{"id":22923,"date":"2026-05-07T18:17:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T15:17:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/?p=22923"},"modified":"2026-09-19T19:28:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T16:28:27","slug":"phd-thesis-defense-rejection-kazakhstan-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/phd-thesis-defense-rejection-kazakhstan-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"70% Doctoral Students Not Admitted to Their Thesis Defense: 5 Real Reasons for Rejection in 2025\u20132026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Failure to defend a PhD thesis in Kazakhstan is a reality for 70% doctoral students. And it\u2019s not about the quality of the dissertation. Most often, it\u2019s due to details that seem insignificant until the very last moment: the wrong type of document, a journal from a high-risk zone, or a publication date that\u2019s just one day later than the submission date.<\/p>

The commission makes no exceptions. The KOKSNVO conducts inspections according to protocol\u2014and issues denials according to protocol.<\/p>

This article lists 5 actual grounds for rejection based on the official requirements of Order No. 127 of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as amended in January and June 2025. For more information on a publication strategy for a successful defense, read our article \u00abA Publication Strategy for PhD Students\u00bb<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Why PhD defenses fail in Kazakhstan:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Reason No. 1: The publications do not rule out any of the MNVO options<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The most common reason for rejection\u2014and yet the least obvious one.<\/p>

Many doctoral students know that they need a paper published in Scopus. But they don\u2019t realize that KOKSNVO doesn\u2019t check whether the paper was actually published; rather, it verifies compliance with one of the four official sets of requirements.<\/p>

Effective June 2025 (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Order No. 289), the following system is in effect:<\/p>

Option 1<\/strong>. 1 Scopus article (CiteScore \u2265 25%) or a Web of Science article from any quartile + articles from the KOKSNVO List. List 1 \u2014 1 article, List 2 \u2014 2 articles, List 3 \u2014 3 articles.<\/p>

Option 2.<\/strong> 2 articles in Scopus (CiteScore \u2265 35%) or WoS Q1\u2013Q3. Publications in KOKSNVO journals are not required.<\/p>

Option 3<\/strong>. 1 chapter in a monograph published by one of the top 100 publishers in the world: Elsevier, Springer, Routledge, and similar publishers.<\/p>

Option 4. <\/strong> 1 Scopus article (CiteScore \u2265 35%) or WoS Q1\u2013Q2 + 1 conference paper presented at a conference indexed in Web of Science.<\/p>

Bonus option. <\/strong>1 article in a WoS Q1 journal or with a Scopus CiteScore \u2265 75%\u2014no other publications are required.<\/p>

Important point:<\/strong> The type of document matters. Only \u201cArticle,\u201d \u201cReview,\u201d \u201cArticle in Press,\u201d and \u201cConference Paper\u201d are accepted. \u201cEditorial,\u201d \u201cLetter,\u201d and \u201cShort Communication\u201d are not accepted, even if the journal is fully indexed in Scopus.<\/p>

Starting in June 2025, COKSNVO journals will be divided into three lists with different requirements. According to expert estimates, no more than 20% of the current publications on the List meet the new criteria. For more details on the categories and current publications, see the article. \u00abWaiting Lists for Publication in Journals of the KOKSNVO MNVO of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2026.\u00bb.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Reason #2: The journal was removed from Scopus<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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It would seem that the journal was indexed in Scopus at the time of publication\u2014so everything should be fine. But the KOKSNVO rule is strict: articles from the journal are not counted for the year of its exclusion or the preceding year.<\/p>

Example: A journal was removed from Scopus in 2025 \u2192 an article published in 2024 will not be accepted.<\/p>

This is not a theoretical risk. In December 2025, 16 journals were removed from Scopus. In January 2026, there was a new wave of deindexing. Of the 41 journals that experts classified as being in the \u00abrisk zone,\u00bb 37 were officially removed.<\/p>

Failing to get published in such a journal means that 6\u201318 months of work have gone to waste. To avoid this, check out which publishers\u2019 journals will never be removed from Scopus<\/a> \u2014 this is the foundation of a sound publication strategy.<\/p>

We also recommend checking the list of OP-5 predatory journals where Kazakhstani scientists lost hundreds of millions of tenge<\/a> \u2014 so you don\u2019t fall into the same trap.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Reason #3: The article's topic does not match the major code<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This point often comes as a surprise. The journal is indexed in Scopus. The percentile meets the requirements. The article was published on time. And yet\u2014it was rejected.<\/p>

The KOKSNVO Commission verifies thematic alignment: the article's keywords must correspond to the dissertation's research area and the doctoral student's specialty code.<\/p>

If an article strays \u00abeven slightly\u00bb from the topic\u2014even in a reputable journal\u2014it won\u2019t be accepted. Make sure it fits the journal\u2019s scope during the selection process, not after publication.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Reason #4: The magazine issue was published after the documents were submitted<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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KOKSNVO considers the publication date of the print issue, not the date the article was accepted by the editorial board or the date of online publication.<\/p>

If an issue of a journal was published after the doctoral student submitted their documents to the dissertation committee, the publication does not count\u2014even if the article is listed in the Scopus database.<\/p>

Recommended supply:<\/strong> At least 2\u20133 months between the issue's publication date and the date of document submission.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Reason #5: Plagiarism or the use of AI without disclosure<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Starting in January 2025, new academic integrity requirements are in effect in Kazakhstan. The use of AI tools in a dissertation is permitted only if three conditions are met:<\/p>

1. Preliminary approval by the research advisor;<\/p>

2. approval by the university's ethics committee;<\/p>

3. The following information must be included in the text: the name of the tool, the manufacturer, the version, and the date of use.<\/p>

The use of AI without disclosure is considered a violation of academic integrity. There are three grounds for rejection without the right to a retake: detected plagiarism, data fabrication, and the use of AI without disclosure.<\/p>

Minimum Threshold for Originality<\/strong> \u2014 85% under the NCGNT\u00c9 system. At several leading universities \u2014 90%.<\/p>

All of these and other mistakes are discussed in detail in the article \u00abTop 5 Mistakes PhD Students Make That Could Cost Them Their PhD Defense.\u00bb <\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How long does the entire process take?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Many doctoral students underestimate the time required. Here are the official guidelines:<\/p>

1. Dissertation Committee: no more than 10 business days from the receipt of documents to the scheduling of the defense date;<\/p>

2. Defense: no later than 3 months from the date of the assignment;<\/p>

3. Submission of the certification file to the KOKSNVO: within 25 days after the defense;<\/p>

4. Review by the KOKSNVO: 4 months + a possible 1-month extension.<\/p>

In total, from the time you submit your documents until you receive your diploma, it takes at least 6\u20138 months.<\/strong> provided there are no delays. If a problem arises at any stage, the deadlines will be pushed back.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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From 2011 to 2022, out of 10,276 doctoral students in Kazakhstan, only 4,497 successfully defended their dissertations. That\u2019s less than half. Researchers cite difficulties with publishing in Scopus as the main reason.<\/p>

The requirements of the KOKSNVO continue to become stricter. Scopus deindexing waves occur every month. Of the 41 journals that experts had classified as being at risk, 37 have been officially removed.<\/p>

These aren't just abstract statistics. These are real doctoral students who lost a year of work\u2014all because of a single journal, a single date, or a single detail in the formatting.<\/p>

Defense isn't just about the quality of your dissertation. It's about a publication strategy, choosing reputable journals, and carefully planning your timeline. For more information on common mistakes, read our article \u00abTop 6 Reasons for Failure at a PhD Defense in Kazakhstan.\u00bb<\/a><\/p>

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Article Academy: Let's Address All Weaknesses Before the Defense<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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More than 100 doctoral students have already successfully defended their dissertations with our help in Kazakhstan<\/strong><\/p>

We'll take care of everything the commission might find fault with:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1. Plagiarism Check<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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StrikePlagiarism's official report;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2. Professional proofreading by a philologist;<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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3. Formatting the Bibliography <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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in accordance with the standards of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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4. Translation of a dissertation<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u00a0(or individual sections);<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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5. Review of the Abstract<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We will prepare it correctly and on time;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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6. Editing and Revising <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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based on the comments of the academic advisor.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSchedule a consultation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You can choose each service individually\u2014just what you need.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Failure to defend a PhD thesis in Kazakhstan is a reality for 70% doctoral students. And it\u2019s not about the quality of the dissertation. Most often, it\u2019s due to details that seem insignificant until the very last moment: the wrong type of document, a journal from a high-risk zone, or a publication date that\u2019s one day later than the submission date. The committee makes no exceptions. KOKSNVO checks according to protocol\u2014and rejects applications according to protocol. [\u2026]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":22925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[174],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stati-o-zashhite"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22923"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24157,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22923\/revisions\/24157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}