People involved in science often aim to obtain a PhD. This, of course, allows a researcher to fully realize their potential and achieve success in their chosen field.
But in reality, this path is complex and thorny, so when choosing science, a future doctor must understand that they will have to work hard in this field: write a certain number of scientific articles, write a doctoral dissertation, and present papers at scientific conferences to demonstrate their skills and ability to apply their own research in science. Therefore, to understand this, it is important to first understand how many articles are required for a dissertation defense, what criteria different publications apply, where the best places to publish are, etc.
How many articles are required to defend a doctoral dissertation?
The current Procedure states that the degree of Doctor of Science is awarded in specialized academic councils after the future research fellow has been able to demonstrate his or her achievements, expressed in the following:
- Defense of doctoral dissertation;
- Publication of a monograph;
- Has published at least 20 scientific articles, presented in national and international peer-reviewed journals. The list is approved by the Ministry of Education and Science.
If a prospective doctor of sciences candidate presents their scientific achievements in the form of a monograph or article, they must submit a scientific report. This report should summarize the results of all the research conducted and presented in such publications. It should be noted that the candidate for a doctoral degree must prepare the report independently, without the involvement of co-authors.
Requirements for articles
As previously stated, a future doctorate candidate must publish at least 20 articles. Now, let's look at the specific types of scientific papers they should publish. These include the following publications:
- Articles in scientific publications that are included in the List of scientific professional publications of Ukraine;
- Articles presented in scientific periodicals of other countries that work in the same field as the future doctor of science, and that correspond to the topic of his scientific research;
- A research candidate must submit a minimum of three articles (a minimum of five articles from September 1, 2022) in the research area in which their research achievement is based. To do this, they may select at least two different periodicals included in Category "A" of the List of Scientific Professional Publications of Ukraine, or foreign publications indexed in the Scopus or WoS databases.
- No more than three patents for inventions that were registered in countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and that directly relate to the scientific results presented in the doctoral dissertation;
- No more than two monographs or two sections in collective monographs;
- For dissertations in the field of pedagogical sciences, it is necessary to provide one manual.
Category B articles for doctoral studies
Doctoral studies are a significant link in the educational chain. High demands are placed on defending a doctoral degree. The educational and scientific program in this field requires the publication of research articles in high-quality journals. This requirement is set out in the Procedure for the Preparation of Applicants for Higher Education – Doctoral Studies.
Each research project conducted by a doctoral student must be based on an individual plan. The following points must be strictly adhered to:
- Writing deadlines;
- High quality content of the work;
- Strict volume;
- Format of scientific work.
Today, the Ministry of Education and Science performs the functions of the Higher Attestation Commission, and therefore the requirements for doctoral studies include the publication of professional articles in Category B peer-reviewed journals. This category is one of the types of professional publications that exist in Ukraine. These domestic platforms are scientific, and they conduct a thorough review when selecting content for publication.
Scopus articles for doctoral dissertations
One of the most authoritative and extensive scientometric databases is Scopus. It reviews over 24,000 publications. Another important indicator for publishing an article here is the quality of the material. Strict and stringent requirements apply, but after all, articles are also published here for doctoral dissertations.
As a result, a doctor of science receives high-quality material that will subsequently serve as a source of citations for scientists from around the world. When defending a doctoral dissertation, publishing a research article in a Scopus-reviewed journal is a significant bonus. At the same time, the scientist thus enhances their authority, demonstrates their scientific position on the topic to the world, and gains the opportunity to compete for grants.
