reputable publishers. Check the journal’s status in Scopus twice—before submission and before your defense.
