Credential Templates, The Former USSR and the Russian Federation

Doctor of Sciences in the Russian Federation:
The second level of doctoral studies and highest academic degree in the Russian
Federation, as in the former USSR, is the degree of Doctor of Sciences. Similarly to the
Candidate of Sciences, it is awarded in all disciplines. In architecture and fine arts, the degrees
awarded are the Doctor of Architecture and the Doctor of Fine Arts, respectively. In technical
sciences, the degree is called the Doctor of Technical Sciences.
It requires a period of study following the Candidate of Sciences and the writing of
another doctoral thesis leading to a public defence. Although the program has no fixed duration,
in practice it generally requires five to 15 years of full-time study. Doctoral theses are prepared
either on a full-time basis during doctoral studies in doktorantura or independently, outside
doktorantura.
Doctor of Sciences programs are offered at leading educational and research institutions.
The qualifying requirements for a Doctor of Sciences thesis are higher than those for a Candidate
thesis. The thesis for the degree of Doctor of Sciences must be an advanced work that solves an
important problem of social, scientific, or technological significance. It must also serve as a basis
for several referred publications. Similarly to the Candidate of Sciences, the Doctor of Sciences
is awarded by resolution of the Supreme Certifying Committee of the Russian Federation.
Admission to doktorantura is competitive and available to holders of Candidate of
Sciences degrees known for their contributions in their respective fields. Candidates must hold
teaching and/or research positions at recognized educational or research institutions. The
standard age limit for doktorantura is 40 years. In some cases it may be 45 years. Outside of
doktorantura, no age limit is applied to those seeking the Doctor of Sciences degree through
independent research.
The main admission requirements are research achievements in a chosen area. Applicants
must submit a complete outline for a thesis, a list of research publications, and reviews of the
applicant's research. The Academic Council of the institution makes admission decisions and
approves individual research programs.
Doctoral programs have no course component; they consist only of research. A research
consultant, who must be a holder of the Doctor of Sciences degree, is appointed to advise a
doktorant. As well, doktorants may visit other leading research centres in the country or abroad
for their research. Doktorants present an annual progress report to the Academic Council. The
Academic Council monitors the progress against their individual programs and decides as to
their continuation in doktorantura.
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