Doctoral Dissertation

 

Dissertation is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.

In the Republic of Armenia, the academic degrees of PhD and Doctor of Sciences are awarded by field of science in accordance with the nomenclature of specialities of scientific workers. In order to qualify for a Doctor of Sciences degree one must have made a research contribution to a particular field of science and hold a PhD degree.

A dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Sciences (second level of highest academic degrees) is an advanced work that makes an outstanding new contribution to the given field of science or offers a scientifically based technical, economic, technological or other research that provides significant boost to scientific-technical progress.

To approve the topic of the dissertation, the applicant addresses the head of the higher education institution or scientific organization.

The main results and provisions of the dissertation are published in peer-reviewed international academic journals that play a significant role in the global scientific community and in the academic journals included in the list of peer-reviewed academic journals of the Supreme Certifying Committee.

To qualify for a Doctor of Sciences degree the applicant shall have at least twenty published research articles at least five of which must be published in journals regularly indexed by Web of Science or Scopus. In the case of doctoral dissertations in the field of Armenian Studies, the Doctor of Sciences Degree applicant must have at least twenty published research articles, at least one of which is published in journals regularly indexed by Web of Science or Scopus. The requirements of this clause do not apply to persons whose topic of the doctoral dissertation was approved by March 2015, and whose doctoral dissertation has passed preliminary expertise in the corresponding institution by March 10, 2018. In this case, the previous regulations apply, namely, “Applicants for a Doctor of Sciences degree must have, at least twenty published research articles, at least five of which must be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals issued in foreign countries (two scientific articles in the case of dissertations in the field of Armenian Studies).”

At least five of the research articles must be authored by the researcher alone (in the case of experimental or clinical dissertations – at least two). In case the author submits a published monograph (not less than 560.000 characters in volume), the quantity of mandatory research articles is reduced to 15.

If the applicant for a Doctor of Sciences degree submits the dissertation by way of scientific report, the minimum required number of published research articles in the scope of the given research topic amounts to 50, at least five of which are published in journals regularly indexed by Web of Science or Scopus.

Researchers must mention any reuse or recycling of the results/ ideas, primary materials, data, interpretations, etc. in the dissertation via appropriate and accurate references to them.

The dissertation must have a short scientific summary – abstract. The abstract must clearly highlight the purpose, procedure, and principal findings – aim, objectives, main provisions, essential findings, topicality, key results, implications (any practical or theoretical applications from your findings for future) of the research.  The abstract is printed with the permission of the specialized academic council and must amount to not more than 80.000 characters in volume for Doctoral dissertations. The volume of abstracts of dissertations in social sciences can be expanded by 30 percent.  The abstract is printed in the quantity determined by specialized academic council, overall being not less than 50 copies.

An abstract is not printed for dissertations submitted by way of scientific report. The scientific report is considered as an abstract.

The dissertation and abstract are written in Armenian. With the consent of the specialized academic council, they may be presented in another language. At the end of the abstract, a summary is given in Russian and English (in Armenian if the abstract is written in another language). If necessary, by decision of the specialized academic council, а part of the circulation of the abstract can be printed in another language.

Follow the instructions for dissertation and abstract layout and format.