Defending a dissertation is the culmination of many years of work, but it can be derailed not by the scientific quality of the work, but by a technicality: an unpublished article, a formatting error, concerns about academic integrity, or a missing document. Years of research are called into question because of a detail that could have been verified in advance.
In 2026, this is a fairly common problem. The Law of Ukraine “On Academic Integrity” No. 4742-IX has been in effect since July 31, and in October, the government updated the procedure for awarding the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Therefore, preparing to defend a Ph.D. dissertation in 2026 involves not only the text itself but also verifying publications, academic integrity, formatting, and procedures.
Admission to the defense depends on the institution’s recommendation, a decision by the ad hoc committee, or—for Doctor of Science candidates—review by the Ministry of Education and Science. Below are five reasons why a defense might be suspended or postponed: publications, academic integrity, methodology, formatting, and documentation. For each one, we explain how the requirements differ between a PhD and a Doctor of Science degree, and what you can do right now. Most issues become apparent several months before submission and can therefore be corrected.
Procedure for the Defense of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science Dissertations in 2026
The procedure for defending a Ph.D. dissertation is set forth in Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 44, while the requirements for defending a doctoral dissertation are outlined in Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1197. The differences lie not only in the level of the work but also in who makes the decision. In the 2026 requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy dissertation, the key requirement is independent work yielding new, scientifically sound results that have been published.
For a PhD, the institution forms a one-time committee of five members: a chair, reviewers, and official opponents. The application is submitted within two weeks of the conclusion regarding scientific novelty, and the committee is formed within two months. Reviews are received within 45 days; the defense is scheduled two to four weeks after the last review; and the degree is awarded if at least four committee members vote in favor of it.
The path to a Ph.D. is longer. First, the institution conducts a preliminary review—which can take up to three months and includes a specialized seminar and three reviewers; the conclusion remains valid for one year. Then the doctoral council, formed by the Ministry of Education and Science, accepts the dissertation for consideration, and a notice to that effect is posted on the Ministry’s website. The defense takes place no earlier than one month after such publication, and the decision must be supported by three-quarters of the council members. The case is then reviewed by the Ministry of Education and Science—a process that takes up to four months.
Based on the institution’s evaluation, reviews and feedback, a review of the board’s composition, and—for doctoral programs—an expert assessment by the Ministry of Education and Science. Each of these “checkpoints” is discussed in the five reasons below.
Reason 1. Posts are not counted
Publications are the most common formal reason why the committee does not accept results. We have analyzed the complete tables of requirements separately: regarding Publication Requirements for PhD and Doctor of Science Degrees in 2026 and about Publications for the PhD defense. Here are just the places where articles "fall out" most often.
Insufficient number or incorrect type of publications
How many articles are required to defend a PhD dissertation? The main results must be presented in at least three publications. Articles in specialized journals, articles in Web of Science Core Collection and/or Scopus journals, no more than one patent for an invention, and single-authored monographs are accepted. An article in a Q1–Q3 journal counts as two publications, while an article in a specialized journal with three or more authors counts as 0.5.
Only one of your articles is counted per issue of the journal, and articles published after Order No. 44 took effect require a DOI. According to the Ministry of Education and Science’s clarification dated October 12, 2026, publications found to contain self-plagiarism are not counted toward the dissertation topic. If, as a result, the number of publications falls below the minimum requirement, the committee will deny the degree without the right to resubmit the dissertation.
The journal was removed from Scopus or dropped from Category B
Scopus continuously reviews publications: a journal may be designated as “discontinued,” and new articles in it will no longer be indexed. According to Elsevier’s policy, previously indexed materials remain in the database, but the decision on whether to include an article rests with the institution and the editorial board. A journal’s status may change even after an article is published, so it’s important to check it not only when selecting a journal but also before submitting your manuscript.
For professional journals, the Procedure takes into account the status as of the date of publication of the article. Starting in 2026, Category “B” will be determined according to new rules (Order No. 56 of the Ministry of Education and Science dated January 19, 2026): publications listed in the old lists remained on the list until June 1, 2026, while the updated list is valid from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029. Therefore, for each article, note the status of the publication on the day it was published.
What's Different for a Doctor of Science: Number, Quartile, Publication Requirements
For a Doctor of Science degree, the requirements for publishing the results of the doctoral dissertation are set by the Ministry of Education and Science, and the institution specifies them in its own regulations. A mandatory requirement is the presence of publications on the topic in journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection and/or Scopus; the results must also be presented at conferences. We’ll discuss which quartile is required in the article about Scopus quartile according to the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science.
| Parameter | PhD (Resolution No. 44) | Doctor of Science (Resolution No. 1197) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of publications | At least three | Determined by the Ministry of Education and Science; details regarding the institution's regulations |
| Scopus / WoS | These are considered one of the types of publications | Publications on the topic are required (except for dissertations containing state secrets) |
| Quartiles | Q1–Q3: An article counts as two publications | Three publications in Q1–Q2—one of the grounds for submitting an application earlier than five years after completing a PhD (subject to approval by the Ministry of Education and Science) |
| Additional Terms and Conditions | DOIs in articles; no more than one article per issue | No sooner than five years after earning a PhD (with exceptions) |
- Compile a list of publications: journal, type, date, DOI, co-authors, and publication status as of the date of publication.
- Check each article for a list of journals removed from Scopus and scores from Category B journals, as well as according to the updated list of professional publications.
- Leave some room: at least one post above the minimum. If you need help choosing a publication, this will help Selecting a journal in Scopus.
We'll find a Scopus-indexed journal, a Category B journal, or a co-authorship opportunity for your dissertation.
Topics for co-authorship
a choice of apartments
months until release
Reason 2. Violation of academic integrity
Academic Integrity Act In 2026, Ukraine enacted its first standalone law on this subject. Law No. 4742-IX was adopted on December 18, 2025, and took effect on July 31, 2026. It describes 13 types of violations: ranging from plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification to the unethical use of results generated by artificial intelligence. For more details, see the article on the law on academic integrity.
Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and data fabrication
Theses are checked for plagiarism at several levels. In the PhD process, a reviewer or official opponent flags plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification in their review. If the committee confirms these violations, a request to withdraw the dissertation from defense will not be accepted, and the degree will not be awarded—with no right to resubmit the work. A similar rule applies to Doctor of Science degrees, and the Ministry of Education and Science also conducts a separate review of the dissertation and related publications.
The consequences extend beyond the candidate. Under the updated procedure for PhD programs, the institution whose committee awarded the degree loses the right to form ad hoc committees in that field for one year. In the doctoral procedure, the academic advisor, chair, committee members, and opponents may lose the right to participate in the evaluation for two years, and the institution may lose the right to form a doctoral committee for one year. The review process does not end with the defense: under the PhD regulations, the institution may revoke the committee’s decision due to plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification, regardless of how much time has passed.
A separate note on self-plagiarism: Using your own previously published works in your dissertation without citation is not considered self-plagiarism if they address the main findings of the dissertation and are listed in the abstract. However, duplicating text between your articles may result in the publication being rejected (see reason 1).
AI-Generated Text and AI Usage Statement
The law does not prohibit the use of artificial intelligence, but it does require transparency. If generated material is used in a work, the author must disclose this in the text and, depending on the institution’s rules, specify the program or methodology used. The law considers the submission of such materials as one’s own without proper attribution to be a violation. We’ll break down what can be used in this article. What is permitted regarding AI in a dissertation, and the sample is in Declarations on the Use of AI.
What percentage of AI is allowed? The law does not specify a percentage, but rather requires disclosure of its use. Any numerical threshold, if there is one, is set by the institution itself in its regulations, so be sure to clarify this in advance.
- Check your dissertation and articles for plagiarism and self-plagiarism before submission; perform an AI and plagiarism check in accordance with your institution's policies.
- Prepare a statement on the use of AI and collect the raw data (samples, protocols, experiment files) that support the results.
- Cite your sources: every idea, figure, or statement that is not your own must include a reference to the author and source.
Reason 3. Weak methodology and statistics
Even a flawlessly formatted dissertation will not be approved if the results are not supported by data. Reviewers and opponents evaluate not only the novelty but also the scientific validity of the results, their relevance to the topic, and the candidate’s mastery of the methodology. The requirements for writing a dissertation boil down to a single logical framework: objective, data, method, results, and conclusion.
According to the 2026 requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy dissertation, the work must contain new, scientifically substantiated findings that address a specific scientific problem. The requirements for a doctoral dissertation in 2026 are more stringent: reliable results must be supported by documentation of the research conducted, the content must be coherent, and the work itself must address an important theoretical or applied problem. For the biological, medical, and veterinary sciences, the reviewers’ report must also include information regarding bioethical review.
- the results are not supported by primary data;
- statistical methods are not appropriate for the data type (for example, a parametric test was applied without checking the distribution);
- the sample size is not justified;
- The conclusions go beyond what follows from the analysis.
Such shortcomings are already apparent in the reviews. The reviewer checks whether the chosen method is appropriate for the research objective, whether there is sufficient data to support the conclusions, and whether the calculations can be reproduced. Therefore, a weakness in the methodology usually comes to light either during the preliminary review or at the defense itself. It is better to identify it on your own while the text can still be revised.
The methodology also affects publications: an article is considered to fall under the dissertation’s topic only if the results presented in it are substantiated in accordance with the article’s objectives and conclusions (see reason 1).
- For each conclusion, construct a “chain of evidence”: hypothesis → data → method → result → conclusion.
- Justify your choice of statistical methods and save the source files and calculations.
- Ask an independent expert to review the section containing the results before submitting it for preliminary review.
We will analyze the statistical data, select appropriate methods of analysis, and present the results for your dissertation. Learn more about dissertation supervision and the statistical analysis accompanying it.
Reason 4. The formatting and structure do not meet the requirements
This is the least “scientific” but one of the most common reasons for a thesis to be sent back for revision. Formatting errors are identified during the preliminary review or just before the defense, when there is little time left to correct them. The requirements are established by the Ministry of Education and Science, and the institution specifies them in its regulations and educational and research program.
Requirements for the Formatting of Dissertations in 2026
The requirements for the formatting of a dissertation were approved by Order No. 40 of the Ministry of Education and Science dated January 12, 2017. In practice, the 2026 rules for formatting a Doctor of Philosophy dissertation entail several things. The work must be written in the official language or in English and submitted as a specially prepared manuscript. The dissertation, in PDF/A format with a text layer and a qualified electronic signature, must be attached to the application for the formation of a one-time committee.
The institution publishes an electronic copy of the dissertation on its website, so any errors in the file become public. The abstract is no less important: it must list the publications that present your main findings. This is what determines whether the use of your published works in the dissertation text will be considered self-plagiarism.
Any borrowed idea, figure, or phrase must be accompanied by a citation to the author and publication. The doctoral candidate confirms this with a signature on the title page.
The title of the thesis, abstract, and supporting documents differs; the in-text citations do not match the list of references; the numbering of chapters and tables is inconsistent; and the list of publications in the abstract does not match the list in the appendices. Each detail may seem minor, but taken together, they give the reviewer a reason to return the work for revision.
Structure and Scope of the Dissertation
The structure of the dissertation must comply with the academic specialty profile, and its scientific novelty must correspond to what is stated in the conclusion regarding the scientific novelty, theoretical, and practical significance of the results. A doctoral dissertation is submitted in one or two specialties within a single field of science. The results of the author’s own PhD dissertation are presented only in the review section of the doctoral dissertation.
There is no fixed page count for a PhD dissertation: the maximum and/or minimum length of the main text is determined by the institution’s educational and research program, depending on the field and specialty. For a doctoral dissertation, the main text must be at least 10 author’s sheets in manuscript form, or at least three author’s sheets if the defense takes the form of a scientific report based on a collection of publications. A separate abstract of 1–2 author’s sheets in the official language must also be prepared; the maximum length of the main text is determined by the institution’s program.
- Check that the text complies with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science and the institution's regulations: title page, structure, length, abstract, and list of sources.
- Check that the thesis topic aligns with the program of study and that the statement of scientific novelty is appropriately worded.
- Prepare a PDF/A file in advance that includes a text layer and an electronic signature: make sure the text can be selected and that the signature is applied without errors.
Reason 5. Procedures, Documents, and Deadlines
Even with a strong proposal and supporting documents, you can lose your defense due to a missing document or a missed deadline. The procedure is broken down by day, so it’s best to treat it as a project timeline.
For a PhD, an application to form a one-time committee must be submitted within two weeks of the conclusion regarding scientific novelty. In it, the candidate certifies the originality of the work and adherence to academic integrity, and attaches the dissertation in PDF/A format with an electronic signature, publications, a certificate of completion of the educational and research program, the supervisor’s opinion, and the conclusion on scientific novelty. Once the committee is formed, the institution must, within five business days, make the dissertation, the committee’s composition, and a link to the defense livestream publicly available. Within 15 days, any researcher may notify the Ministry of Education and Science of any non-compliance regarding the committee’s composition, and the Ministry may suspend the committee’s work.
The Ministry of Education and Science emphasizes that when selecting a committee, the content of the publications by the chair, reviewers, and opponents—and their relevance to the candidate’s topic—is taken into account, rather than a mere formal match of keywords. The institution posts announcements regarding the 2026 dissertation defenses on its website and enters them into the National Agency’s information system.
The doctoral process involves more stages. The academic advisor prepares a report within one month; the preliminary review lasts up to three months and includes a specialized seminar; and the report on novelty remains valid for one year. The findings of the doctoral dissertation must undergo validation. The Ministry of Education and Science publishes a notice of the dissertation defense in 2026 on its website, and the defense is held no earlier than one month after that. The candidate receives the reviewers’ comments no later than 10 business days before the defense.
In journals indexed in Scopus, the wait time for publication can be as long as 6–12 months, so it’s not a good idea to submit an article “at the last minute” (for more details about the 6-12-month publication backlog). Also, check A researcher's profile on Scopus prior to the defense and whether your institution requires ORCID as a mandatory requirement of the Ministry of Education and Science.
- Create a timeline working backward from the defense date: the review report, the application, the formation of the committee, the reviews, and the announcement; for doctoral candidates, include the validity period of the review report as well.
- Gather the set of documents according to the institution's list and verify the formats and signatures (PDF/A, qualified electronic signature).
- Submit your articles to journals well in advance, taking into account the publication queue, and update your Scopus and ORCID profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many articles are required to defend a Ph.D. dissertation?
- The main results must be presented in at least three publications. An article in a Q1–Q3 journal counts as two publications, while an article in a specialized journal with three or more authors counts as 0.5. Only one article per issue is counted, and publications found to contain self-plagiarism are not considered. The institution may have its own requirements in its educational and research program, so please check them there.
How many publications are required to defend a doctoral dissertation?
- Resolution No. 1197 does not specify a single number. The main results must be published in professional journals, publications from other countries, and monographs, and publications on the topic in the Web of Science Core Collection and/or Scopus are mandatory. The Ministry of Education and Science sets the minimum publication requirements, and the institution specifies them in its regulations; therefore, check the current order and internal rules before submitting your application.
What is the acceptable percentage of AI content in a dissertation?
- The law does not specify a percentage; rather, it requires disclosure. If your work contains materials generated by artificial intelligence, you must indicate this and, depending on your institution’s policies, specify the program or methodology used. Any numerical threshold, if applicable, is set by your institution, so check the regulations for details and prepare a declaration regarding the use of AI.
Will the article be indexed if the journal is removed from Scopus after publication?
- There is no definitive answer. Elsevier notes that materials already indexed remain in Scopus, but the decision on whether to count an article toward a dissertation defense rests with the institution and the committee. Save proof of the journal’s status as of the publication date (a Scopus entry, a screenshot) and clarify your institution’s position in advance. For professional journals, the Procedure takes into account the status as of the publication date.
Where are announcements about dissertation defenses published?
- For PhD candidates, the institution publishes the date, time, and location of the defense on its website and enters this information into the National Agency’s information system. For Doctor of Science degrees, the Ministry of Education and Science posts a notice on its website regarding the acceptance of the dissertation for defense, while the institution announces the date of the defense. The Doctor of Science defense is held no earlier than one month after the publication of the Ministry’s notice.
What is the length of a Ph.D. dissertation?
- There is no single requirement: the maximum and/or minimum length of the main text is determined by the institution’s educational and research program, depending on the field and specialty. For a doctoral dissertation, there is a specific minimum requirement—at least 10 author’s sheets of main text. Check the length requirements in your institution’s program before you finish formatting your dissertation.
Prepare your defense in advance
Select the format of your thesis based on your academic degree.
For Graduate Students
Dissertation text, statistics, and publications for the defense: from draft to submission.
Learn more about the service →For doctoral students
A package of high-level publications and support at every stage leading up to the defense.
Learn more about the service →Do you have any questions? Please write to Leo's Telegram bots .
50/50 split. Publication Guarantee: If a journal rejects an article, it will be published in another journal.
