New Opportunities in Obtaining a PhD Degree
In today's world, science and education are constantly changing, opening up new opportunities for degree seekers. One of the most discussed issues among Kazakhstani doctoral students is the possibility of defending a PhD without writing a traditional dissertation. We've received numerous inquiries on this topic, so we decided to explore it in detail in this article.
Since 2021, new regulations have been introduced in Kazakhstan, allowing PhDs to be awarded solely on the basis of high-quality scientific publications. These changes were implemented to align with international standards and enhance the competitiveness of Kazakhstani science. The main goal of the change was to stimulate doctoral students' publication activity in prestigious journals, such as Web of Science And Scopus, which, in turn, promotes the integration of Kazakhstani science into the global research community.
This article will help you understand how to take advantage of this opportunity, what requirements you need to meet, and what benefits and challenges await you along the way.
Alternative Path: How to Obtain a PhD Degree Without a Dissertation in Kazakhstan
The ability to obtain a PhD degree without a traditional dissertation has opened a new path for doctoral students in Kazakhstan. However, this format requires adherence to clear criteria and high quality standards, which are the foundation of this system. Let's look at the key conditions.
Publication Terms
To defend a PhD without a dissertation, you must prepare and publish your research results in international scientific journals. Key requirements:
- Number of articles: It is necessary to have at least three publications: one review article and two research articles.
- Log level: Articles must be published in Q1 or Q2 journals in the Web of Science database.
- Authorship: A doctoral student must be first author or by the corresponding author to confirm the leading role in the study.
- Research topics: All publications must be united by a common scientific theme and correspond to the chosen specialty.
What you get when you order:
- Writing/auditing a high-quality scientific article with originality from 90%;
- Selection of scientific journal Web of Scienc;
- Checking articles for plagiarism/AI using the Turnitin system;
- Control and guarantee of publication of scientific articles;
- Guarantee of indexing of scientific articles in the Web of Science database.
Conditions of protection
- Preparation of materialsAt the defense, the doctoral student must present his articles and explain their scientific contribution.
- Evaluation by the commission: The focus is on the quality of publications, the calibre of the journals in which they are published, and the impact of the research on science.
- Requirements for justification: The doctoral candidate must demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic, explain the research methodology and its relevance.
- The public nature of the defenseThe defense takes place before a committee that includes both national and international experts.
This approach is aimed at integrating Kazakhstani science into the global scientific community, but requires significant effort, including the preparation of high-quality publications that meet international standards.
Reality or Challenge: What You Should Know Before Choosing This Format
Obtaining a PhD degree without a traditional dissertation in Kazakhstan opens new opportunities for doctoral students, but this path is not without its challenges. Although the PhD defense system based on publications became available in 2021, in practice, the number of people choosing this format remains limited.
To date, only a few people in the country have successfully defended their PhDs relying solely on scientific publications. This suggests that many doctoral students are still hesitant to pursue this approach, as it requires not only in-depth knowledge of their field but also the ability to publish in high-quality international journals.
When choosing this format, candidates should understand both the benefits and challenges they may face on the path to earning a PhD. By weighing the pros and cons, each doctoral student will be able to make an informed decision about their future career path.
Traditional Dissertation vs. Research Publication: A Comparison of Approaches
Now we'll look at the pros and cons of each approach to obtaining a PhD: a traditional dissertation and a defense based on scientific publications. Let's start with the traditional dissertation.
Traditional Dissertation: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- In-depth researchA traditional dissertation allows for a detailed study of the chosen topic, which provides a comprehensive analysis and justification of the results obtained.
- Presenting clear resultsA completed dissertation is a clear demonstration of your research work, allowing reviewers to assess the depth and quality of your research.
- Better understanding of the material: The process of writing a dissertation immerses you in the topic, which helps you gain a deeper understanding of the material and develop critical thinking skills.
Cons:
- A lot of time: Preparing a dissertation can take several years, requiring a significant investment of time and effort.
- The need for scientific novelty: A dissertation must contain original scientific results, which can be a challenging task to achieve.
- Constant edits from the manager: The manager's requirements may change, which leads to the need for frequent revisions and adaptations of the text, which can delay the process.
Now let's move on to the second approach - protection based on scientific publications.
Scientific Publications: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Less resources and time: Preparing research papers usually requires less time and resources than writing a dissertation, making this approach more efficient.
- Positive influence on authority: Publishing in reputable journals can significantly enhance your credibility as a scientist, which is an important aspect in your future career.
- Lack of constant editsUnlike a dissertation, the process of preparing articles can be more flexible, without frequent revisions and demands from the supervisor.
Cons:
- High cost of publicationsPublishing in top-ranked open access journals can be quite expensive, with costs for a single article starting at $2,000.
- Research level requirements: Publishing in prestigious journals requires a high level of research and article quality, which can be challenging.
- Uncertainty due to the newness of the format: Since publication-based defense is a new format and the number of successful defenses is limited, this may create difficulties during the defense.
Conclusion:
An analysis of approaches to obtaining a PhD degree yields several important conclusions. A traditional dissertation offers significant advantages, including in-depth research, the ability to clearly demonstrate the results of the work, and a better understanding of the material. However, this approach requires considerable time, effort, and scientific novelty.
While defending a dissertation based on scientific publications has its advantages, such as reducing time and resource costs and positively impacting the researcher's credibility, this format is not yet established practice in Kazakhstan, which may create difficulties.
In our expert opinion at the Academy of Articles, it's now easier to defend a dissertation using a traditional dissertation. This format is already well-established and offers greater potential for successful completion, especially for those just beginning their scientific career. Therefore, when choosing between a dissertation and publications, it's important to consider each scientist's individual circumstances and goals.
