Calculating the timeline for a dissertation defence means factoring in several elements at once – from publications to the procedures of the dissertation council. A planning error at any stage can delay the defence by months.
What stages make up the path to a dissertation defence?
Preparation for the defence consists of sequential stages, and a candidate cannot speed them up simply by choosing to. The main stages to factor into the timeline include:
- Completing the dissertation research and publishing the required number of scientific articles.
- Presenting the dissertation for preliminary discussion at a scientific seminar (aprobatsiya).
- The scientific council deciding, within one month of receiving a positive conclusion, to accept the dissertation for defence.
- Distributing the dissertation abstract (avtoreferat) and announcing the defence at least one month before the scheduled date.
- Defending the dissertation at a meeting of the dissertation council.
- Forwarding the certification file and the dissertation to the Higher Attestation Commission within one month of the defence.
The combined length of these stages is rarely shorter than several months, even when the dissertation itself is fully ready.
The number and level of publications determine the timeline for a defence
The stage that is hardest to predict in terms of timing is the publication of scientific articles – without the required number of publications, materials will not be accepted for review. For a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Uzbekistan, at least three published articles are required, one of which must appear in a reputable foreign journal. For a Doctor of Science (DSc), the requirements for the number and level of publications are higher and vary by field, so it is worth confirming the current list with the dissertation council and the academic supervisor. It is advisable for a scientist to begin this publication work a year or two before the defence, especially when aiming for journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.
How long does peer review take before a defence?
Review times depend on the policies of the specific journal rather than on the quartile alone. Manuscript review in journals with higher scientometric indicators often takes anywhere from several months to half a year, and in journals with more modest indicators – from one to four months, with one or more rounds of revisions based on reviewer comments along the way. Given this uncertainty, it is worth building some slack into the schedule in case of a rejection or the need to resubmit to another journal.
From 2027, some certification procedures will be scrapped
The timeline should also take into account upcoming changes to the system for certifying scientific personnel.
Under Presidential Decree No. UP-98 of 26 May 2026, a number of procedures for awarding an academic degree will be scrapped from 1 January 2027:
- the foreign-language qualifying examination, except for independent candidates
- registration of the dissertation topic and publication of the defence announcement by the Higher Attestation Commission
- discussion of the dissertation at the leading organisation
- publication of the dissertation abstract
- scientific review of the dissertation by a sectoral expert council of the Higher Attestation Commission
- approval of the scientific council's decision on a defended dissertation by the Higher Attestation Commission
Where the defence announcement was published and the defence itself took place before 1 January 2027, the degree is awarded under the previous procedure.
For anyone whose defence falls around the turn of 2026-2027, it is worth confirming the current list of procedures with the dissertation council closer to the date of submission.
How to plan a schedule to make it to the defence?
It is worth calculating the timeline in reverse – working back from the intended defence date to the present – to spot bottlenecks in the schedule early. When planning, it is useful to bear the following in mind:
- Allowing time for possible revisions to an article following reviewer comments.
- Checking current requirements on the number and level of publications with the academic supervisor and the dissertation council.
- Starting the aprobatsiya procedure only once the required publications are confirmed as ready.
- Regularly checking current deadlines and procedures on the website of the Higher Attestation Commission.
This approach reduces the risk of the defence being postponed due to procedural delays and helps pin down a more accurate final date.
Calculating the timeline for a dissertation defence is a task that requires factoring in publication, organisational and regulatory considerations well ahead of the intended date. Starting work on articles in good time, and paying attention to university procedures and upcoming changes to certification, makes it possible to reach the defence without unnecessary delays.
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