A PhD dissertation in Kyrgyzstan is a research work that must comply with the established requirements of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC), demonstrate the author’s personal contribution, present new scientific results, and pass several stages of review before the public defence. Therefore, preparing such a dissertation requires not only a strong research foundation but also strict compliance with formal requirements regarding content, publications, formatting, and submission procedures.
All key requirements for the preparation and defence of dissertations in the Kyrgyz Republic are set out in official documents – “On Issues of the Higher Attestation Commission under the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovations of the Kyrgyz Republic”, approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 637 dated 6 October 2025.
Who is eligible to apply for a PhD degree?
In the official document “On issues concerning the Higher Attestation Commission under the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic”, the degree of Candidate of Sciences is conferred by the state attestation body on the basis of a petition from the dissertation council following a public defence.
Additional requirements apply to certain fields:
- In medical sciences – a higher medical education and completed residency are required.
- In legal studies – a specialised higher legal education is required.
If the applicant’s higher education does not correspond to the field of the dissertation, they must pass an additional examination in the relevant speciality. In addition, not only postgraduate students but also individuals affiliated with universities or research organisations with appropriate research infrastructure may be admitted to the defence.
What is a PhD dissertation?
A PhD dissertation is an individual scientific qualification work written solely by the applicant.
The author is expected to present a set of new scientific results, ensure internal coherence of the work, and clearly demonstrate their personal contribution.
Key criteria for a Candidate of Sciences dissertation in Kyrgyzstan
- Solving problems of substantial importance for the relevant field of science.
- Presenting scientifically grounded developments of substantial importance for this field.
In other words, the dissertation must demonstrate that the author has genuinely solved a scientific problem or proposed a well-founded solution with scientific or practical value. For this reason, such works are assessed not only for originality but also for methodological rigour, logical consistency, and reliability of results. Responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the presented results lies with both the applicant and the academic supervisor.
The relationship between the dissertation and HAC requirements
The topic of a PhD dissertation must not be arbitrary. According to "current regulations on the dissertation council", dissertation topics must be aligned with national development programmes, priority areas of scientific development, and the main research activities of universities and research institutions.
Topics are approved individually by academic or scientific and technical councils and are published in the official registry on the HAC website.
In practice, this means that a weak, duplicated, or poorly justified topic may create issues at an early stage. Official guidelines for preliminary review state that the topic must first be discussed at the place of affiliation, then approved by the academic council, and, if necessary, revised with proper justification.
Number of publications required for the defence
One of the most critical requirements concerns publications. The main results of the dissertation must be published in at least five publications. These must include:
- At least one article published in a journal indexed in Scopus and/or Web of Science.
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals included in the HAC-approved list.
Publications must strictly correspond to the topic and content of the dissertation. No more than two articles by the applicant may be counted within a single journal issue. The most recent publications must be issued before the dissertation is submitted to the dissertation council.
It is explicitly stated that newspaper articles, deposited manuscripts, and conference abstracts are not counted as valid publications.
In which language can the dissertation be written?
Dissertations in Kyrgyzstan may be written in the state or official language. If the dissertation is written in the state language, at least two publications must also be published in the state language.
In addition, applicants who write their dissertation in the state language must hold a “Kyrgyztest” certificate at level B2, while specialists in Kyrgyz language, Kyrgyz literature, and teaching methodology must hold a C1 level certificate.
How should a PhD dissertation be formatted?
The official HAC website provides detailed guidelines for formatting the dissertation and the author’s abstract.
A PhD dissertation is submitted as a specially prepared manuscript with an approximate length of up to 150 pages (excluding references and appendices). For humanities, an increase of up to 25% is permitted.
The dissertation must include:
- a title page
- table of contents
- list of abbreviations
- introduction
- main body
- conclusion
- practical recommendations
- references
- appendices (if necessary)
Technical formatting is also regulated: A4 format, typically 1.5 line spacing, Times New Roman 14-point font, and compliance with instructions for the formatting of the dissertation and the author’s abstract. Failure to comply with formatting requirements is explicitly stated as one of the grounds for refusal to accept the dissertation for defence.
What is the author’s abstract and why is it important?
The author’s abstract is a mandatory component of the process. It must adequately reflect the content of the dissertation without unnecessary detail or information not included in the work itself.
It must be published in both the state and official languages. According to the regulations governing dissertation councils, the abstract must be distributed to council members no later than 30 calendar days before the defence.
After the pre-defence and acceptance of the dissertation, the council also submits an announcement of the defence date and the abstracts (in PDF format in Kyrgyz and Russian) to the HAC no later than 30 days before the defence.
Stages of dissertation review before defence
Before the public defence, the applicant undergoes a preliminary review of the dissertation. According to official guidelines, the topic is first approved at the place of preparation, followed by a preliminary examination of the dissertation.
The application for this examination usually includes:
- The dissertation and author’s abstract text.
- Publications.
- Primary research materials.
- confirmation of topic approval.
- The supervisor’s review.
- A list of scientific works.
The organisation where the research was conducted must complete the preliminary review and issue a conclusion within two months of submission.
Following a successful pre-defence, the dissertation council makes one of three decisions:
- to accept the dissertation for defence
- to return it for revision with a repeated pre-defence
- to refuse acceptance for defence
If accepted, official opponents, a leading organisation, and a tentative defence date are appointed.
Key mistakes in preparing a PhD dissertation
Most issues arise not from a single major mistake but from a combination of shortcomings. At the initial stage, it is particularly important to verify the following:
- Whether the topic corresponds to the speciality and profile of the council.
- Whether the required publications are sufficient and meet the criteria.
- Whether the submitted text matches the version published on the HAC website.
- Whether the dissertation and abstract are correctly formatted.
- Whether the author’s personal contribution is clearly demonstrated.
- Whether all documents for preliminary review are prepared.
When may a dissertation be rejected for defence?
The grounds for refusal are clearly defined:
- Non-compliance with established criteria.
- Mismatch between topic and speciality.
- Failure to meet publication requirements.
- Use of unreferenced borrowed material.
- Submission of inaccurate information about publications.
- Discrepancies between submitted and published versions of the text.
- Invalid documentation or formatting violations.
Preparing a PhD dissertation in Kyrgyzstan requires structuring the entire process in accordance with HAC requirements:
- proper approval of the topic
- ensuring the required set of publications
- correct formatting of the dissertation and abstract
- passing plagiarism checks
And only after that, once the dissertation fully complies with HAC requirements, can the applicant proceed to the defence.
Planning publications for a PhD or doctoral degree? Or need assistance with preparing your dissertation? You can обратиться to Scientific Publications. We will help assess your publication record, determine whether you meet the requirements, and guide you through structuring your dissertation and abstract. To receive a free consultation, fill in the form below and our manager will contact you shortly. Together towards a successful defence and new academic achievements!
